About Aberdeen Drift Busters
Aberdeen Drift Busters is a snowmobile club in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and it has been recognized as the largest snowmobile club in the state at least seventeen times. It was chartered in 1969, was a charter member of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association, and helps look after more than 73 miles of the Dakota Midland Trail around Aberdeen. What sets it apart is its focus on families, with activities that run all year, not just when there is snow on the ground.
More Than Fifty Years on the Trail
The club was founded in 1969, in the early years of recreational snowmobiling, and it has been a fixture of the Aberdeen outdoor community ever since. Membership today sits at roughly 100 families and has been as high as 225 families in past years.
As a charter member of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association, the club has been part of the state's organized snowmobiling from the beginning. It is hosting the association's 2026 state convention.
The club's mission is straightforward: encourage safe snowmobiling for recreation, raise money to develop and maintain the trail system, and keep members informed about riding at the local, state and national level.
The Dakota Midland Trail
The club is connected to more than 73 miles of the Dakota Midland Trail, the groomed trail network that serves the Aberdeen area in Brown County. A trail map is posted on the club's website.
South Dakota's snowmobile trails are managed through a partnership between local clubs and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, which posts statewide trail information and conditions. Check that source before heading out, since trails in the northern plains open and close with the snow.
A Club Built for Families
The Drift Busters make a point of being a family club, and the activity calendar shows it. Club rides and fundraisers fill the winter, but the club stays active through the rest of the year too.
Recent events include an annual membership campout at Wylie Park Campground in Aberdeen, complete with campfires and potlucks, and the Dennis and Wanda Gelling Poker Chip Run, a social ride where riders collect chips along the route. The club also rides in the Gypsy Days Parade in downtown Aberdeen each fall.
Fundraising comes through sanctioned events, raffles and concessions, and all of it goes back into the trail system. A long list of local businesses, from auto shops to restaurants and motorsports dealers, sponsor the club.
Meetings and Membership
The club meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, from September through April. Meeting locations vary, so check the events calendar on the club website before heading out.
Membership registration is handled through the club website, and new members are always welcome. Updates and event news are also posted on the club's Facebook page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Aberdeen Drift Busters based?
In Aberdeen, South Dakota.
When was the club founded?
- It was also a charter member of the South Dakota Snowmobile Association.
How big is the club?
About 100 member families today, and it has been named the largest snowmobile club in South Dakota at least seventeen times.
What trails does the club ride?
More than 73 miles of the Dakota Midland Trail around Aberdeen.
When does the club meet?
The first Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm, September through April. Locations vary.
Does the club do anything outside of winter?
Yes. Events include a summer membership campout at Wylie Park and the Gypsy Days Parade in the fall.
How do I join?
Through the Become a Member page on the club website.
More information on Aberdeen Drift Busters; Click here https://www.aberdeendriftbusters.com/
For more snowmobile venues click here: https://www.plainspowersports.com/category/snowmobile/