Spectacular surroundings, some of the most iconic sights in the country, meetings-friendly facilities and downtown districts that are hopping with action are among the perks that draw events to South Dakota.
The home of Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore is a welcoming and affordable Middle America destination where attendees will encounter every modern amenity and an impressive history.
RAPID CITY
Accomplishments and beauty surround groups convening in Rapid City, where they’ll find five national parks and monuments within an hour’s drive, the spectacular scenery of the Black Hills and a local culture that’s rich with history and artistic expression, according to Lisa Storms, director of sales/servicing at the Rapid City CVB.
“Rapid City welcomes groups to a vibrant ‘main street’ America experience that meets your budget on every level,” she says.
In fact, Main Street Square downtown is a top attraction for visiting attendees, and it keeps good company, as outings to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial are generally on group itineraries as well.
Outdoor activities are popular in Rapid City, where planners can also arrange everything from bike rides at Mickelson Trail and Jeep rides through buffalo herds at Custer State Park to hiking Harney Peak and rock climbing in the Needles.
Group-friendly facilities here include the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn and the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center.
DEADWOOD
“Deadwood, the base of the Wild West, is a place where history meets modern-day amenities that cater to groups, including state-of-the-art meeting facilities and gaming halls, and luxuries including salons, spas and fine dining,” says Lee Harstad, spokesman for the Deadwood COC and Visitors Bureau.
An afternoon that includes visits to the Broken Boot Gold Mine and a spa is one great representation of the past mingling with the present.
The former lets groups witness the history of gold mining in Deadwood, which was founded during the Gold Rush of 1876, and the latter provides pampering that miners back in the day would surely have appreciated after hours of digging.
Today, massages and other treatments can be found at area spas, including Akela Spa, which opened in January in the serene setting of Deadwood Gulch, and the Spa at Deadwood Mountain Grand, which just opened in February.PageBreak
Deadwood Mountain Grand is one in a portfolio of group-friendly area properties, also including the Lodge at Deadwood, Martin Mason Hotel, Deadwood Gulch Resort, Hampton Inn at Four Aces Casino, SpringHill Suites at Cadillac Jack’s Gaming and Silverado-Franklin Historic Hotel and Gaming Complex.
Popular group activities in Deadwood include strolling historic Main Street, hiking or horseback riding on the Mickelson Trail, skiing at Terry Peak Ski Resort or Ski Mystic Deer Mountain, and fly-fishing with a guide on any of the streams right in town.
SPEARFISH
Downtown Spearfish, home to a variety of shopping options, including clothing and antiques, as well as coffee shops and wine bars, is the best place for groups to get acquainted with the city.
During the summer months, says Brian Gebhart, spokesman for Visit Spearfish, Main Street is also home to Downtown Friday Nights, a block party that groups are encouraged to attend, complete with extended retail hours, local food and craft vendors, and free live music.
Among the meeting facilities here are the Spearfish Convention Center, its adjacent Holiday Inn Spearfish Convention Center and Spearfish Canyon Lodge, and a favorite group activity is an outing to Spearfish Canyon, which Gebhart says is more ancient than the Grand Canyon and a must-see for outdoor adventure seekers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Other attractions that double as off-site venues include Matthews Opera House, with three rooms available for booking, including the main hall and stage; various Spearfish parks, with 10 picnic shelters available for rent; and Tretheway Pavilion, which accommodates up to 350 people.
SIOUX FALLS
South Dakota’s largest city is a growing metropolis that offers groups of all sizes accessibility, hospitality and event requirements at affordable costs, according to Krista Orsack, spokeswoman for the Sioux Falls CVB.
“Continued incredible growth is taking place throughout the city,” she says, citing developments that include new and renovated hotels and the new River Greenway at the historic Big Sioux River, which features an amphitheater and seating areas for small receptions.
For larger group gatherings, planners count on Sioux Falls Convention Center, Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel, Best Western Plus Sioux Falls Ramkota Hotel, the new Hilton Garden Inn Downtown and Holiday Inn and Ramada properties.PageBreak
Among the city’s off-site venues is The District, a 37,000-square-foot bilevel building that opened in November to accommodate corporate events, receptions, concerts and more.
Top attractions in town include Great Bear Recreation Park; Sculpture Walk, an exhibit of sculptures displayed year-round from the Washington Pavilion to Falls Park downtown; and Falls Park itself.
Falls Park, Orsack says, is the city’s namesake and a must-see for visiting groups. It sits on 123 acres downtown and an average of 7,400 gallons of water drops 100 feet over the course of the falls every second. There is a visitor information center, observation tower and cafe on-site.
PIERRE
The state capital of Pierre offers visiting groups miles of walkways, parks and recreation areas in a small-town atmosphere at an affordable rate.
The Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center is a top meeting site located near the South Dakota State Capitol, the World War II Memorial and South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, which preserves the legacy of the state’s early Sioux inhabitants and is available for after-hours gatherings.
Pursuits such as boating and kayaking on lakes Oahe and Sharpe, hiking on miles of trails and birding might appeal to groups keen on getting outdoors.
HURON
Nearby Huron welcomes midsize groups to its meetings-friendly facilities, including the Huron Event Center, Crossroads Hotel and Huron Arena.
Recreational opportunities in Huron include the South Dakota State Fair, held annually around Labor Day; Dakota State Fair Speedway, a popular stock car racing site in the upper Midwest; and Splash Central aquatic facility, which opened in spring 2013 with a lazy river, waterslides and a pool.
ABERDEEN
What happens after the convention is just as important as the convention itself in Aberdeen, according to Sabrina Metz, marketing, sales and event specialist at the Aberdeen Area CVB.
“We offer plenty to see and do,” she says. “Groups can go geocaching, visit Storybook Land and the Land of Oz, the Dacotah Prairie Museum or Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge.”
Storybook Land and the Land of Oz at Wylie Park features an Allan Herschell carousel, the Wizards Balloon ride and meeting rooms for groups wishing to mix business with a fun outing.
The Dacotah Prairie Museum and Aberdeen’s historic Capitol Theatre, which was built in 1926 and showcases film and live performances, are also popular off-sites for interested groups.
Main meetings facilities in town include the Best Western Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center, Ramada Inn & Convention Center, as well as Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express and TownePlace Suites by Marriott properties.
WATERTOWN
Watertown is well-positioned to host tri-state meetings for attendees traveling from South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, according to Karen D. Witt, executive director at the Watertown CVB.
“It’s a small city with great accommodations and amenities for small to large meetings at a great value,” she says, citing Watertown Event Center and the attached Ramkota Inn Hotel as the city’s main meeting facilities.
Redlin Art Center is both a top attraction and a great off-site venue for group events, as is Bramble Park Zoo, which specializes in outdoor special events.
Witt says getting outside appeals to attendees, who also enjoy visiting Watertown’s two beautiful lakes for summer activities and social events, as well as its Cattail Crossing Golf Course for team-building tournaments.
