FLDS Church Expands Compound in South Dakota’s Black Hills

The Fundamentalist LDS Church, also known as the FLDS, has been constructing a compound in the Black Hills of South Dakota, deep within a forested area near the town of Pringle. A barbed wire fence surrounds the property, with large cabins marked “Zion” above their doors. A guard tower stands watch, and the only visible sign of life is a man observing from within.

Faced with increasing scrutiny in Utah, the FLDS has been relocating some of its operations away from its traditional bases in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. The polygamous sect has been developing a compound in South Dakota, prompting concerns among local residents and advocacy groups. FOX 13 News visited the isolated property, where individuals working with polygamous communities met with locals to discuss the implications of the FLDS’s expansion.

Tonia Tewell, director of the non-profit Holding Out Help, noted the FLDS’s growing presence in the area. “The FLDS is moving in. They’re moving in in a big way,” she said. Tewell was accompanied by Roy Jeffs, an ex-member of the FLDS and son of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, and Sam Brower, a private investigator and author involved in legal cases against the church. They met with locals to explore ways to support individuals seeking to leave the FLDS.

Custer County Sheriff Rick Wheeler expressed unease after meeting with the group. “It gives me a little bit deeper insight into what really does happen and it’s a little bit disturbing to me,” he said. The sheriff’s comments reflect the broader concern among neighbors, who have long been wary of the FLDS’s expansion.

Neighbors of the South Dakota compound have taken steps to resist its growth. A group of residents purchased land adjacent to the FLDS property in an effort to block further expansion. David Horner, one of the landowners, stated, “We want to stop that growth any way we can.” His wife, Vera, added, “Especially with the problems they’re having in Hildale, we keep hearing the elite (of the FLDS) are coming to Pringle.”

What is technically a public road runs through the middle of the compound, providing access to the neighboring property. The owners granted FOX 13 News access to the site, revealing similarities to the FLDS’s operations in Hildale. The compound’s development continues, raising questions about its purpose and the community’s response.

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