“Will pay more for quieter, better location next time....”
This is my fourth stay at this hotel, and I was always able to justify the highway noise by location, cleanliness and friendliness of staff -- Not anymore.
In the three years since I was last there, nothing has been done:
- The highway noise has gotten louder.
- There was a gap between the door and jam on all of the doors, increasing noise and allowing little bugs in
- The rooms have not been renovated at all since my last stay, and have deteriated.
- Staff is no longer friendly - very brusk and do not look to enjoy their jobs
- Outside entrances - felt very unsafe (always had only interior before)
- Room had a very damp feel - all of our clothes smelled musty after two days and all of our shoes were damp to the point of being wet.
- Doors stuck & hard to open - probably due to swelling from high moisture in room
- Toilet did not want to flush properly
- Very little lighting in the room.
- Light over sink flickered and eventually went out -- limited lighting in room otherwise, so we had to use flashlight apps on our two phones to be able to see to get ready.
- Room next to laundry room and pool - constant noise and slamming doors. Can hear everything through walls & ceiling.
Overall, I felt like I was staying in a very rundown Super 8 or other poor motel. We can no longer justify it. We paid well-over what it was worth...next year, we'll be staying down the road and will happily pay more money to do so, as this was not worth half of what we paid.
Area recommendations
Further into town - other hotels much better maintained, still great locations.
What to pack
Variety of clothes, as the temperature/weather varies throughout the day.
Can be chilly early in the morning, evening and very chilly at night (50 - 60 in summer)
Can get hot during the day (80 - 95 in summer)
Quite often thunderstorms in the afternoon (usually between 2:30 - 5:00ish) so plan accordingly and watch the weather.
Hiking/tennis shoes and sandals
Layer clothing to add/remove clothing as the weather/temps change
Dining
Alpine Inn is a MUST! Dinner menu is a 6oz or 9 oz bacon-wrapped filet mignon, baked potato, garlic bread, and dinner salad with ranch ... that's it. I recommend the Alpine Tiramisu for dessert - a different, yummy take on the classic!
Chute Roosters is a fun, family restaurant on the northern end of town...quite often has a cowboy-singer or other live music in the bar area. Very friendly staff - ask for Scott!
Avoid the local "diners" service is slow, expensive and food is "eh". We have had to walk out before ordering, or get our food to go, several times over the years due to no-to-slow service.
Family-friendly activities
Candlelight Tour at Wind Cave - by far one of the coolest things I have ever done in the Black Hills
Buffalo Jeep Safari @ Custer State Park -- open air jeep, off-roading, buffalo and other wildlife, entertaining guides...what more could you want? Very fun and well worth the money!
The Cosmos - very fun, especially if you have kids
Jewel Cave - also very fun...offers a Lantern Tour as well
Reptile Gardens - be sure to catch the crocodile show and visit the giant tortoises!
Bear Country USA - carve out several hours (just in case, average is 2-3 hrs) and be sure to go visit the baby bear cubs!
Keystone - just walk around downtown, get some taffy, take an Old Time Picture...very fun to just check-out
Trail Rides - be sure to call/check out websites carefully, as some have age requirements
