Hi everyone! I’m just getting around to catching up on some trip blogs (I know I was slacking)! To wrap up our fall trip we ended up in Rapid City, South Dakota.
We also went from very hot temperatures to snow! So the first stop in town was Cabela’s to buy winter gear! Not something I expected to have to do on a early September trip, but so glad we did!
For this leg of the trip we stayed in Custer State Park in one of their cowboy cabins in the game lodge campground. A Cowboy cabin is basically a bare essentials cabin. They often have bunk beds (you need to provide your own bedding) and heat but anything else is a plus. The cabin was very clean. It was nice and cozy with the heat cranked!
After settling into the cabin we headed to the game lodge for dinner. Custer State Park has numerous dinning options inside the park in most of its sections. In addition, there is a cute little general store just past the game lodge with supplies, clothes, and snacks.
The game lodge is famous for the people that have stayed there such as the past President Calvin Coolidge who used it as his summer White House in 1927.
The dining room at the lodge is the priciest (but most elegant) option of the State Park dinning options but it is well worth it! They serve authentic South Dakota meals such as bison. Wyatt gave it two thumbs up!
With our bellies full we headed back to the cabin to snuggle in for the night. The next morning we had a surprise… snow!! The winter gear we made a stop for was really paying off!
The agenda for the day was to drive around the park exploring and to head to Mt. Rushmore. We took the scenic route to Mt. Rushmore and followed the snow plow most of the way. The fresh snow on top of the black hills was really beautiful to see.
Once arriving at Mt. Rushmore we parked in the ramp and headed in. At the time masks were only required inside the buildings. I have been to Mt. Rushmore several times but this was the first trip with snow and it was just as beautiful. They have a nice gift store there and a little cafe where we enjoyed some hotdogs for lunch.
That night we picked Blue Bell Lodge as our dining option. This was a rustic lodge that felt like an actual lodge. They have a nice hearty menu that goes with their cattle drive flare. I had the Buffalo stew and it was delicious! They do also feature cattle drive dining where you can ride in a wagon out into the hills and enjoy your meal cowboy style. The only complaint from any of us was the lodge was cold!
The next morning we went searching for Buffalo! The park has 71,000 acres for wildlife to enjoy so that is a lot of exploring! I recommend driving the wildlife loop road if you are in search of the 1300 Buffalo that call the park home. Please remember that the Buffalo are wild animals, they deserve their space so trying to get that perfect up close selfie is not the best idea. Stay in your car and enjoy watching them roam the hills from a safe distance. If you are lucky enough to schedule your trip in late September you may be there for the famous Buffalo roundup!
Sadly that afternoon we had to depart to make our way back to Omaha. Wyatt was happy to see the Buffalo and we had yet another enjoyable trip to one of our favorite areas. Next time I’m looking forward to a summer trip so we can enjoy the awesome views from on the water!
Wandering Momma 