Murdo, South Dakota -
Pioneer Auto Show

Pioneer Auto Show

Sprawling vehicle collection includes an Elvis motorcycle, "General Lee" from the Dukes of Hazzard, and a car made of wood. Roadsideamerica.com Report...

Pioneer Auto Show

The big green car-sign that lured travelers from I-90 to the Pioneer Auto Show has been toppled by a freak storm. Hurricane force winds snapped the wooden posts that had held the car aloft since 1972. The car, an extended and supersized version of a 1926 Nash, tumbled 30 feet, bent in the middle, but somehow survived. Pioneer Auto Show has vowed to put it back up within a couple of months -- this time supported by steel I-beams. [RoadsideAmerica.com Team, 08/04/2011]

Pioneer Auto Show

Stopped by with high expectations because I'm a huge fan of old and classic cars. I was sickened by the condition of the collection; the vehicles had been left in open sheds and were rotting on their tires. My wife couldn't stay in the buildings because of the musty, moldy air. Also, the admission was close to $20 for the two of us -- way too much for what was offered. Obviously, the collector didn't know when to stop collecting. It's a sad sight to see all these great old autos moldering away. The General Lee (there on lease) was a nice draw, but not enough to bring me back again. [Ed, 07/05/2009]

[RA: Note that much of the collection is protected in closed buildings (not climate controlled from what we recall). The rows of cars in the open areas seemed to be sedan junkers more than anything else, but car fans may object to the weather neglect....]

Pioneer Auto Museum

This is another museum that started out as a private collection and turned into something huge. There's an amazing amount of stuff to look at, and the food in the diner is great. There are over 30 buildings, including a "Prairie Town" that has buildings collected from around the area. Like many "collection" museums, it's not the Smithsonian or some intensely curated place. This is a collection of collections (over 60 of them), which is both amusing and fascinating. [Troye Kauffman, 01/11/2008]

Pioneer Auto Museum

We stayed overnight in the hotel next to the Auto Museum and had to check it out before we got back on I-90. I could have spent all day there, but we had to go. I liked the old train caboose from the 1870's and a replica of The Duke's General Lee. The Murdo Auto Mueseum is definitely a must see along I-90. I can't wait to check it out again. [Bruce Thome, 08/15/2006]