Hidden Lake Campground and Resort is located in Hot Springs in southwest South Dakota. On the property is a private lake that can provide various activities for the guests, such as canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, and others. Previously, in the 1890s, the lake was used to harvest ice for ice chests. A few cabins were built in the 1930s, which can be found on the campsite to this day. There are ten cabins and 24 full hookup RV sites available for reservation. The months of operation are May through October, with the busiest time of the year being September and October, mentions Cristine, one of the owners. Cristine describes Hidden Lake Campground and Resort as "a small, private, relaxed place to disconnect."
Hidden Lake Campground and Resort is found in Hot Springs, South Dakota. The 15-acre location has 34 total units available to reserve. Of these 34 units, ten fully furnished cabins with private bathrooms. All but two of these cabins also include full kitchens and kitchenware such as an oven, stove, microwave, refrigerator, and sink. The cabins vary in size from one to four bedrooms, accommodating two to ten guests at a time. Each house includes a front porch with a grill and seating for the patrons. Gas firepits are available to rent as well.
The campgrounds include 22 full hookup RV sites and two sites without hookups. There are 12 of these pull-through spaces, and ten are back in only. Twenty-two of the full hookup slots have twenty, thirty, and fifty AMP electric services available. A picnic table and firepit can be found on each site that visitors can enjoy.
An attraction found at Hidden Lake Campground and Resort is a private lake that can be used for various activities. There are kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards all available to rent. People at the property can also bring their items to the campgrounds. "Swimming and fishing are activities that guests can do at the lake," mentions Cristine, one of the owners. Limited fishing gear is available to rent at the office store. Lures and other fishing gear can be purchased at the store on-site.
There are a couple of other buildings the patrons can utilize while staying at Hidden Lake Campground and Resort. A shower house is provided, along with a laundry room. The laundry room contains washers and dryers and is coin-operated. People staying at the campground can also find a small store that sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, candy, and ice cream.
Outside of the campground, guests can find several attractions. Evans Plunge Mineral Springs is a water park located three minutes from the Hidden Lake Campground and Resort. Cristine mentions that the Mammoth Site is somewhere that she suggests the people staying at her business go and visit. The Mammoth Site is an active digging location that produces bone fossils of mammoths. Wind Cave National Forest is a 15-minute drive from Hidden Lake and includes a number of hiking trails and caves. There is a variety of wildlife that can be found in Wind Cave National Forest, such as buffalo, elk, and deer. Custer State Park is also a 20-minute drive from the campsite and is the first and largest state park in South Dakota.
The Hidden Lake Campground and Resort have important policies that guests are expected to follow. According to one of the owners, Cristine, fishing is allowed. However, it is strictly catch-and-release. She mentions the importance of "protecting the wildlife" and not harassing them if the campers do happen to have an encounter with animals in the wild. On the lake is a roped-off area for the patrons to swim in, while boats are strictly prohibited from entering this area. A quiet time is enforced throughout the campground from 10 PM until 7 AM.
Cristine explains that her favorite part of her job is interacting with the people that come to stay at Hidden Lake Campground and Resort. She mentions her love for helping the guests and hearing their stories. Cristine and her husband Shane strive to provide "a private, comfortable, relaxed disconnect from their patrons' lives." The staff tries to do this by giving "advice and suggestions about places to go and things to see around their property and surrounding area." Cristine mentions that many reviews mention their "customer service and hospitality" and that she and her husband "aim to provide the best experience for the people visiting their campgrounds."
One guest commented regarding their stay: "It's so nice and peaceful with beautiful views of the hills and lake and a nice walking path around the lake. Our dogs are welcome, and they love it. There are paddle boats and canoes for rental. The people who run it are great and seem to have thought of everything." Cristine describes their culture as "accommodating and helpful" to those who come to their location.
The private lake at Hidden Lake Campground and Resort was dammed initially in 1890 to harvest ice for ice boxes. A campground was then built several years later in the 1930s. This campground was open until 2000 when ownership was changed. This change resulted in the campground closing and moving the business towards long-term rentals. The current owners, Cristine and Shane Steward, bought the property in 2018 and opened it as a campground in 2019. It switched from long-term renting to the short-term campground it is today.
Cristine and Shane have made several renovations to the original 1930s cabins as well as improvements to the RV sites. There are numerous future changes that they would like to make to the property. Cristine explains that she plans to remodel the current dock and build more docks specifically meant for fishing. She also mentions plans to plant more trees within the campsite and build more common gathering areas.
Before owning Hidden Lake Campground and Resort, Cristine and Shane bought a restaurant in town. They decided to get out of the food industry in 2018 and get into hospitality, which was when they purchased the property. Cristine expresses that she and her husband "enjoy interacting with the guests and hearing their stories."
27291 Evans St
Hot Springs, South Dakota 57747
United States
Campground
Cristin and Shane Stewart
