Accommodations
Singing Horse Trading Post
Price Range – $ – $$$
The Singing Horse Trading Post bed and breakfast style accommodation is surrounded by the magic of the Great Plains. This area is the perfect place for a peaceful and relaxed retreat stay. Guests will be able to enjoy sunset on the Prairie, hike throughout horses grazing, and see a glimpse of what life is like on the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation. It is truly unique to stay in the heart of an Indian reservation conveniently located near both the Black Hills & Badlands National Park. When it comes to the kitchen, the Trading Post is part of an ecotourism project and provides healthy food options for their guests. They have their own garden and source locally grown foods whenever possible. You’ll feel all around cozy, comfortable and fully taken care of in a friendly atmosphere. What more could you wish for during your stay?
Eateries
Fork Real
Price Range – $$
Fork Real is a non-profit Pay-What-You-Can community cafe that offers a welcoming environment and fresh farm-to-table meals. The idea came to founder, Rhonda Pearcy, after researching the effects that world hunger has on younger populations. Fork Real’s vision to make a difference and include people from all walks of life has built a strong sense of community in Rapid City. The cafe offers customers the option to pay the value of their meal, pay it forward toward someone else’s meal or purchase a token to provide many meals to others. The menu offers a little bit of everything that is considered “slow food” that is both healthy and delicious. It changes daily to accommodate seasonal features, promote sustainability, and minimize food waste. You will leave feeling like you’ve gained a REAL experience that they dedicate to real people, real food and real conversations.
A Homestead Brew
Price Range – $$
Located on the same land their great grandfather built his homestead on in South Dakota, lies ‘A Homestead Brew’. This independent, family owned hop farm and farmhouse brewery uses ingredients from their farm and local sources whenever possible. The family strives to work with over 50 nearby farms and producers to bring their beer to life using fruit that was hand foraged, peeled, and processed. Along with this, they use sustainably-farmed ingredients to minimize their footprint in hopes to remain in the family for many generations to come. A Homestead Brew embraces a ‘field to glass’ approach and offers a welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy some of the best local ingredients the area has to offer. Stop by to grab a beer and forget your worries in the serenity on the farm.
Lost Cabin Beer Company
Price Range – $
Lost Cabin Beer Company lives and breathes their love for the lifestyle in the Black Hills – even the furniture in the tap room is built from locally sourced & reclaimed pine! Their mission is simple. Produce excellent quality beer and food, surrounded by great people who are dedicated to giving back to local communities. Whether they can help out by donating gear, offering up their venue, writing a check or volunteering with another organization, Lost Cabin is ready to help leave the world a better place. The team proudly donates to causes in environmental, humanitarian, and arts sectors.
Shopping
Hippie Haven
Price Range – $$
Located in downtown Rapid City, Hippie Haven is a zero-waste retail store and community space. A store that is both environmentally and socially conscious – the first of its kind in the state! The shop is run by an inspiring team of women that sell eco-friendly products that help reduce your impact on the planet. This includes implementations like vegan & cruelty-free products, recyclable, or composted packaging and a focus on using natural ingredients. Look out for their additional free community resources such as a free food pantry, lending library, educational events and recycling drop off center. They even work with the Ocean Blue Project and remove 1 lb. of trash from American Waterways for every online order! Hippie Haven is truly creating a better future by using their business as a force for good.
Native West Trading Company
Price Range – $$
As you travel throughout the Black Hills & Badlands of South Dakota, it’s important to remember the connection the land has to Native American culture. Since 2002, the Native West Trading Company has specialized in contemporary & traditional art from local Lakota artists. Their mission is to attract visitors to learn more about the Great Plains Native Cultures and offer authentic pieces of art for collection in hopes that you will share knowledge and gain a new appreciation for Native American Art. They strive to create a safe outlet for many local artists to market their handmade work and are here to further educate customers about the art and local history. Be sure to stop by because there are new additions to the gallery of the finest quality every day!
Experiences
Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village
Price Range – $
Ever wonder who the first people to inhabit this region in South Dakota were? About 1,000 years ago? Look no further! The Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village is the only archaeological site in South Dakota that is open to the public. The Preservation Society promotes a better understanding of the history of these lands by developing, preserving and exhibiting a collection, leading a research team, and delivering innovative programs to benefit all visitors and the community. Over the years, the team has learned about the people who lived here and visiting the village is an eye opening experience filled with new knowledge and understanding. Fun Fact: the site was used by skilled farmers who ran a major bison processing center! Check out their admission rates and how to attend their Archaeological Awareness Day – the biggest event for the village every year where archaeologists, technologists, and Native American culture experts come together to share their passion for the Native American culture.
The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary
Price Range – $
*Due to COVID-19, The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is temporarily closed for 2020.
The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is a non-profit organization committed to providing happy and long lasting homes for America’s unwanted wild horses since 1988. Located in the Southern Black Hills, the Sanctuary owns 11,000 acres of private land that is dedicated to the preservation of ranges and keeping a balanced ecosystem. Their hope is to save this land from any further development and preserve this natural environment for American Mustangs. The Sanctuary’s determination to these horses’ spirit and their findings on herd management will help the wellbeing of horses all around the world. They encourage the conservation of the land to give the horses freedom. Check out the details on how you are able to visit the range, donate or even sponsor and name your very own horse!
ecomadic is a sustainable tourism brand that empowers travelers to make more conscious decisions. By curating a marketplace to easily find and identify responsible businesses to support, and providing educational publications through our online green travel magazine, ecomadic is committed to helping empower travelers make responsible choices throughout their journeys.
