South Dakota is officially the Mt. Rushmore State, but it could easily enjoy several other nicknames. The Black Hills State, for its geographic wonders. The Sioux State, for the Native American tribes that are still prominent in the state’s economy and politics. The Ring-Necked Pheasant State, for the game bird that attracts so many hunters. Even the Sturgis State, for the festival that draws a half-million motorcyclists annually.
After all, Mt. Rushmore represents only a sliver of a big, diverse area, meaning groups are likely to find a great place to meet in South Dakota—even without those famous presidents gazing down at them.
Rapid City
Rapid City anchors the southwest of South Dakota and is close to scenic areas such as Badlands National Park, Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park, as well as manmade wonders such as Crazy Horse Monument and yes, Mt. Rushmore.
Shielded in part by the surrounding Black Hills, Rapid City enjoys milder temperatures than most of the state. In fact, other South Dakotans call this area the “Banana Belt,” says Michelle Lintz, executive director at the Rapid City CVB.
“We’re basically protected by [the Hills] versus the eastern part of the state,” Lintz says. “Temperature-wise there’s usually a difference of five to 15 degrees. You can golf here and then go into the northern hills and ski or snowmobile.”
Sights include the Journey Museum, featuring exhibits on geology, paleontology, archeology, the Lakota Sioux, and early European settlement, while the Museum of Geology dips further into the area’s mineral wealth.
Rapid City’s main arts venue is the Dahl Center, slated to finish a renovation in November.
Also enlivening downtown is the Parade of the Presidents, a series of 25 life-size presidential statues that has been installed on street corners.
Meetings-friendly hotels in town include the Radisson Hotel–Rapid City, Best Western Ramkota, Hotel Alex Johnson, and Grand Gateway Hotel.
Ground will soon be broken on a Comfort Inn & Suites and a Hilton Garden Inn, and Cabela’s outdoor retailer is slated to open this summer.
Deadwood
Tiny Deadwood is so associated with the Black Hills area’s Wild West period that the Deadwood CVB’s phone number ends in 1876. But the Wild West memories keep driving visitation, and this former gold-mining camp has quietly become a tourism powerhouse, says Philys Reller, director of group sales at the Deadwood CVB.
“Mt. Rushmore gets 3 million visitors a year. We get 2 million,” Reller says. “We have about 2,800 hotel rooms right now.”
That can’t all be overflow from Mt. Rushmore or Wild West buffs coming to see Wild Bill Hickok’s grave—and it’s not, considering that Deadwood sits next to two major ski resorts and is the starting point for 300 miles of snowmobile trails.
Gambling has been legal here since 1980 and Deadwood’s 80 casinos feature South Dakota’s only non-Native-American gaming. Also, the entire town is a National Historic Landmark, meaning all buildings over 50 years old are historically accurate down to their exterior paint colors.
The Deadwood Gulch Resort and Convention Center can handle up to 400, while Cadillac Jack’s accommodates 250. In spring 2009, the Lodge at Deadwood will open with a conference facility for up to 700 and an additional 140 guest rooms, along with the Deadwood Mountain Resort, which will also offer conference space.
Several Deadwood properties plan expansions in 2008, including the Celebrity Inn and Cadillac Jack’s. In 2007, First Gold Hotel added 130 rooms and is now the largest in town, while the Mineral Palace renovated its guest rooms, added 30 more and added meeting space for 60.
Spearfish
At the edge of Black Hills National Forest, Spearfish is noted for gorgeous Spearfish Canyon, an area so beautiful that Frank Lloyd Wright called it unique and unparalleled in the U.S.
The town grew by supplying surrounding mining communities like Deadwood and Lead, and today is home to Spearfish Canyon Lodge, a grand, 54-room property that recalls a Teddy Roosevelt-era hunting lodge and has four meeting rooms.
The 145-room Holiday Inn Spearfish–Convention Center, which is finishing a renovation, constitutes a second meetings-friendly venue with over 23,000 square feet of space.
Spearfish is also known for the Black Hills Passion Play, a recreation of Jesus’ last days that is celebrating its 60th season from June 1-Aug. 31.
Sioux Falls
Located in the southeastern part of the state, Sioux Falls is within driving distance of other regional centers such as Omaha, Des Moines, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Kansas City. Its population has nearly doubled to 151,000 in the past few decades, a fact that Teri Ellis-Schmitt, executive director at the Sioux Falls CVB, credits to the positive attitude of city residents and businesses.
