Dakota Dunes? (Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Vermillion: home, neighborhood, theater)

[reloKate]

Hello All,
My fiance just accepted a position in Sioux City IA. We are from Pittsburgh and know NOTHING about the area. We have heard great things about South Dakota and Dakota Dunes. He doesn't mind driving up to 45 minutes to get to work if we live in a great neighborhood. Do you have any insight to offer me? Anything you can fill me in on would be VERY helpful! Thanks!
We would love an area that has some fun things to do as well...outdoor activities, restaurants, etc...

[Jammie]

Hi Kate, I like your name. Can't offer you too much info about Dakota Dunes except that it's a desired area to live in. It's a wealthy area, by midwestern standards. I understand it's fairly expensive to live there, but is supposed to be a very nice place.

[Thieroff]

This is where IBP corporation is headquatered.

One would think that there is a lot of beef production there, and this leads me to believe that is where you husband got the job.


I'm a butcher from Pittsburgh and plan to relocate to SD in the spring.


Best of luck,

CT

[DannyBanany]

Dakota Dunes is the most affluent area of the Sioux City metro and the commute into Sioux City, IA takes about 10 minutes. Dakota Dunes was concieved as a golf resort on the southern penninsula of South Dakota where people could live on fairways and have luxury amentities. It was concieved by Arnold Palmer.

North Sioux City, SD is home to many technological companies and software corporations. Finding a job there should not be difficult. As for Sioux City, yuk!

[oldfred]

I was born in Mitchell SD and we moved to Sioux City when I was 10. I left Sioux City about 20 years ago. I was just back to visit my mother and I spent some time looking around.
I would strongly suggest that you visit Sioux City before you take the job. Most young people have left and the population is, for the most part, elderly. There is nothing really wrong with the town, but the people are not happy to be there.
If you do move, the Dunes would be as good as anywhere now that the biker bars are gone.
One more thing, you do not know the meaning of winter until you spent one in South Dakota.
Good luck

[Jammie]

Guess I have to THIRD the feelings about living in Sioux City. No offense to the people who live there, BUT it would not be my choice of a city to live in either.

[windtimber]

OK, this was 25 years ago, but I worked in Sioux City and South Sioux City for 3 years. Old towns, lots of old money, but IMHO not that bad. Maybe it's changed, but go take a look and see what you think.

[DannyBanany]

It seems like old towns with old money are the last to really grow. I think that may be why Sioux City, Omaha, etc have not grown as quickly as other cities of their size.

Sioux Falls and Sioux City were roughly the same size in the easrly '90s. Now Sioux Falls has doubled!

[reloKate]

Thanks for all of the info everyone. So, it seems like your saying Sioux City IA is NOT where we want to live. But it sounds like the surrounding areas in South Dakota are nice...is this true? Are there things to do...restaurants, shopping, outdoor activities, etc...? Can Dakota Dunes be fun?

[DannyBanany]

I am sure Dakota Dunes is very nice and a normal suburb. Anything is nice when compared to Sioux City! There are restaurants, theaters, and other forms of entertainment there as well. You are very close to North Sioux City, Elk Point, Vermillion, and Sioux Falls so there should be plenty to do.

Omaha is not far if you want to do some serious shopping too.