Queen Bee Mill Ruins — Attraction in Sioux Falls Township

One of the highlights on our cross country road trip. Must stop and see.

Visiting The Queen Bee Mill was both humbling and inviting. Nestled along the river, the site offers a self-guided tour that’s easy to navigate and rich with quiet beauty. The remains of the mill tell a powerful story of ambition, labor, and resilience. The warm energy of the space is undeniable — it feels like history is still breathing through the stones.

Access is smooth, and the surrounding scenery is absolutely stunning, especially at golden hour. Whether you’re into history, nature, or just need a peaceful walk, this is a must-see stop. It’s one of those rare places where time slows down and invites...

Queen Bee Mill was a huge scam back in the day! Pretty funny to read about the history of this epic mill. Sounds like some gold-rush era capitalism to me LOL.

Basically they built a dam to fool investors into thinking the Big Sioux and Sioux Falls were more active than they were. They made a big show of the falls by bursting the dam just before investors viewed the site.

Once the thing was built there wasn’t enough water or grain to keep it profitable so over time it just failed.

It was exactly like the Monorail episode of...

The former buildings of the Queen Bee Mill are scattered throughout Falls Park. Most of the buildings and ruins are fenced off for protection. There are many boards and plaques throughout the park that talk about this mill and overall history of the city. The ruins and historical aspects are nice touch within the park for visitors.

The reason I took off a star is because most of the buildings and ruins are blocked off and there is a lot more in the park, in my opinion,...