Crooked Creek Campground, owned by Eric Larsen and Paschal Perrotte, is located in Hill City, South Dakota. With a focus on customer satisfaction, the campground strives to provide "attentive service and amenities" to enhance guests' stays, according to Eric. The property features a variety of sites, including presidential suites, back-in RV sites, a treehouse suite, and amenities such as gazebos. The campground offers a range of activities, including live music, movie nights, and a Fourth of July Duck Race. Crooked Creek Campground is situated in a treed area with close access to attractions like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. Future plans include expanding the property to introduce more presidential sites, a new pool, bathhouse, fitness center, and laundry facility.
With its ongoing expansions, the campground is set to offer a total of 100 RV sites, with plans for further expansion in the future, eventually reaching a total of approximately 130 sites. The recent expansion includes the addition of 24 pull-through sites, catering to the needs of modern RVs with slide-outs. The campground's layout is characterized by a variety of site types, each catering to different preferences and budgets. Eric, one of the owners of the property, mentions one of the unique features of the park is the double sites that are offered at the park. According to Eric, these double sites are specifically designed to accommodate groups traveling together with two RVs. Eric also notes a unique feature of Crooked Creek Campground is the two-story treehouse site, where two RVs can park with their front doors opening toward a central treehouse. The treehouse features a half bath, an outdoor kitchen with a hot and cold water sink, a refrigerator, and a grill. Alongside the creek, there are presidential sites with covered decks, Adirondack chairs, and propane fire tables.
In addition to the RV sites, Crooked Creek Campground offers a range of other accommodation options. The campground features a rustic lodge with 14 rooms located along the Mickelson Trail, a non-motorized bicycle trail that stretches for 109 miles. There are also four cabins situated along the creek. Three of these cabins offer two double beds and are pet-friendly, while the fourth cabin is designed for couples, featuring a single double bed. For those seeking a more rustic experience, there are four woodside tent cabins available, offering shelter from the elements but without power or running water.
Crooked Creek Campground aims to cater to diverse camping preferences and offers amenities in the hopes of enhancing the camping experience. Several sites feature stamped concrete pads and walkways leading to covered decks, with the aim of creating a visually appealing and comfortable atmosphere. The campground contains 22 decks, including 16-by-16-foot patio decks with paver fire pits on certain back-end sites. In addition, three adjacent back-end sites are equipped with outdoor kitchens, complete with gas stoves, refrigerators, and hot water heaters. The park provides a heated pool, laundry facilities, and a bathhouse. The on-site store offers a selection of wine, beer, RV supplies, ice, and an ice cream cooler. The campground's setting is surrounded by trees, with over 100 pine trees scattered throughout the park, providing shade for the campground. The presence of Spring Creek "adds to the appeal" and creates a "peaceful atmosphere," according to Eric. The main office serves as a general store and features a coffee room and a lounge area. Additionally, there is an entertainment barn where live music performances take place during peak seasons, and movie nights are organized on Saturdays. Guests can also enjoy barbecue meals on select evenings.
Eric says that visitors frequently visit attractions such as the 1880 Train in Hill City, which offers a trip on a steam-powered train. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, and Custer State Park are among the other attractions in the vicinity. When it comes to dining options, Eric recommends the Alpine Inn in Hill City for a "great lunch menu." He also mentions The Pounding Fathers in Custer, located near Mount Rushmore, which he says offers an "excellent dining experience." Maggiano's, an Italian place in Hill City, is another choice that Eric recommends to his guests.
According to Eric and Paschall, the owners of the Crooked Creek Campground, guest satisfaction is very important to them. They strive to make their visitors feel "relaxed and well-cared for," says Eric. The campground offers a range of services in the hopes of maximizing enjoyment for those staying at the park, including escorting RVs to their sites, trash pickup, and on-site delivery of ice, firewood, beer, wine, and pizza. The customer service provided by the staff is what makes the park unique, according to Eric. He also notes that the campground's reputation is built on the "unique experiences" it offers, particularly through its presidential suites.
In terms of events and activities, the campground organizes a Duck Race during the Fourth of July celebrations, which Eric says is popular among guests. Live music performances and movie nights are also part of the entertainment offered at the campground. While the event schedule is still being developed, these activities are aimed to contribute to the overall enjoyment of guests' stays.
Crooked Creek Campground maintains important policies for guests. Quiet hours are observed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the speed limit within the park is set at five miles per hour. The campground does not allow check-ins after 10 p.m. to "respect the peace and comfort of existing campers," Eric notes. The campground operates seasonally from May through September, with peak business occurring from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Eric mentions that its proximity to attractions such as Mount Rushmore, the Mickelson Trail, and Custer State Park makes it an "ideal base for exploring the area."
Crooked Creek Campground was established in the 1980s, and the property changed hands a couple of times before Eric Larsen and his business partner, Paschal Perrotte, purchased it in May 2019. Eric and Paschal entered the lodging industry due to their prior experience in short-term rentals and a desire to take on a larger project. They "find fulfillment in their work," as it aligns with their passion for camping, remarks Eric. Upon acquisition, Eric and Paschal felt a need to undertake "extensive" renovations and repairs.
Eric and Paschal strive to improve and maintain Crooked Creek Campground, aiming to provide a unique and enjoyable camping experience for their guests. They have added a dog park and renovated the bathhouse to provide "well-maintained facilities" for visitors, notes Eric. Despite facing initial challenges such as unexpected snowfall and heavy rainfall, Eric says "the campground has thrived."
Looking toward the future, Eric and Paschal have plans to expand the property further. They intend to develop a new section of presidential sites, along with a new pool, bathhouse, fitness center, and laundry facility on a separate parcel of land. These improvements are slated for completion in the coming years, with an aim to enhance the overall guest experience. The park's expansion plans include the addition of 24 new pull-through sites, increasing the total number of sites available. In the future, cable will also be added to the remaining sites that currently lack this amenity.
24184 US-385
Hill City, South Dakota 57745
United States
Campground
Eric Larson and Paschal Perrotte
