Lodge at Palmer Gulch — Hotel in Hill City

KOA Mount Rushmore at Palmer Gulch

My family and I really loved this place! There is a lot of information I would like to share….

The facility is primarily an RV park – but it’s set up wonderfully! When you pull in, a row of small shops: coffee, gifts, pizza, ice cream, laundry… are in a small plaza to your right. ON the end closest to the road are the horse stables for horseback riding. (see pics) Straight ahead is the Registration Building and Gift shop; To your left is a restaurant. The Lodge is behind the restaurant – you have to drive around behind it using the driveway to the left of RV pull in area. The RV park is straight behind all of that. Several lots for RVs but also a large variety of cabins to rent. To give you an idea of size, we stayed in the Lodge, and it took us about 10-15 minutes to walk to my brothers RV that was in the back of the RV camp.

If you have an RV, you pull into a holding area to the right of the Registration building to park. There is a gate down. You go into the Registration office to get let into the park. Of note – when you reserve your RV site – there are a lot of different choices at different costs, so be sure to look at them all to determine your best fit. The lots are pretty close together – but you have a small area for a picnic table and your car with each one.

If you are staying in the lodge, you can just keep pulling in to the far right of where the RVs pull in – and that driveway leads you straight back – up a little hill to the lodge. The front door leads you right into the registration desk – but this is on the second floor. They have an elevator, or you can take stairs located at either end of each hallway. Each floor has a centrally located vending and ice machine.

We loved the lodge! Staff was very friendly, the facility was very clean, our beds were very comfortable! We had a great nights sleep. The water pressure in the shower was outstanding! We had a very nice balcony that overlooked the forest and RV park. They provided a free continental breakfast in the AM. There was even a room with a hot tub and sauna on the first floor.

There was a lot of activities to do in the RV park itself. Two pools (only one seemed open when we were there) - a hot tub. A small mini-put course, a big trampoline like thing for kids, a small water slide. There was periodic live music and other entertainment programs scheduled off and on. (like one day they had Bingo!)

Horse back riding was an extra cost – see pics – but was a reasonable cost. The weather was bad after we made our reservation – but they gave us a refund – no problem.

Our only criticism was the prices of the things in the gift shop. A bit over the top. They do offer a huge variety of gifts and amenities, but you pay for the convenience. The nearest Wal-mart was about a half hour away.

The location was otherwise great! ON Route 244, we were just a few minutes down the road from Mount Rushmore, in between the two cute towns of Keystone and Hill City, and not far from Custer State Park.

Overall, a very enjoyable place, that is well managed, clean and friendly! Highly recommend - even to people who are just looking for an alternative to a...

Booked rooms a year in advance as we had 3 families traveling together. Was told by a worker Chris that we would be all together on ground level with a patio rooms by pool rooms 109,110, and 111 since 2 families are smokers. We got there for our 3 day 4 night stay and we were put on the 3rd level on opposite ends of the lodge with a very very very slow elevator. There was never anywhere to park due to koa trucks parked there and people would rent golf carts and take two stops. Talked to the manager and all we got was sorry nothing we can do we are booked up. I said yes but we booked a year ago. Still nothing. Also we were charged $12 per person per night for a resort fee for the amenities. We got to use the pool 1 night for about 3 hours. It was closed due to cleaning after it was closed the night before for lightning in the distance. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED!! We have been camping there for over 20+ years and USE TO send everyone their way. NOT ANYMORE!!!! We don't ever want to go back there after this experience. Very sad it wrecked a lot of great memories we had and we hyped it up to our kids that got to go for the first time and they were very disappointed as well. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND anymore!!! My hot fudge ice cream sundae was chunky and again few English speaking workers. A lady asked for a turtle sundae which was written out in the menu what was in it and she was asked if she wanted carmel. It was spelt out in black and white on the board in very large writing what was in it. And they looked at her like she was stupid. Rooms were not great either for the price. No one knew how to operate the shower and there was no directions. Again just extremely disappointed that my kid and my nephews didn't get the experience we had as children. Wasn't worth a penny if it. And all the activities were...

I booked a standard room with balcony a month in advance. Attempted to confirm by calling property for two days before arrival but nobody ever answered the phone. Arrived and was told my room did have balcony. Went to room and it did not have a balcony. Went back to front desk and was told that they didn’t have a double room with balcony. Only option is to upgrade to a suite that is $100 more per night. I asked for discount they said 10% is best they could do. The fireplace in room would not shut off all the way so it was warm in their (stayed in July). Continental Breakfast was an apple, granola bar and water in a bag. Would not stay again. Impossible to reach to confirm booking details to avoid getting the wrong room. They told me they had no idea why I couldn’t reach by phone. I saw their phone flashing but no noise coming out (as if they had it on silent) they were unapologetic for room mix up (I reserved here only because of balcony availability and drove 14 hours to get there) They begrudgingly gave me 10% off after I had to request it. They were super busy there. Had to wake up at 8 am to drive over to outpost store to get pool tickets in order to use the pool for one hour. Then after an hour you get booted out. Tickets were sold out for pool by the time we went for our time at 2pm. Pool, jump pillow, splash pad end at 8pm. If you like mediocre customer service, mediocre rooms, limited access to pool, overpriced food and extremely crowded everything- then this is the...