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    State Game Lodge

    3.6 (112 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours
    Updated 3 months ago

    Services - State Game Lodge

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    K G.

    We stayed at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park for a few nights and loved our stay here. We stayed in one of their cabins called the Housekeeping Cabin (Cabin #5). We saw bison outside our cabin and nearby grazing in the grassy area out front. We loved having our own kitchen where we got food at a local grocery store in the town of Custer and made our own meals. We enjoyed having coffee in the mornings on the front patio and there is a picnic table you can sit out. There was a couple bunnies that we would see when sitting out on our front porch and we loved watching them! The cabins allowed for a peaceful and relaxing stay and you are right in the heart of Custer State Park. The bed was comfy and the cabins were well stocked. We only got WiFi at the main lodge but didn't really care because we didn't go to be on our phones, but instead to enjoy nature and the wildlife around us. We ate lunch once at the restaurant but feel there are our better restaurants in the town of Custer. The lodge has a gift shop if you are looking for souvenirs or gifts. We really enjoyed our stay here and absolutely loved Custer State Park.

    The dining room.
    Lisa B.

    FOOD: Very nice limited menu. Great food for what you would expect in a tourist destination. I had the buffalo burger with fries. The burger was perfectly cooked, medium rare. The bun was small and enabled me to smash the burger. Good burger to bun ratio. The usual fixings. My travel partner had the Reuben with fries. She said it was good. I had Lost Cabin SoDank, a local IPA. Delicious. SERVICE: The service was fantastic. Our hostess, Ash is sweet, professional and hard working. Our server, Doc, was knowledgeable about the menu, offered good suggestions and was fun to talk to. He made the experience all the more enjoyable. AMBIENCE: Beautiful lodge with accommodations not to be matched or missed. Surrounded by Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. Absolutely stunning.

    Mary A.

    A beautiful hotel that was recently updated. The staff were incredibly friendly and delightful. The food in the restaurant was delicious. A couple points of note. This is a motel rather than a hotel. The windows and door are on the same side and other guests walk past your window to get to their rooms. Not terrible but if you like natural light it's a huge disappointment since you really can't open your shades without everyone walking by having a full view into your room. The other negative for me was that the insulation between the floor to block noise was not there. Who ever was above us was a heavy walker and paced for 2-3 hours at night. It was very disruptive and something we were not accustomed to even though we travel frequently and stay in many different hotels. We didn't hear the neighbors on the sides of us but the guests above us were really bad. Maybe just bad luck on our part. The location is great and the park is amazing but I think it's helpful to have a good understanding before booking.

    Cindy L.

    It was called the summer White House established in 1927 under President Calvin Coolidge. Another president that stayed there was Dwight D Eisenhower in 1953. That location is fantastic. Don't expect anything fancy. Very outdated and not the love that it should have received. Found a bottle of cleaning spray, shower was dirty, and a used bar of soap was also in the shower, Don't people know how to clean. The lobby was small and quaint, had a great little gift store, the bar was small but good food in the restaurant was great, Love the ribeye and mash potatoes. This is also where the governors meet to have meat, stay and party before the bison roundup. I believe they could put some love and care into this place to make it amazing. It was overpriced for the amenities,I'm NOT sure if I would stay there again.

    Bacon Cheese Burger
    Rolando N.

    Stopped buy for lunch as we were touring Custer State Park. They had a limited menu for lunch. Mostly burgers, salads, sandwiches and just a few entrees. This is not your ordinary fare. The chef blends local items with traditional to create a wonderful meal. We started with rabbit and rattlesnake sausage, with mustard sauce and onion jam. Wow, this combination really worked. Excellent spices on the sausage and the sweet jam was simply wonderful. The burger is quite possibly one of the best burgers I've ever had. Cooked to perfection on a toasted bun and topped with Gouda cheese, bacon, and crispy fried onions. Incredible is the only way to describe this. Treat yourself to this hidden gem if you happen to be in the area.

    Katie N.

    This review is based on our drive through Custer State Park. Definitely a highlight of the trip to be able to see animals on the drive so close up. Definitely recommend for kids and adults!

    Rabbit & rattlesnake stuffed quail
    Singi D.

    The tomato soup was interesting, the Reuben sandwich was very fresh and tasty, came with 3 pieces of steak fries. Staff was very attentive, friendly and service was topnotch. Met an artist and had a great chat with him. The establishment is very well decorated & very grand. I enjoyed the outdoor scenery while having lunch on the patio. Highly recommended

    Rabbit and rattlesnake sausage
    Annie F.

    What a beautiful spot to enjoy some South Dakota delicacies! We stopped here on a Mount Rushmore tour and had no idea what to expect. The property was gorgeous and as native New Yorkers, we were so delighted to see so many unique items on their lunch menu. We tried the pheasant spring rolls and rabbit and rattlesnake sausage. Both were outstanding, but we really enjoyed the sausage, which came with toast points and a fruity chutney. Our server was attentive and friendly. Highly recommend!

    Teri W.

    Disappointed with room rates and service. I understand it's tough times during covid. How about a discount on room rates since there is no stay over service? I'm not even comprehending that logic since the restaurant is open and serving food, people not wearing masks, which I could not care less if they do or not. Why can't the hotel have stay over service? Oh well. ‍ When we checked in we found our room had three sheets of toilet paper (no extra rolls in the room) for our 3 night stay and a dirty towel was hanging on the back of the door. I'm sorry but I don't think the price reflects the service. I'm hoping the rest of our stay changes my mind about future stays.

