CUSTER STATE PARK TATANKA 2021 CAMPING RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 1 WELCOME TO CUSTER STATE PARK Thank you for choosing to visit Custer State Park. As I reflect on 2020, I know many are glad to see it behind us due to the uncertainty of COVID-19. We may not realize the true impact COVID-19 has on the world for some time, but I can tell you the impact it had on Custer State Park. It created a new level of team atmosphere. It pulled all the staff from diverse backgrounds together to work as one. There are no passengers when it comes to operating Custer State Park, everyone is part of the crew. Outside the view of the typical user, there is a small army of dedicated permanent, seasonal, and volunteer staff that day in and day out rise to the challenge of enhancing the visitor’s experience. They are a mixture of front-line ambassadors, as well as many behind-the-scenes ambassadors who all work diligently to make Custer State Park a great place to visit. When we were given the green light to open with reduced staff, everyone pulled together to make sure the tasks were completed. This meant many staff found themselves doing jobs that fall into the category of, “other duties as assigned.” It was anything but a normal operating season. The goal of providing the best possible experience for our visitors stayed front and center as staff embraced the new normal and the unexpected twists and turns of the summer season. Custer State Park was definitely the benefactor of so many Americans renewing the tradition of family vacations and experiencing, “The Great American Road Trip.” I contribute our success back to the dedication of the staff who through their hard work have made this place what it is today. They are the backbone of Custer State Park. They make my job easy. As I have stated several times when receiving compliments, I am nothing but a symphony director standing in front waving my arms around and letting the staff create the beautiful music that lead to precious memories. Matt Snyder, Custer State Park Superintendent The Tatanka is published by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. KRISTI NOEM | Governor of South Dakota KEVIN ROBLING | Interim Secretary, SD Game, Fish and Parks SCOTT SIMPSON | Director, SD Division of Parks and Recreation MATTHEW SNYDER | Superintendent, Custer State Park BROOKE SMITH | Tatanka Editor Positions current at time of publication. 2 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM CONTENTS 4 THINGS TO KNOW 6 VISITOR CENTERS 8 BISON CENTER 10 WILDLIFE 14 SCENIC DRIVES 16 SPECIAL EVENTS 17 PARK PROGRAMS 18 BUFFALO ROUNDUP 20 WINTER 22 LAKES AND STREAMS 24 HIKING TRAILS 26 CAMPING CUSTER STATE PARK RESORTS LODGING, DINING, SHOPPING 28 STATE GAME LODGE 30 SYLVAN LAKE LODGE 32 BLUE BELL LODGE 34 LEGION LAKE LODGE 36 RESORT ACTIVITIES The mission of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is to provide 38 BLACK HILLS PLAYHOUSE sustainable outdoor recreational 39 AREA STATE PARKS opportunities through responsible BACK PARK MAP management of our state’s parks, fisheries and wildlife by fostering partnerships, cultivating stewardship and safely connecting TATANKA | VOLUME 42 • 2021 people with the outdoors. Tatanka is the Lakota word for bison or buffalo. Photos provided by SD Departments of Tourism and Game, Fish and Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CSP Regency Adventures. Cover photo ©SD Tourism Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks is available to all individuals without regard to their race, color, national origin, sex, age or handicap. Complaints of discrimination should be sent to: SD Department of Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501-3182; or to the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. 245,000 copies of this publication were printed by Midstates Printing at a cost of 20 cents each. CAMPING RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 3 THINGS TO KNOW 4 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM PARK RULES CONTACT INFORMATION Regulations are designed to protect both Camping reservations park visitors and park resources. Park 1.800.710.2267 rangers enforce the park’s laws and campsd.com regulations. Custer State Park » DO NOT approach the buffalo. Park Office | 605.255.4515 » Do not feed or disturb wildlife. [email protected] custerstatepark.com » All vehicles must stay on designated road ways. Custer State Park Resort Information | 605.255.4772 » Drones in South Dakota state parks are Reservations | 1.888.875.0001 permitted but must follow state park and [email protected] FAA rules and guidelines. custerresorts.com » Open fires are prohibited unless in an approved fire grate located in FEES campgrounds or picnic areas. An entrance license is required for all park » Pets need to be on a leash no longer than visitors. Only people traveling non-stop on 10 feet. Pets are not allowed in any park U.S. Highway 16A are exempt