The State Game Lodge in Custer State Park was the summer White House in 1927 for President Calvin Coolidge. The State Game Lodge has seven rooms in the historic lodge and also has an adjacent motel and cottages. The State Game Lodge is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
State Game Lodge at Custer State Park
The State Game Lodge was built in 1921 as a private meeting place for the State Game Commission. 72 days after the original lodge was completed it burned to the ground.
The lodge was quickly rebuilt by 1922 and gained popularity quickly. In anticipation of President Coolidge's visit, the lodge added on the Pheasant Dining Hall which displayed mounted pheasants across every chandelier and window. In 1927 President Coolidge declared the State Game Lodge his summer White House.
For three months from June 13 to September 15th, 1927 President Coolidge and his wife along with their staff enjoyed staying at the State Game Lodge. President Coolidge enjoyed fishing and gold panning with his wife Grace. One unique guest was Mrs. Coolidge's pet raccoon named Rebecca.
During his stay, President Coolidge pledged federal funding for Mount Rushmore and attended the dedication of the memorial. President Eisenhower also stayed at the lodge for five days in 1953 to attend a young republican meeting at Mount Rushmore. The rooms that President Coolidge and President Eisenhower stayed in are available to stay in today.
The lodge has been renovated and expanded over the past eighty years to accommodate more guests. In the 1960s two motel wings were added to the lodge. In 2008 the floor of the Pheasant Dining Hall was dropped from the second story to the main floor to allow for more dining.
State Game Lodge Historical Room
We stayed in a historical room at the State Game Lodge and truly enjoyed it. We did not stay in one of the presidential rooms but we were right next door. It was super convenient staying at the lodge and being able to leave early in the morning to explore the wildlife loop. We had large portions of the driving loop to ourselves which made for great photography and wildlife viewing.
The sink and mirror were located near the bed. The room had an assortment of toiletries available.
The bathroom was small but had an ensuite shower and toilet which was great.
State Game Lodge room options
Historical Lodge Rooms - 7 historical rooms
Hotel rooms - 40 lodge rooms with queen, double queen, king beds, and suites. Rooms include a mini-fridge and microwave.
Creekside Lodge has rooms with 2 queen beds and a sofa sleeper or 1 king bed and a sofa sleeper.
There are 28 cabins at State Game Lodge.
Sleeping Cabins have 1 or 2 rooms that can sleep one to six people
Housekeeping Cabins
2 rooms with multiple bed sizes
3 rooms with 3 queen beds and a sofa sleeper that can sleep one to eight people
3 rooms with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with 2 queen beds and a sofa sleeper can sleep one to six people
3 rooms with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths with 4 queen beds and a sofa sleeper that can sleep one to ten people
3 rooms with 2 bedrooms and two baths with a king bed, 2 queen beds and a sofa sleeper are ADA Compliant and can sleep one to eight people.
Creekside Cabin and Bunkhouse
2 bedroom house with a kitchen and bunkhouse can sleep one to eighteen people
Gamekeepers Cabin
2 level cabin with a full kitchen, five bedrooms, and two bathrooms can sleep one to fourteen people.
Lovers Leap Cabin (Honeymoon Cabin)
2 room cabin with 1 king bed and a sofa sleeper with a kitchenette can sleep one to four people
Tatanka Cabin
The Tatanka Cabin has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, 1 king bed, 6 queen beds, 2 sofa sleepers and can sleep one to twenty-four people. This cabin has a stone gas fireplace and a deck overlooking Coolidge Creek.
Reunion Cabin
The Reunion Cabin has 4 bedrooms and five bathrooms with 1 king bed, 7 queen beds, 4 sofa sleeps, 2 twins in the loft with bunk beds and a full designer kitchen and can sleep one to twenty-eight people. This cabin has a gas fireplace and a deck overlooking Coolidge Creek,
Custer Ranch House
The Custer Ranch House has 3 bedrooms with 4 queen beds and 2 bunks, 3 bathrooms, and a full kitchen and can sleep one to twelve people.