    The adorable bat outside our hotel! :-)

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    Jodi (bartender) was awesome. We stayed at the campground down the road and enjoyed several meals/drinks at the lodge. Thanks Jodi!

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    Ask the Community - State Game Lodge

    What is served on the lunch buffet?

    It is a salad bar and chef's selection of hot offerings that change. Buffet looks good, but off of the menu is excellent.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - State Game Lodge

    The cabins allowed for a peaceful and relaxing stay and you are right in the heart of Custer State Park.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

    State Game Lodge & Resort

    State Game Lodge & Resort

    (4 reviews)

    This review is about the restaurant…read more I ordered the bison sirloin. It was cooked properly at medium but could not be chewed by an omnivore. The toughest piece of $38 meat I've ever encountered. I powered through about 1/3 of it before my jaw gave out. On top of that they tried to sneak in a $10 moose on my tab that I never ordered. They know how tough that steak is. It needs to just come off the menu. Probably the other food is better but I never went back.

    This review is on the restaurant at the State Game Lodge…read more We had dinner here on a Monday, celebrating my wife's birthday. Her Bison filet was good, according to her. Cooked correctly to medium rare. She was happy. I had the trout with wild rice including some other inedible ingredients. The trout was served mostly hot, over cooked, and really dry. The rice side was way undercooked, stone cold in fact with hard rice grains and other crunchy things I could not identify. The carrots were cold and under cooked. My son had a pork chop that was way over cooked and dry as a bone. Chewy and well hard to swallow. The server was nice but inept. He was slow and clearly from the B or C team. (It was a Monday). If the food was good the prices would be ok, but the food quality made the value terrible. When he finally asked about our food, and we told him our complaints he immediately insisted on giving us a (1) dessert "on the house". That's an $8 dessert for $46 worth of awful food. The dessert was pretty good, but the trade off made it impossible to really enjoy. Could not in good conscience recommend this restaurant to anyone. The space itself is neat, even though you enter and exit through a gift shop.

    The Pines Country Inn

    The Pines Country Inn

    (25 reviews)

    $$

    What a nice place! When my wife and I first opened the door to our room it smelled clean! That is…read moresuch a reassuring feeling because if you traveled long enough you know what it's like when you stay at a place that smells stale. Ayus (sorry, I don't know how to spell his name) and his wife are so kind! My wife and I didn't have a ride to Rapid City to get our rental car. Ayus and his wife drove us into town to a mechanic to rent a car. When the shop was closed they called their friend who agreed to drive us. I don't know what we would have did if we didn't get that ride. Ayus and his wife keep the place clean. The gardens are well kept and it is a peaceful sitting outside. They always have coffee, snacks, and fruit waiting for when you wake up. It has the feel like you took a walk back in time to the 50s. It was really cool!

    Tucked away (and I mean "tucked" away) in Newcastle, you'll find your stay for the evening. Don't…read moreget discouraged if you can't find it right away. It's there. I eventually found it. Of course, I wasn't using GPS like you are, so it took me a bit longer. Tucked away means quiet and quiet it was. Birds chirping were the only sounds I heard when I opened the car door. That's a good sign if you're looking for quiet. I checked in and was given room #13. Yes, it ran through my mind, uh oh, unlucky number 13. But doom and gloom weren't in the cards for me. Quite the contrary. Number 13 was exceptionally clean and comfortable. My host was friendly and helpful when it came to suggesting a place for dinner. Though trying to follow his directions found me at an oil refinery. LoL! Again, no GPS. I eventually backtracked and ended up where I started to. Quick Tip: At your next stop at a store, pick up some cheap double AA batteries and shove them into your suitcase. You'll be glad you did when your remote for the TV doesn't work. No having to go through the hassle of getting dressed and making your way to the front desk or waiting for maintenance to get to your room. Just pop them in, and you're set. As I had to do at The Pines. It didn't take but a minute before I could watch the mindless dribble which spewed forth. Oh, don't forget to pull your batteries before you leave. You'll undoubtedly need them down the road.

    Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore - Mt. Rushmore

    Comfort Inn & Suites Near Mt. Rushmore

    (43 reviews)

    $$

    The room was very nice, clean, and comfortable, and the breakfast was excellent. However, what…read moretruly made our stay memorable were the three outstanding young ladies working here: Mary, Gabrielle, and Yanna. During our trip, we met many wonderful people, but these three stood out above everyone else. Their friendliness, professionalism, and genuine warmth made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. They consistently went above and beyond and always greeted us with a smile. Comfort Inn deserves tremendous credit for having such exceptional employees. Mary, Gabrielle, and Yanna transformed what would have been a very good four-star stay into a ten-star experience. They are a tremendous asset to your hotel, and we hope their hard work and dedication receive the recognition they deserve.

    We were so pleased with our stay! This hotel is clean, courteous and the lo station is perfect. We…read moredrove here to see Mount Rushmore and Bear Country, this hotel is 20 mins away from either. The parking is plenty. And the breakfast is alright. There's not enough tables but it's honestly better if we just take it to our room anyway. Not a deal breaker. There was cheese omelettes, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal, a waffle maker, bagels and muffins. There wasn't too much I could have since I can't eat dairy, but I brought my own food. The water was hot and our room ac worked great! There's blackout blinds so you can go to sleep whenever you need. There's a coffee maker in the room, a microwave and fridge. At the reception area they have a pantry if you want to buy overpriced food items. For instance, a can of Pepsi was $3. The pool and spa was refreshing and clean. And the gym had good equipment including a few treadmills and weights. There's an Xbox room and a Business Center. All of these amenities are in the basement. We recommend!

    State Game Lodge - hotels - Updated July 2026

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