Located just 3 ½ miles from Mount Rushmore, only 2 miles from the entrance to Custer State Park, and within an hour drive of every major attraction within the hills, we are one half mile off the Norbeck Scenic Byway, and only four miles from the entrance to the Needles Highway. Rapid City, the major airport hub is 45 minutes away, and Badlands National Park is only 45 minutes past that. The lodge is constructed of massive spruce logs with an extensive deck facing west with views of pine trees, rock outcrops and Mt. Rushmore. The interior decor is dominated by the over-sized natural rock fireplace and genuine western and antique artifacts are in every room. Each B&B room is individually heated and air conditioned. We serve a full western style breakfast each day and a tasty dessert each evening. Guests enjoy sitting on the deck watching some of our local wildlife graze on our fully natural landscapes. New in 2019, our “glamping” cabins are now available for reservations. Outfitted with comfortable beds and seating areas, these cabins are perfect for getting out into nature, without being too far into nature. Each cabin also comes with its own dedicated, private bathroom in the showerhouse. For meal preparation, each cabin features a kitchenette unit with hot plate and refrigerator, and the centrally-located pavilion has a propane grill and fire pit for burgers and s’mores (food not included).
Marilyn, the innkeeper at the Buffalo Rock Lodge, ensured that our 3-day stay was just perfect. We were in the spacious, well-appointed Peter Norbeck room and enjoyed delicious breakfasts (awesome sweet chili bacon!!) and nightly desserts (yummy homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies) in the great room. From the front porch, we could see Mt Rushmore. Marilyn's grandfather played a large role in area history, and she is a wonderful raconteur, telling such interesting stories. The Lodge is situated almost equidistantly between Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway, and Custer State Park. Marilyn took the time to learn about our interests and prepared a custom itinerary for us with good directions. Such a memorable stay!!
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Date of stay: May 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My daughter & I stayed in the Annie Tallent room for several nights last week & weekend. It was spacious & comfortable. Breakfast each morning & dessert every evening were excellent! Breakfast & dessert were out on the deck, overlooking Mt. Rushmore. It was great getting to know the other guests and the proprietors (Marilyn, her son, daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren). In the evenings, we would hear what everyone did that day and what their plans were for the next day. Marilyn was so sweet to give us maps and directions with the most scenic routes for each day's travels. The property is beautiful and so quiet. We saw deer feeding very nearby the deck one night as we sat outside. The weather was amazing; sunny and not too warm (with nearly no humidity) during the day, and cool in the evenings. We found lots of fun things to do, including sightseeing, hiking, Custer State Park, zip-lining, and the aerial adventure park. We spent so much time outside, soaking up the beautiful weather. On our drive home, we talked about the next time we will visit...we're ready to come back!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:All of the rooms in the B&B are amazing!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I stayed at Buffalo Rock Lodge and Cabin while vacationing in the Black Hills. We stayed one night in the cabin and 3 nights in the lodge. Marilyn came to the rescue and offered us the cabin for our first night, when we found that our plans had changed and we needed a place to stay. The cabin was clean, well appointed, with a lovely porch swing. The setting was so quiet and peaceful. We may well have stay on in the cabin if it had not been that the shower room was outside the cabin and a short walk up a small hill. At our ages that didn’t work well, especially at night. Marilyn had cautioned us of the shower/toilet issue, so it was not a surprise. We were grateful for the accommodation. For younger folks these cabins are hidden gem.
The next three nights we spent in the Lodge. The Lodge was a B&B. The room was very large, with 2 queen beds. The bed was very comfortable. In our room we not only had a full bathroom, but two tubs—one a jacuzzi and one an old fashion claw footed tub! The breakfasts were filling and very tasty. Marilyn also added such a nice touch of serving dessert at the end of the day. She was very helpful in directing us on interesting routes to take to explore the area. She was also a wealth of knowledge of the history of the Black Hills. Her welcoming spirit and gracious personality reminded us of why we have enjoyed staying in B&B in the past. We would happily highly recommend staying at the Buffalo Lodge and Cabins and would choose it again as a place to stay in the Black Hills.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Cabin 3 closet to Shower room, Lodge rooms all unique
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Owner and family ill. One tested positive to covid 19 after many days of illness. They were all unmadked in guest areas igniring anybproyocolscto protect guests.
Irresponsible health issue made worse by lack of concern for guests and where they may travel after being exposed.
