Residents in a South Dakota neighborhood known as Hideaway Hills are facing a nightmare scenario as sinkholes threaten their homes. Stuart and Tonya Junker, along with about 150 of their neighbors, are suing the state for $45 million as sinkholes continue to open up around their properties. The situation is unprecedented, with large sinkholes endangering multiple homes in the area. Experts believe that the circumstances in Hideaway Hills will be studied and remembered for years to come.
The Hideaway Hills subdivision was built in an area previously owned by the state where gypsum was mined for a nearby cement plant. The state sold the surface land but retained the subsurface, failing to disclose that the soil’s natural ability to hold up the surface had been compromised. Sinkholes began appearing after the subdivision was built, and the situation escalated in 2020 when a large sinkhole opened up near a resident’s yard. Since then, more sinkholes have appeared, destabilizing roads, utilities, and homes.
The residents of Hideaway Hills are living in fear as the ground around them continues to collapse. Some homes have been vacated, but others are still occupied by residents who cannot afford to leave. The situation has become dangerous, with concerns about school buses falling into sinkholes and houses collapsing on residents while they sleep. Residents are stuck in a precarious situation, unable to sell their homes or leave due to the danger posed by the sinkholes.
The state is facing backlash for its role in the development of the Hideaway Hills subdivision. While expressing sympathy for the affected residents, the state has argued that developers and homebuilders are responsible for knowingly building over an abandoned mine while hiding its existence from homebuyers. The state claims that it cannot be held liable for damages related to the underground mine’s collapse, as the mine would have collapsed regardless of the state-owned cement plant’s activities.
For residents like the Junkers, the lawsuit against the state is their last hope of escaping their nightmare situation. Stuart Junker had planned to retire this year, but now has to work two jobs to save money in case they are evacuated from their home. The Junkers, who have lived in their remodeled home in Hideaway Hills for 15 years, are seeking compensation for the value of their property. They feel let down by the state’s failure to address the sinkhole crisis in their neighborhood.
