Blue Bell Lodge is a cozy log cabin ranch in the heart of Custer State Park. Located along the Wildlife Loop north of French Creek, the authentic ranch-style lodge offers guests a traditional cowboy getaway complete with chuck wagons, horses and campfire pits, not to mention the scenic backcountry and secluded canyons of the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Blue Bell Lodge is set in one of the world’s best wildlife sanctuaries and home to one of the largest American bison herds in the world. The lodge is situated on the Wildlife Loop Road, which winds through 18 miles of pine-speckled hills and open grasslands, which is home buffalo, bison, elk, deer, mules, prairie dogs and a variety of birds of prey. Free-roaming buffalo can be spotted on horseback rides led by seasoned cowboys and hay-wagon rides around the resort and guests can enjoy chuckwagon cookouts and a variety of Western entertainment around a roaring campfire in the evenings.
The lodge features a secluded compound of rustic log cabins furnished with comfortable Western-style décor, modern amenities, campfire pits and picnic tables. The lodge is home to an upscale, ranch-style restaurant that serves hearty, home-cooked cuisine and a general store on site provides a variety of vacation essentials.
Tucked away in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota, Custer State Park is a state park and wildlife reserve named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. South Dakota's largest and first state park, Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres of spectacular terrain is one of the last remaining wild sanctuaries in the country where buffalo roam freely.
Blue Bell Lodge offers an array of activities and adventures to enjoy around the resort, including horseback riding, hay-wagon rides and hiking and is a short drive away from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Jewel Cave Monument. Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Hours/availability may have changed.
Best South Dakota Weekend Getaways: Blue Bell Lodge in Custer State Park
- Blue Bell Lodge Cabins
- Dining at Blue Bell Lodge
- Weddings & Conferences
- Things to Do Nearby
- Cover Photo: Courtesy of Blue Bell Lodge
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