Elkhorn Ridge Resort — Hotel in Spearfish

Oh boy. If I could give negative stars I would. If you're just passing through for a night, I would suggest to stop a couple exits from here and stay at a hotel. This was an absolute disaster. Mind you, I have a business degree in Hospitality. So, I'm not trying to be a Karen here. Upon check in everything was normal. Since it was sort of away from the larger towns it wasn't odd to me that there was no credit card machine. Generally I would have expected to give my card and ID to the staff so they can check the physical card with the one I reserved it with over the phone. Didn't ask to see it, just asked if I wanted to keep it on the card I reserved it with. Yes, that's the one..... We needed 2 keys, got 2 keys. Got to the cabin..... one key was not to our cabin. Alright, whatever we just wanted to get something to eat and take our dogs to the dog park. Great amenities, and the grounds were extremely well kept. We loved that there was a dog park and used it multiple times. The cabin was also very cute, and clean. The only issue we had there was none of the outlets worked in the room with the queen bed. Upon check out credit card on file was charged, I got my receipt and we were on the road again. I get a call from the hotel the next day while I was driving through Montana telling me that I used someone else's credit card for the room. I laughed a little and said.... uhhhh, Nope, the card I used has my name on it..... Gave the proper number again and told to have a manager or someone call to discuss further. Received no call the rest of the day from any managers, so I called the next morning. They informed me that a gentleman's card had been charged for our stay, and he believes its fraud. I laughed a bit because it hit me that I never put my credit card into a card machine, and none of the staff physically checked my credit card against the computer. The only thing they went off of was the number a woman had taken over the phone when I reserved the cabin. Since we were moving for work, I needed a receipt for that night's stay. I used a different card and paid for the stay. Fast forward an entire week from check in and I get a call from the spearfish PD asking me about said situation. Poor guy said he had to make sure it wasn't identity fraud. Totally understand. I explained to him the situation, and let him know we were moving from one coast to the next. Seems odd that I would use some guys card for the one night which happened to be the cheapest stay during the 7 days it took us. We also used the same card (MY card), which was properly charged for food at the resort. He also agreed that it seemed to be just a misheard number over the phone. To me, it's sad that the resort doesn't train their front desk staff to check, and re-check cards, and ID's before charging them. It seems their first instinct is to assume the customer is either an idiot or trying to fraud an individual......... Keys to each cabin should also be checked before giving them to guests....... Insert...

This rv resort is very well kept. We spent a month here and enjoyed our site. Most of the staff are young and not overly friendly or welcoming, some seem inconvenienced. We travel full time and know what a true luxury RV resort is made of and this one doesn’t make the mark for us. There is not a gym, there isn’t food or a restaurant in the RV area, outside of food trucks on very limited days. You can drive to their pub down the road. They do offer coffee in the store and will bring it to your site at certain times. But that didn’t interest us. The pool is where the real problem lies. There are 16 well used loungers and a handful of lounger tables at the pool for 186 camp sites + 30ish cabins, and tent sites. Also the pool is open to people who are members of their golf club and to people who live in the Elkhorn Ridge community. There are very well-used wooden tables and chairs and hot black iron tables and chairs. There are zero umbrellas or shade at the pool, except in the area by the bathrooms that is often reserved for parties and weddings. There is an awning over the bar and one table umbrella at one table next to the bar. We felt pressured and stressed about getting to the pool early enough to be the lucky ones who get a lounge chair. Most days we didn’t get one and sat on the wooden chairs with our feet up on another wooden chair. Not luxury. We watched others sit in the wings and pounce when someone vacated a lounge chair. The kids take over the pool and hot tubs all day, every day. At one point there were so many kids in both hot tubs that you couldn’t even see the water. That was a hot day, but the ‘heated pool’ was freezing. They have adult swim from 8:30-9:30am, which doesnt really benefit most adults, and kids wouldn’t be there at that time anyway, so seems to be a matter of convenience to offer ‘adult time’ and check a box. The adults are the ones spending money at the resort and the pool bar, they should consider the service aspect of who needs accommodating. We witnessed an elderly lady experience heat stroke with her husband and a fantastic bartender named Adia who stood by and poured many cups of ice and water on top of her body that was covered with her beach towel. It was about 30 minutes of talking to her and cooling her down before she was able to get up and leave the pool.

Recommendation is to accommodate adults withe adult time that makes sense, replace the 16 worn lounge chairs and add about 25 more - there is plenty room for them, upgrade your tables and add ground standing umbrellas for some of the lounge chairs, and put umbrellas in all of the new tables.

We did the buffalo tour and it was fantastic. We highly recommend this and would do it again. Rich was our guide and he was just a great person. He represented the park very well, so professional and comfortable with his job and working with people and...

LOVED Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort. The pull through lots are over sized. We saw 40 foot coaches, pulling trailers and cars and they all easily fit in the larger pull through lots. The lots are spaciously set apart from one another so you feel like it's a community, but you're still able to keep to yourself if you want. The grounds are immaculate. Horseshoe pit, basketball and tennis courts, pool, outdoor hot tub, event center, a cute walking trail at the rear of the property overlooking the mountains, the lounge and small bar area inside, plus the store, it's perfectly appointed. The free WiFi is just OK, good for checking email and pulling up directions. We opted for the $3.99 upgrade so we could stream through our Firestick. The laundry facility takes only quarters, so be prepared, but the front desk has prepackaged $10 quarters you can buy. The shower rooms are very nice. clean, well kept, well located throughout the ranch, easy to get to. Security was clearly thought of when considering the shower rooms. You walk into the main shower house (which also has a few washers and dryers, smartly located) and then there are individual rooms, kept separated by deadbolt. Each room has it's own bench, toilet, sink, counter and shower space. Water pressure was great, though the water temperature wasn't hot for long enough. That's my only complaint. About 5 minutes of hot water, then a cycle of 2-3 minutes of cold water, and then the hot water would return. A small inconvenience for such a wonderful place. Staff was nice, pleasant and helpful. The dog park is a HUGE home run. There are two. Small and Large (by pup size). But each is MASSIVE in size. I'd guess the large park, where our Golden played, is easily 30 yards x 30 yards. It's the biggest dog park we found through all of our 3,600 mile travels. If you have pups, they will be grateful you stopped here! Really impressed with this place. You could tell it's a new place, with smaller trees coming into maturity. But the owners clearly prioritized feel and comfort over cramming in more spaces. You feel safe, comfortable, and yet not on top of one another. Close to Spearfish Canyon too which was a nice day of hiking. HIGHLY recommend this place. Would stay again without hesitation. The highlight of ...