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Cosmos Mystery Area: Family-Friendly Science Attraction
4.5
185 Ratings
Rapid City
Nestled in the stunning Black Hills of South Dakota, the Cosmos Mystery Area offers a distinctive, fun-filled amusement for the whole family. Visitors can relish a half-hour tour showcasing the intersection of mystery, humor, and science through interactive experiments and enlightening amusement.
Duration:
40 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Cosmos Mystery Area - The mystery house located within the Cosmos of the Black Hills was discovered in 1952 by two college students who were looking for the perfect place to build a summer cabin. Here, the laws of logic and physics seem to be turned upside down as you feel a slight unbalance in this crooked old cabin.
Admission includes a 30 minute guided, interactive tour where you will be amazed as you see water run uphill, can stand on a wall, and see other incredible optical illusions. The tour consists of various demonstrations that are designed to boggle the mind.
Located just minutes from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, The Cosmos is sure to astonish and amaze the mind.
What's Included
- Local guide
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
Additional Information
- Not wheelchair or stroller accessible
Location
Cosmos Mystery Area
24040 Cosmos Rd,
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(185 Ratings)
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Markvj1873ve
Aug 1, 2024
Weird FUN! - So much fun! A weird, FUN, place! We stop for a tour whenever we are in the Black Hills. Cosmos is always a highlight of our trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jodsmcd
Jul 30, 2024
Fun place - Fun experience but it does make you feel a little weird. Interesting still trying to figure out the mystery. Cool demos and nice kids doing the tours
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rileyb78
Jul 30, 2024
Fun fun fun! - Such a fun experience! We were a group of all ages ranging from 9-58 and everyone had a blast! So much mystery and fun involved! We loved our tour guide as well :)!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
R3808pfamyw
Jul 25, 2024
A must-do and see! - We had the best time enjoying Cosmos. Our tour guide, Madison was amazing and made it really a lot of fun for everyone in our family and in our group. She was informative, funny and kind. This place is truly unbelievable. I came with my own family when I was younger and couldn’t wait to take my own kids. It’s hard to explain all of the odd things that happen and truly something you have to see for yourself. I would highly recommend anyone coming to the area should check out Cosmos.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katiefrancesblack
Jul 18, 2024
Family Vacation - We had a blast! The original house is really neat to experience. This is the perfect addition to a family vacation. Our kiddo is 7 and loved it. Some other kids in the group were a bit too young for the experience, but they did pretty good. We could definitely feel the pull.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lazybu
Jul 12, 2024
Wow - If you like to be amazed, you will like this activity a lot. The adults will enjoy as much as the kids. Ask for Lilly to be your guide, she was great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lauratw6119sv
Jul 11, 2024
Family Fun! - What a fun experience! We went with our family a 4, our kids are 7 and 11. It was perfect. We all laughed and were amazed. Super fun time. Great tour guide! Just make sure you're stable and are steady on your feet!
We also added the geode digging and I'm glad we did. Sometimes those add-ons are pricey and not worth it, but this one was! Our kids love their geodes and they loved seeing inside, and then taking them home. Better than a gift shop souvenir!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
653shawnah
Jul 25, 2024
A (Teenage) Fun House in the Black Hills! - This quirky stop was interesting and entertaining, especially for our teenagers. They reveled in the lopsided feelings presented during the tour and enjoyed the tricks of the property. The adults were pressed to recall what we know about visual illusions and scientific principles. The price (less than $15 per person) was just about right for the length of the tour, but I would recommend a lower rate considering the press for guide tips at the conclusion of the tour. It was fairly brief.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamesne3402qc
Jul 20, 2024
Great for kids. - Really unique place. If your balance is off, don't try it. Really messes with your balance. I was here as a kid 30+ yrs ago.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beverlytz944sm
Jul 20, 2024
Do it. Just to understand. - Checked in early and they bumped our start time up. Staff was very nice. Heard mixed reviews about this place from pretty cool to waste of time. It would have been better with a smaller group. It was about 20 people on our tour. I would recommend to just say you did. It’s an interesting phenomenon with no explanation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor