I’ve been hearing good reports about the new renovations at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, South Dakota’s premier park.

The lodge, where presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower have stayed, has always been the heart of the park, its most visible structure. It has old-style lodging, some motel rooms and an upscale restaurant. It’s always fun to have a leisurely dinner there before heading to the Black Hills Playhouse nearby.

But the 90-year-old State Game Lodge has been showing its age in recent years. State officials and the concessionaire undertook the project to update the facility. The Pheasant Dining Room was renovated and made wheelchair accessible. The kitchen was remodeled and expanded by 2,500 square feet.

The $3 million renovation was completed in May, in time for the summer tourist season.
It’s all part of a larger, ongoing renovation of the buildings and facilities at Custer State Park.

The Creekside Lodge, a meeting facility with hotel rooms, was completed more than a year ago. More recently new camping cabins and improvements to campgrounds were added. The Sylvan Lake Lodge was also renovated.