State Game Lodge Dining Room
The State Game Lodge Dining Room serves South Dakota specialties including buffalo, pheasant and rainbow trout.
We enjoyed a nice breakfast buffet at the State Game Lodge Restaurant. The breakfast buffet included scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, country sausage, applewood bacon, French toast, a waffle station
with assorted syrups and toppings, biscuits and gravy, cheese blintzes, granola and yogurt parfaits, selection of fresh fruit, assorted baked goods, juices, and coffee.
Things to know when booking a room at Custer State Game Lodge
Reservation phone number - 888-875-001
State Game Lodge phone number - 605-255-4541
We definitely suggest calling for reservations. The online system can get confusing and a bit overwhelming. Each room is given a rate code and it can be mind numbing to figure them out.
When you book a room the cost of your room for the first and last night including tax is required as a deposit.
The park will refund your deposit if you cancel at least 15 days prior to your arrival date. There is a $25 cancellation fee
If you plan to visit during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally the entire stay must be paid in full when you make your reservation. You can cancel thirty days before the rally rates for a $25 cancellation fee.
Sleeping cabins do not have a kitchen. Housekeeping cabins have kitchen or kitchenettes and are furnished with limited eating/cooking utensils. All units have coffee pots, microwaves, small refrigerators, TV's, Heat and A/C, towels and linens.
$10 for a rollaway/crib per night - available in select units
$10 for extra person
$10 per pet per day, only allowed in certain cabins.
Distance from the State Game Lodge to other attractions
- Rapid City - 31 miles
- Mount Rushmore - 20 miles
- Custer, South Dakota - 13 miles
- Wind Cave National Park - 22 miles
- Jewel Cave National Monument - 27 miles
- Crazy Horse - 20 miles
- Wall, South Dakota - 81.4 mile
- Devils Tower National Monument - 140 miles
Check out all of our Custer State Park articles for more help planning your trip!
Where to stay when visiting Custer State Park
There are multiple lodges and cabins located within Custer State Park. Nearby lodging can be found in Custer, South Dakota.
Custer State Park Lodging
Beautiful resort-style accommodations- State Game Lodge, Sylvan Lake Resort, Legion Lake Resort, and Blue Bell Lodge- make it easy to linger in nature-loaded Custer State Park.
Each inn is extraordinary: the State Game Lodge served as the "Summer White House" for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927; Sylvan Lake Resort offers breath-taking views of Harney Peak; Legion Lake Resort was once the site of the local American Legion post, and Blue Bell Lodge was built in 1920 by an executive at Bell Telephone. You'll also find chapels, general stores, and gift shops at each lodge.
Blue Bell Lodge
Blue Bell Lodge cabins feature climate controlled rooms, private baths, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pot, and hair dryers.
They offer single-family cabins, log cabins with a wood-burning fireplace, and a group cabin.
Creekside Lodge
Creekside Lodge at Custer State Park is located near the State Game Lodge. This newer hotel offers 30 lodge rooms. The Creekside Lodge was built in 2008 and offers many modern conveniences.
Legion Lake Lodge
Legion Lake Lodge features cabins with climate control, private baths, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee pots, and hair dryers.
They offer single-family cabins near the swimming beach and playground.
State Game Lodge
The State Game Lodge in Custer State Park was the summer White House in 1927 for President Calvin Coolidge.
The State Game Lodge has seven rooms in the historic lodge and also has an adjacent motel and cottages.
The State Game Lodge is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sylvan Lake Lodge and Cabins
Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park has 67 rooms some of which overlook Sylvan Lake and offer great cabins.
Sylvan Lake Lodge was built in 1937 with a new wing of rooms added in 1991.
On December 18, 2021, a fire broke out in the lodge and caused damage to the east side of the building.
The historic parts of the lodge were spared but the lodge sleeping rooms will need to be rebuilt. The goal is to reopen for the 2023 season.
There are 31 cabins on the hillside surrounding the historic lodge.
Click on the map below to find the current prices and availability for lodging near Custer State Park.
Additional Custer State Park Articles
Custer State Park Lodging Guide
Things to do in Custer State Park
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply