Battle Creek Camping Resort — Hotel in Hill City

My family stayed in the Firefly Dome yurt for two nights during a trip to see the Badlands and the Black Hills of South Dakota in mid-July 2025.

I have done a lot of camping and generally look down on “glamping,” but… this was truly spectacular.

It is definitely glamping and I was constantly and pleasantly surprised at the thought and attention put into everything.

The campsite is located in the middle of grassland surrounded by vistas of the rolling hills that make the area famous. The site is slightly elevated, atmospherically lit, and reasonably distant from the other sites.

The yurt’s king-size bed fit my wife and children and I used the “futon” which was a mattress that ought to be used on all beds. It might even be more comfortable than my bed at home.

Options for heat and air were available but not needed and the furniture suited our poker game.

We roasted hot dogs, corn, and marshmallows for s’mores with the implements provided and did not need the supplied fire blanket, extinguisher, wand lighter, &c.

The bathrooms were close and housed in a “hobbit hole” with five individual bathrooms, four with showers included and all with sinks. Towels, shampoo, and body wash were also provided. And, silly to add but quite a detail, the paper towels and toilet paper were as nice or nicer than I buy at home.

The highest praise is possibly this – my 16-year-old Manhattanite daughter had NO complaints.

I really didn’t think I’d end a 25-hour driving road trip thinking, “We should do this again,” but we might and, if you’re thinking about...

Our experience fell a little short of our expectations. While the dome we stayed in is cute and “luxurious” to a degree (more so than our backpacking tent), we weren’t impressed with other aspects of our stay. We appreciated the cozy bed, decor, and that the space was clean. The outdoor fire table is also a nice touch. Unfortunately, the only water source at the site was 2 plastic bottles of water. Not enough for the tea kettle or coffee machine. We reached out to the phone number regarding more drinking water (preferably a more sustainable source than single-use plastic bottles), but they didn’t seem sure if the tap water in the bath house was safe to drink. A jug or water spigot would be helpful. Additionally, the community grill looked like it had not been cleaned maybe ever. It was caked in a dark, thick oily sludge. The grill isn’t close to the bathhouse, so there was no water to address the issue ourselves. If you stay here, maybe bring your own water & camp cooking setup….or just tent camp &...

This is hands-down my favorite place to stay. The location is beautiful and serene, the accommodations are neat and novel, and the service from the owners/staff is impeccable. They truly care about their guests and go the extra mile to make them feel comfortable.

The bathrooms are always clean and in good order. The grounds are kept in tip-top shape... there is plenty of room to run around for children and some fun outdoor games to play and sculptures to look at. Our kids are obsessed with the aliens! We have stayed in a tent and a dome so far this year and both were wonderful. The beds are great. The homey touches make you feel like you're in the spare bedroom of a friend. I honestly couldn't ask for anything more. It's a peaceful, lovely place with all the spirit of camping and the convenience of a hotel.

We are definitely looking forward to our next stay and intend to make at least one trip per year up to Battle Creek. I cannot recommend...