Anybody from the Black hills??

[MMiller]

My wife and I are trying to plan a trip to the Black hills later this month. We are looking for a good place to stay in a few nights that has kitchen, sleeping for our family of four, and another couple. Bonus would be a place to do a little fishing while resting.



We are going to do the typical Mt Rushmore, Black Hills, Bad Lands, Wall Drug and such. Looking for a nice, but economical place to stay that would be this area of the state. Not so much a hotel, but more like a cabin or something similar.



Got any tips, or suggestions of places to stay? We do not have a camper, nor will we be staying in a tent on this trip.



Michael

 

[bmoeller]

Man, it has been so long since I was there (20 yrs maybe?), I couldn't tell you anymore. I hope Custer State park has been redone. Was a dump.

Wish I could remember the name of the place, but they had some buildings that were full of optical illusions. Was REALLY cool! Remember one they had. Made it look like water was running up hill.

 

[BrianJ]

Presidents Resort in Custer has newer cabins that have kitchens and seperate bedrooms. They have some older cabins that are not as desireable, but the newer ones are pretty nice. We stay there every year for a family reunion and we stay in our 5er, but most of the family (upwards of 90-100 people) stay in cabins.



Just google American Presidents Resort in Custer and you should find their web site.



They also have a pool, hot tub, kids arcade, and mini-golf on the resort, as well as a small general & gift store.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Hart Ranch south of Rapid City has some nice small cabins that would meet your needs, use of the pool and other park ameinities would be included.



Elkhorn Ridge RV park in Spearfish has some nice looking cabins as well. Those would be my first two recommendations.



President's Resort as mentioned before, if you can get into one of the newer ones.



Black Hills Cabin Rental Home has some good ones available in the northern hills.



I live in Spearfish which is the northern area of the Black Hills. I grew up in Rapid City. So i know the area very well. Do some searches on the internet and see what you can find that appeals to you and what you want to do. Use a map feature to compare distances to the places you want to visit. Feel free to post any questions or PM me and I will try and help out with any info I can share.



I hope you enjoy your trip when you come.



Jon

 

[Jakebud]

Lived there!

Michael



You might also take a look at the Blue Belle Lodge. I think that is up near Custer. I have some old buds that have stayed there, and they always liked it. If you want to fish, I would suggest Deerfield. The reservoir is 15 miles up Hill from Hill City. Just turn up hill at the Exxon station at the east end of town and follow the signs. Deerfield has lots of shore access if you are not bringing a boat. If you do bring a boat, outboards are OK of any size, but its a no wake deal all over. Deerfield has rainbows, splake and brookies. Typically small spoons and spinners work best. I have had great luck with the 1/4 oz blue and silver Kastmaster. In the evening, flies like a black gnat or elk hair caddis usually work. If you don't have a fly rod, just use what is called a casting bubble, tied to a swivel. Then make a 3-4 foot leaded and tie the fly to that. Fill the casting bubble about half full of water and sling it out there. That is a sure fire warm weather gig up there. Need to see some scenery? Drive Spearfish Canyon in the northern hills. For dinner, you can't beat the Alpine Inn in Hill City. They serve a superb filet mignon for $10. 95. Yes, you read the price right! That is the only item on their dinner menu though. If you go there, do ask for the desert menu, as there are 40 some homemade items on there! Need more? Drop a note at -- email address removed --



SPIKE

 

[CSnyder]

Mike, I worked in Sundance the majority of the winter and it was a blast man. Have a great time and good luck finding what you need for rooming. I stayed in the Bear Lodge with no kitchen etc when I was there but it was a great place and reasonable rates. Nice little diner across the street too.



Bear Lodge Motel

 

[MMiller]

Thanks guys. We found a cabin near Deadwood, that had all the items we were looking for. We cooked our breakfast and suppers there. Sorry I did not report while I was there, we had no internet at the cabin. The only drawback of the cabin was it was a long distance to everything we did. We went to the usual tourist traps, Wall Drug, and Mt Rushmore. I'm sure glad I didn't have to carve the faces in that mountain. The stories and tools in the museum were very cool indeed. We toured the Rushmore Caves, the Bear Country park in Rapid City. We traveled a canyon road from Spearfish to Cheyenne Crossing.



We didn't get any fishing in, but we did rent 4 wheelers and rode up to Custer's Lookout on top of one of the mountains. We also took the kids to the Old McDonalds farm in Rapid City. I didn't really understand why, beings we live on a farm, and the kids "nana" had as large of variety of animals as the OMF did, :-laf.





I think in a year or two, I'd like to travel down to Tennesse, do a little wheeling, a little Nashville cite seeing, and sit in the Grand Old Opery for a spell. We'll have to see though.



Michael