South Dakota Sinkholes Leave Families Terrified

Residents of the Hideaway Hills subdivision near South Dakota’s Black Hills are living in fear as massive sinkholes threaten their homes and safety. Approximately 150 neighbors, including Stuart and Tonya Junker, have filed a $45 million lawsuit against the state after discovering their homes were built atop an improperly sealed former mine.

The peaceful neighborhood, developed between 2002 and 2004, sits on land previously used by South Dakota for gypsum mining to supply a state-owned cement plant. While the state sold the surface rights, it retained subsurface ownership. Residents argue that the land’s instability should have been disclosed.

Since the first major collapse in 2020, numerous sinkholes have appeared, affecting 158 homes and compromising roads and utilities. Some families have been forced to evacuate as the ground continues to sink beneath them.

The situation has taken a severe emotional toll on residents like the Junkers, who live in constant fear of their home collapsing. Paul Santi, a geological engineering professor, notes that while sinkholes from old mines aren’t uncommon, the scale of the Hideaway Hills case is exceptional.

Attorney Kathy Barrow, representing 94 homeowners, argues that the state should compensate residents for knowingly selling unstable land. The lawsuit seeks $45 million to cover home values and legal costs. However, the state denies responsibility, claiming ignorance of the developers’ construction plans and arguing that the collapse would have occurred regardless of past mining activities.

Many residents find themselves trapped, unable to sell or relocate due to the unstable ground. The Junkers, who had planned to retire in their home, now face an uncertain future. Stuart Junker has taken on additional work to prepare for potential evacuation.

As the legal battle continues, families in Hideaway Hills face daily anxiety about their safety and financial security. The case has drawn attention from experts in geology and law, highlighting the complex issues surrounding land use and development on former mining sites.