“It is the attitude and the spirit of the people here,” Ellis-Schmitt says. “We refuse to rest on our laurels, and we have a very progressive and enthusiastic attitude.”
The city can handle groups of up to 5,000 if they need meeting space, although it hosts 12,000 for the Midwest Regional Soccer Tournament thanks to 4,265 guest rooms, overflow accommodations in the surrounding communities and an excellent park system.
Indeed, Falls Park’s beautiful waterfalls and 42 acres get nearly a half-million visitors a year.
Other attractions include the 45-acre Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum.
The Sioux Falls Convention Center is the destination’s largest meetings venue, with 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space and another 11,000 square feet of meeting rooms. It is attached to the multipurpose Sioux Falls Arena and, via walkway, to the 243-room Sheraton Sioux Falls. The Best Western Ramkota is another top meetings property in town.
In addition, a SpringHill Suites, Value Place and Courtyard by Marriott are under construction.
Pierre
Pierre is South Dakota’s capital, and Amanda Weisgram, assistant director at the Pierre CVB, describes the city’s central location and history as key to its appeal.
“We’re right along the [Missouri] River in a central location for meetings in South Dakota. We have a lot of history, both Native American and Lewis & Clark,” Weisgram says, noting that a tense standoff between the American explorers and Teton Sioux took place across the river in Ft. Pierre, but was resolved peacefully.
The Capital City Queen, an excursion boat that showcases Lewis & Clark-related sites along the river, also highlights the South Dakota Capitol.
Pierre is also home to the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, the Lewis and Clark Family Center, and the South Dakota National Guard Museum.
The 151-room Best Western Ramkota Hotel & Conference Center is Pierre’s premier meetings venue for up to 1,500. A new 80-room AmericInn will open June 1 with a convention center accommodating 300 people.
Huron
About midway between Sioux Falls and Pierre, Huron hosts the annual South Dakota State Fair.
There are three golf courses here, and the Huron Events Center—combining the Crossroads Hotel and Convention Center with the Huron Arena and Exposition Center—supplies 34,000 square feet of meeting space.
Attractions include the Dakotaland Museum; the Pyle House Museum, home of Gladys Pyle, the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate; and the Humphrey Drugstore, where Vice President Hubert Humphrey worked as a boy. (It remains open for business and is run by his nephew.)
Aberdeen
In the northeast part of the state, Aberdeen features a family-friendly outdoor park named Storybook Land, inspired by L. Frank Baum, past resident and author of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion greet visitors along a yellow-brick road that leads to 60 exhibits, including Captain Hook’s Ship from Peter Pan, Old MacDonald’s Farm and, of course, the Emerald City.
Aberdeen’s serious side is reflected in meeting facilities at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel, which is remodeling its guest rooms and waterpark, and the recently remodeled AmericInn, with others at Presentation College and Northern State University.
Watertown
Watertown is located near the Minnesota border and enjoys visitation from that state and both Dakotas.
Its Watertown Event Center opened in 2005 with 32,000 square feet of meeting space and the Best Western Ramkota adjacent to the facility.
Just as Oz influences Aberdeen, “romantic realist” artist Terry Redlin is a major factor here; 140,000 visitors signed the guestbook at the Redlin Art Center in 2007, says Karen Witt, executive director at the Watertown CVB, who adds that Redlin’s landscapes tend to draw groups.
“That’s the icing on the cake for a decision to come to Watertown because the CVB will offer something special at the Redlin Center for a group, or for spouses, and have a private party for them,” she says.
For More Info
Aberdeen CVB 605.225.2414
www.aberdeencvb.com
Deadwood COC and Visitors Bureau 605.578.1876
www.deadwood.org
Huron Chamber and Visitors Bureau 605.352.0000 www.huronsd.com
Pierre CVB 605.224.7361
www.pierrechamber.com
Rapid City CVB 605.336.1620
www.rapidcitycvb.com
Sioux Falls CVB 605.225.2414
www.siouxfallscvb.com
South Dakota Office of Tourism 605.773.3301
www.travelsd.com
Spearfish CVB 605.642.2626
www.spearfish.sd.us
Watertown CVB 605.886.5814
www.watertownsd.com