from this buildings or on designated swimming requirement. Entrance licenses are valid at beaches. Please clean up after your all South Dakota state parks. pet, and do not leave pets unattended. TEMPORARY ENTRANCE LICENSE Service animals are welcome. $20/VEHICLE » Removal of any natural or cultural (1-7 CONSECUTIVE DAYS) features such as rocks or artifacts is prohibited. ANNUAL » Any person, regardless of their PARK ENTRANCE LICENSE residency, who is able to lawfully $36 possess a firearm/pistol can conceal their weapon without permit while in South SECOND ANNUAL Dakota. PARK ENTRANCE LICENSE » Visitors are not allowed to jump or dive $18 WITH COUPON from bridges, rocks or cliffs into any of the park’s lakes. TRANSFERABLE PARK ENTRANCE LICENSE » Only state-sponsored geocaches are allowed in the park. $80 LOST AND FOUND CAMPING FEES SEE PAGE 27 All lost and found items and records are kept at the park office. If you find or lose an MOTORCOACH LICENSE item, stop at one of our entrance stations, $3/PERSON PER VISIT visitor centers or the park office and fill out (VALID ONLY AT CUSTER STATE PARK.) a lost and found form. CAMPING RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 5 VISITOR CENTERS CUSTER STATE PARK VISTOR CENTER Opened in 2016, the Visitor Center explores an iconic species of the prairie, the bison. Open year- round, the Visitor Center is a great starting point for all of your adventures. Stop in and chat with the knowledgeable staff or take a break in the 100-seat theater and watch the 20-minute movie, “Spirit of Tatanka,” narrated by Kevin Costner. 6 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM CUSTER STATE PARK VISITOR CENTER The visitor center is located at the junction of Wildlife Loop Road and Highway 16A MEMORIAL DAY - LABOR DAY OPEN 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. LABOR DAY - SEPTEMBER 30 OPEN 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. OCTOBER 1 - MEMORIAL DAY OPEN 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS AND EASTER CLOSED PETER NORBECK OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER Located on Highway 16 near the State Game Lodge. PETER NORBECK OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER MEMORIAL DAY – SEPTEMBER 30 OPEN 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. OCTOBER 1 – MEMORIAL DAY CLOSED WILDLIFE STATION VISITOR CENTER Located on Wildlife Loop Road. MEMORIAL DAY – LABOR DAY OPEN 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. LABOR DAY – SEPTEMBER 30 WILDLIFE STATION VISITOR CENTER OPEN 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. OCTOBER 1 – MEMORIAL DAY CLOSED BADGER HOLE HISTORIC SITE Located 1/2 mile south of Highway 16A on Badger Clark Road. MEMORIAL DAY – AUGUST 31 OPEN 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M. SEPTEMBER 1 – MEMORIAL DAY CLOSED BADGER HOLE CAMPING RESERVATIONS: CAMPSD.COM | 1.800.710.2267 7 CUSTER STATE PARK BISON CENTER he Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley The free roaming herd of 1,400 bison at Custer TCharitable Trust has awarded a $4 million State Park is one of the world’s largest publicly grant to the South Dakota Parks and Wildlife owned bison herds. Foundation (SDPWF) to construct the Custer The grant funds will be put to immediate use State Park Bison Center. The Center will focus extending over a two-year period and puts the on the tenured history of the bison herd at Custer SDPWF in a position to leverage an additional State Park. The new bison center will educate $1 million in private and public donations for the visitors through dynamic interpretive displays total project budget of $5 million. The center is set and tell the origin story of the park’s bison, herd to open in the spring of 2022 and will be located management and the annual Buffalo Roundup and near the Custer State Park corral complex. Auction. “We are excited to lead the funding effort to make “Visitors to South Dakota are treated to the Custer State Park Bison Center possible,” breathtaking landscapes, and the bison are a said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley crucial part of that,” said Governor Kristi Noem. Charitable Trust. “Custer State Park is known “Custer State Park has played a key role in bison worldwide for its scenery, wildlife, and outdoor conservation for over a century. This one-of-a- recreation. To help ensure the park’s educational kind center will allow the park to tell its story and opportunities reflect the grandeur of the park, educate future generations on the importance of Helmsley has made significant investments, the bison. I’m grateful to Walter Panzirer and the providing funding for the Custer State Park Visitor Helmsley Charitable Trust for their generosity and Center and the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education commitment to this project.” 8 INFORMATION: 605.255.4515 | CUSTERSTATEPARK.COM Artist rendering of the Custer State Park Bison Center.