Majestic Komodo Dragon Natasha Back In Action At Sioux Falls Zoo

Calling all big lizard fans across the Sioux Empire! A special animal friend is coming back into the spotlight after years behind the scenes.

Say hello to Natasha the Komodo Dragon! She's one of the favorites at the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo & Butterfly House & Aquarium.

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Where Has The Sioux Falls Komodo Dragon Been Hiding at the Great Plains Zoo?

Staff at the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo & Butterfly House & Aquarium has been taking care of Natasha for years. She just hasn't been on exhibit.

After spending the last couple of years behind the scenes, Natasha has a brand-new home filled with all her favorite things! The best part? She's right at the front of the Zoo! You'll find her in the former flamingo winter viewing area, across the duck pond bridge.

Staff at the Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo & Butterfly House & Aquarium shared the exciting moment when Natasha saw her new home. It looks like she loves it!

Fun Fact: Komodo Dragons are the largest living lizards on earth. They are around 10 feet long and weigh 300 pounds-woah!

We are so fortunate to have fantastic zoos throughout South Dakota, especially with the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls right in our backyard. At the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, you can explore animals from seven continents and, of course, the seas in between.

Welcome back, Natasha! We can't wait to see you!

Sioux Falls: Then and Now

The City of Sioux Falls has changed dramatically over the past several years. Some of the streets, landscapes, and neighborhoods look vastly different than just 10-15 years ago.

Here's a look at Sioux Falls, then-and-now. See if you can recognize some of these old buildings, businesses, and city streets.

Gallery Credit: Andy Gott

Gone But Not Forgotten - Iconic Sioux Falls: Whiffer's Sandwiches

The Merriam-Webster definition of iconic is "widely recognized and well-established." That would definitely describe Whiffer's Sandwiches which used to call North Minnesota Avenue home.

The gone but not forgotten sandwich shop was located in an old house at 1133 North Minnesota Avenue. It served sandwiches to Sioux Falls from November 1978 until the summer of 2020.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown