Gold mining history meets winter recreation in Lead
Lead was once home to a well-known gold mine, and the city takes great pride in its gold-rush heritage. That history is on display at the Black Hills Mining Museum and the Homestake Visitors Center, named for the company that operated the mine. Although there is still some active mining in the area, Lead’s location in the middle of South Dakota's Black Hills makes the city a popular wintertime destination. “It’s mostly known for being a ski community because they have two ski resorts,” says Falina Selchert, a realtor with Real Broker Spearfish who sells and lives in the Black Hills area. “Very friendly people live there. It’s a great little community.”
Two distinct markets shape the city’s residential landscape
The Lead Historic District overlaps with most of the city. “Lead is made up of two very polar opposite housing markets,” Selchert says. “They have the old historic homes, but then they have very high-end, multimillion-dollar homes that are used for vacation rentals.” Multiple housing developments are going up in Lead, including Deer Mountain Village. “With some of those lots, you can ski right into your chalet,” Selchert says.
It’s common for people to buy older historic homes and restore them, instead of tearing them down. Styles vary from smaller Craftsman-inspired cottages to large Dutch Colonial Revival homes. In the $80,000 to $400,000 price range, homes are mostly built before 1950 and are under 2,000 square feet. Houses in the $400,000 to around $830,000 range are often newer and larger. Some homes sell for over $1 million.
Splash pads, ski trails and skate parks keep residents active
The city’s many miles of trails are often used for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. The George S. Mickelson Trail alone has over 100 miles, running from Edgemont to Deadwood. Trail passes are required. Lead has six parks with amenities like basketball courts, playgrounds and a horseshoe throwing area. Manuel Brothers Park has a splash pad, a skate park and annual events, like Fourth of July fireworks and a bonfire during Winterfest. The annual festival takes place over three days in February, bringing the community together with food, music and outdoor activities.
The Handley Recreation Center offers events, like roller skating and dance and fitness classes for kids. Spearfish Canyon attracts rock climbers and anglers, while golfers head to Lead Country Club's public nine-hole course. There are many manufactured lakes for swimming in the summer, and residents ski and ride around on snowmobiles in the winter.
Lead schools offer career programs and hands-on experience
Students can attend Lead-Deadwood Elementary, which has a C-plus rating from Niche. Lead-Deadwood Middle and High schools earn B-minus ratings. The high school has around 200 students and offers seven career and technical programs, including agriculture and hospitality and tourism. Students have the opportunity to gain business experience by helping operate a student-run retail store and coffee shop.
Older streets and snowy winters shape daily routines
The area is primarily car-dependent, but Prairie Hills Transit offers a dial-a-ride service to residents of Lawrence County. Lead is just off U.S. Highway 385, which connects to U.S. Route 85 in Deadwood. Winters here are very wet and snowy, and the narrow streets can be challenging to drive on when they’re icy. “If people move away, it’s usually because they’re tired of dealing with the snow and the parking situation,” Selchert says. “It’s a much older community, so parking is very difficult. A lot of the homes don’t even have parking spots. I just sold a home where if someone was parked on the side of the road, you couldn’t get up the street.” Lead has a major flood risk and a severe wildfire risk, according to First Street.
Restaurants, shops and entertainment cluster near downtown
Most dining options in Lead are along the section of the CanAm Highway that runs through the town. The Stampmill was built in 1897 and has suites for rent in addition to a restaurant and saloon. Bob’s Silver Star has a bar-style menu and late-night hours. Dating back to 1914, the Homestake Opera House hosts live performances after a restoration that took several years. The downtown area has a handful of boutiques, gift shops and bakeries. Lynn’s Dakotamart is where most people do their grocery shopping. There are more restaurants and retail stores a few miles away in Deadwood. “Lead is like a little pocket community to Deadwood,” Selchert says.
