Scenic is an unincorporated community in Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located within Scenic Township, which had a 2010 census population of 58 inhabitants. The community is located adjacent to the Badlands National Park, about southeast of Rapid City, or about one hour by car,Simmons-Ritchie, Daniel. "Got a spare $400,000? Buy your own town: Swett, South Dakota." Rapid City Journal. Circa June 28/29, 2014. Retrieved on June 30, 2014. "In 2011, the town of Scenic, about an hour southeast of Rapid City, was put on the selling block for $799,000. The town was largely owned by Twila Merril, a woman who slowly acquired the town's property as it fell on hard times.[...]called Iglesia Ni Cristo, which has done little with the town since its purchase. The church has never publicly commented on why it bought the town." along Highway 44.
History
The community was so named for the "scenic" setting of the town site.
As an economic decline hit the town in the 21st century, local businesswoman Twila Merrill acquired more and more of the town property until she owned most of it.
In July 2011, the town and surrounding area—about total—was listed for sale at $799,000. The sale included the post office (ZIP code 57780), Longhorn Saloon, a dance hall, bunkhouse, museum, and two stores.Got $799,000? You could buy a town in South Dakota, a July 27, 2011 CNN articleSmall South Dakota Town on Sale for $799,000 from ABC News It also included a train depot that is on an abandoned line that was part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and is the subject of a rails-to-trail project between Rapid City and Kadoka.About The Trail from The West River Trails Coalition
In August 2011, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC, ), an independent, nontrinitarian Christian denomination based in the Philippines, bought the property for nearly $800,000, Pennington County records show. The church never disclosed why it acquired the property. In 2014, Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of the Rapid City Journal wrote that the INC "has done little with the town since its purchase."
In April 2015, an INC minister moved to the area and soon afterwards began leading services for 10–15 congregants who live near Scenic.
See also Swett, South Dakota, another town put up for sale Johnsonville Village, Connecticut, an abandoned community also purchased by the Iglesia ni Cristo
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