Legacy Interview: Earl Brockelsby

Johnny Brockelsby, son of 2000 Inductee Earl Brockelsby joined Miles Beacom to discuss his dad’s legacy in the tourism industry in western South Dakota. A visionary of the South Dakota Tourism Industry, as early as 1935 Earl recognized the need to bring and maintain visitors to the state. Through his love and fascination with reptiles, Brockelsby created the Black Hills Reptile Gardens, an enterprise that would eventually become the world’s largest collection of reptiles and one of the main attractions in South Dakota.

In this episode you will hear:

• The beginnings of Reptile Gardens;
• how Earl helped to establish and grow the tourism industry in the state;
• and the way his legacy lives on today.

To ensure Brockelsby's vision of tourism to the western part of South Dakota, he served as a director of the Black Hills Badlands and Lakes Association for 28 years during which time he served as President.

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Follow us for more stories of Dream Chasers at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDhalloffame

Instagram: @sdhalloffame

Website: www.sdhalloffame.org