Wind Cave National Park hit hard by Dec. 18 wind storm

Crews clear a tree that had fallen in front of the Wind Cave National Park visitor center near some of the park’s vehicles. Only one structure was directly hit by a falling tree and none of the park’s vehicles sustained any damage. (NPS photo)
Crews clear a tree that had fallen in front of the Wind Cave National Park visitor center near some of the park’s vehicles. Only one structure was directly hit by a falling tree and none of the park’s vehicles sustained any damage. (NPS photo)

HOT SPRINGS – The word “wind” in the name Wind Cave National Park is highly appropriate after the regionally-devastating wind storm of Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, hit the park hard and crews will be working on cleaning up the damage for a long time to come.

“We are just glad that nobody got hurt,” said Tom Farrell, chief of interpretation for the park during an interview on Jan. 13, 2026.

Farrell said …