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Marilyn Oakes, Owner at Buffalo Rock Lodge & Cabins
Responded Sep 16, 2021
Our COVID protocol hasn't changed since it was adopted in 2020: Our housekeeping team strips every bed down to the mattress after each check-out and replaces it with freshly laundered items, along with disinfecting every surface that can be touched. When guests check in they are greeted by myself or my staff and advised that no one will enter their private rooms during their stay, unless requested. The guest dining tables are used for guests only (there are three guest tables -- two on the deck, one inside -- which equals one for each room) and are sanitized after each use. Any face-to-face conversation with the hostess is from four or more feet away. Our state and local jurisdictions have not adopted a mask mandate, so we do not enforce one. Please understand, we are a family-owned and family-operated bed and breakfast. We have operated this establishment for 23 years, and members of our family have been in the Black Hills hospitality industry for more than a century. Our son was raised in this lodge and now he, his wife and two smaller children live here, too, which is pointed out on our website. We love what we do, and all of us greatly enjoy visiting with our guests. As to the specifics of the complaint -- We set out breakfast and evening dessert at a buffet, guests help themselves each time and can pick and choose exactly what and how much of our offerings they wish to take. There is also a separate family table, across the room from the guest table, which is normally reserved for feeding the family after our guests have finished their breakfast. The last morning of their stay, the guest in question asked to be moved away from the other guests at the guest table to the family table, where I was sitting. We of course accommodated her. I assumed she wanted to visit with me personally, which is not uncommon, as I routinely give detailed driving directions to guests after breakfast. After about half an hour, members of my family walked out, including my young grandson. I was aware that he had a runny nose, but I did not want to be rude and leave the conversation immediately to attend to it. While this guest was residing at our lodge, each breakfast was prepared by my wonderful staff, one of whom has an extensive past history in foodservice management. Because a couple of our family members showed symptoms of having colds, those family members for the most part tried to stay in their own quarters, but had to move through the common areas on their way in or out of the lodge. It is important to note that none of the meals were prepared by anyone who is unvaccinated or symptomatic, and all COVID protocols listed above were followed. We hope this explanation helps, and that anyone who reads it will also consider the more than two decades of five-star service we have provided to thousands of guests, many of whom consider our family to be an extension of their own. All the best, Marilyn and the Buffalo Rock Lodge Family
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I was hoping it would be nice because it is tough to tell from the photos. We couldn’t have been happier! Check-in was easy. Our cabin was really big compared to my expectations. The bunk bed was big and the bed was very comfortable. The kids were worried about having a shower house. It is not a far walk at all, you can see everything from the cabins and we were the farthest cabin from the shower house. The shower house was very clean. Each cabin has its own dedicated bathroom and shower. The center area of the cabins has a grill and fire pit which we used both nights. The drive to Mount Rushmore is beautiful! We saw lots of deer driving to and from the cabin and both mornings we saw deer from the cabin. And everyone we met staying there and working there was friendly. I cannot recommend this place enough! The pictures just don’t do it justice!
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buffalo Rock Lodge is a great base for a family trip the the Black Hills! The location is perfect for getting to everything in the area. It is just outside Custer State Park, Keystone and Mount Rushmore. It is easy to get everywhere. Marilyn, our host, made it even easier with great suggestions for itineraries based on what we wanted to see that day and a handy maps since phone coverage in the Black Hills is really hard to come by.
We stayed in the B&B in the lodge. It is a gorgeous log sprawling home with a huge great room where breakfast is served. There is a beautiful deck with a view of the Black Hills including Mount Rushmore. Our room (the Annie Talent) was very large and had both a jacuzzi tub in the room as well as a shower/tub in the bathroom. Marilyn and her team made is so comfortable and took every step to make us feel at home. We were on the 2nd floor. There is one other room on that floor with a loft area with a pool table.
What is the most striking part of the stay – and most alluring about staying in a B&B – is the hospitality. Marilyn definitely delivers on this front! From the moment we came to the moment we left, we could not have felt more welcome! She introduced us to her family and staff – is like family as well as to the other guests who were staying there. She had great suggestions on what to add to our itineraries for the day to round them out and how to fit them together to make the most out of our time in the area. Breakfast each day was delicious. Unlike what you worry about with having people sit and watch you eat, that was not the case here. It was very casual and friendly, but served over a long enough time frame that we were always on our own for breakfast.
We were traveling with our 10 year old. He quickly made friends with 2 kids who were there one night as well as Marilyn’s grandchildren. One reason we picked a B&B was to give him that experience of seeing a different type of lodging that isn’t a faceless hotel or an AirBnB. He absolutely loved it! However, he now things that all B&B’s will have a kid to play with and easy friends to hang out with.
One note – I know that it says kids must be 8 and above to stay in the B&B. This is a good rule and for good reason. There are plenty of antiques and displays in the home and I think younger kids might nerve-wracking since there *a lot* of fragile things both in the common rooms and in the guest rooms. That said, for older kids, it was a perfect spot for them! Our son really enjoyed staying there and thinks we should be planning our next trip right away!
If you’re up for great views, great people and a great time, this is a perfect home base to your South Dakota vacation.
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:If you are unsure about anything, call Marilyn. She is super helpful!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Even though we left two days ago we have a hankering to go back soon! Marilyn, the owner, made us feel so welcome and we had great discussions on this area and it’s history. Each day she would help us plan our day’s explorations. She would map this out for us complete with must sees and restaurant suggestions. The house is very beautiful and the view is delightful. Her breakfasts were so delicious and filling. I can’t say enough good things about our stay!
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a great place to stay! Our visit to Buffalo Rock Lodge was like staying with family. The accommodations, which was a king bed with private bath and shower were perfect. The morning food offerings were delicious. Mount Rushmore was on view from the deck. We couldn’t ask for a more relaxing and comfortable stay. If you are visiting this area make sure to stay at Buffalo Rock!
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: E ready for family hospitality!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me and a couple of buddies rode motorcycles to SD to see the sights around the Rushmore area. One of the best places I have ever stayed. Right in the heart of everything. The owners and caretakers were so nice and the cabin was top notch.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The log structure is amazing and there is actually a view of Mount Rushmore from the dining area and deck! The room was large and comfortable, much nicer than most hotels. Marilyn's breakfasts were wonderful and filling to the point where we skipped lunch. The evening desserts were a really nice touch. Marilyn was also very accommodating of our unorthodox daily schedule. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Buffalo Rock Lodge! Dave L
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Date of stay: May 2015
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Keystone area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
buffalo rock hotel keystone
LOCATION
United StatesSouth DakotaKeystone
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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