Rich in Black Hills history, our re-purposed Barn rents with the adjacent Grace Coolidge Creekside Ceremony Lawn. At our destination Resort and Wildlife Preserve, family and friends will delight in the State Game Lodge "Summer White House" Restaurant & Lounge, Buffalo Safari Tours, Resort Cabins, Group Cabins and Lodge Rooms; and Full-Service Weddings & Receptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are a full-service historic resort! In addition hosting your event at a destination wildlife preserve with free-roaming bison, your meals are in the hands of hotel & resort industry experts from start to finish. We provide and coordinate all of the aspects of your hosted dinner--from the pre-ceremony mimosas, cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, to your catered buffet and late-night snacks--so that your family and friends don't have to stress about it. They can relax and enjoy the day with you!
No, you do not.
As a full-service resort, we will assign to you an Event Manger, who will work with you to order all of the Catering and staffing needs for your meal(s) provided in-house from the State Game Lodge. The Barn will be set with tables, house linens and skirting, linen napkins, water glasses, silverware, banquet china, and cross-back barn chairs as you have requested and arranged in advance with your Event Manager. From there, our banquet staff continues to execute the cocktail hour, buffet, in-house desserts, and late-night snacks as ordered from us.
Depending on your setup requirements, the max capacity varies. In banquet long tables, State Game Lodge Event Barn has a seated capacity of approximately 250. Additional seating can overflow to the back patio.
A non-refundable $2,500 deposit (unless otherwise specified in your agreement) is due with the signed contract to confirm your date.
Yes! Just a few yards away is our Grace Coolidge Creekside Ceremony Lawn, shaded with Oak trees and shown in the pictures. We will provide your white garden chairs, any requested ceremony tables with linen, and access to electricity.
Yes!
Your Hosted or Cash Bar will be stocked with our full banquet selection of beer, wine, and liquors. Some even chose to order up a custom signature wedding cocktail to host for their guests! You will work with your designated Event Manager to determine what you would like to have available.
In a resort lodge room or cabin!
888-875-0001
Call today to snatch up your room and mention that you want to use it as a ready-room so that our team can find you the best option with the most space!
Yes! Our Tatanka Cabin and Reunion Cabin both make show-stopping designer hospitality suites. Each offers 4BR/5BA, full designer kitchens, and a fantastic open floor-plan for socializing. Additionally, we offer many other cabins with kitchens and/or living areas with that extra square footage you seek for hospitality suites and/or ready rooms. Insider Tip: Rent it for the night before, too, so you can get in, get settled, and start getting ready first thing the next morning! Check-in time is not until after 3pm.
The State Park quiet hour is 11pm, which is also your designated function end time.
We strongly encourage that you designate a family member to gather up anything that is important to you during the dance so that your items don't get misplaced during clean-up. Last call will be at 10:45pm, and at 11pm, the entertainment must conclude for the evening and staff will begin breaking down tables. All décor must be removed no later than midnight to avoid an additional fee. Custer State Park Resort is not liable for lost or stolen items.
Insider's Tip: Explore renting our group Reunion Cabin or Tatanka Cabin for a show-stopping hospitality suite and post-wedding campfire.
A professional decorator is only required if you wish to have anything hung from the rafters.
As you will have an assigned Event Manager planning the banquet services and timelines in advance with you, oftentimes Brides and Grooms find that the rest of their vendors can be hired independently.
Because our staff is busy setting up the tables, linens, chairs, and table settings for you specifically as you have requested, access to the Barn is anytime after 11:00am on the day of your wedding. (Note: If you have hired a professional decorator, they must coordinate set-up details in advance directly with your Event Manager). If you are renting table runners or specialty linens from an outside source that you would like used, please inform your Event Manager. Specialty linens must be hand-delivered to the Lodge no later than 24-hours in advance so that we can place them for you in time, along with the rest of our resort-provided table settings.
Custer State Park Resorts takes its role as caretaker of our historic State Park lodges very seriously. The Barn is rich in history and dates back being one of the first buildings in the Park. Help us preserve its story for 100 more years: Nails, screws, staples, tape, push pins, confetti, glitter, rice, hay or straw, smoke machines, open flame candles are all prohibited. Floral arrangements are welcome; when in doubt, please inquire! We are here to help work through solutions together with you. Easels may be rented through your Event Manager for a nominal fee, and we provide beautiful farmhouse accent tables and whiskey barrel tables to help you display your memories and decor. SD Game Fish & Parks welcomes birdseed and bubbles at your ceremony; shepherds hooks for floral arrangements are also permitted. Thank you for taking good care of our 71,000 acre wildlife preserve!
Yes!
The primary reason for having a cocktail hour (alcoholic or not) is to give your guests some mingling time before the buffet is open for dinner. For a wedding, this purpose is two-fold. Often times, you will have a few final photos with your photographer immediately following your ceremony, and having a cocktail hour (45 minutes) with hors d'oeuvres will help to keep your guests happy while they mingle.
Questions on how many hors d'oeuvres to order so you don't run out or order too much? Your designated Event Manager is here to help along the way.
Our banquet staff will clear place tables throughout the event, and start breaking down at 11pm to fully clean the entire Barn overnight. You are only responsible for the items that you bring in and wish to keep; everything else will get thrown away.
Your personal items are valuable. To ensure that nothing gets lost as our staff cleans up at night, we encourage all valuables to be removed prior to the reception end time. All décor must be removed no later than midnight to avoid an additional fee. Custer State Park Resort is not liable for lost or stolen items.
Four (4) Amish Whiskey Barrel Tables (stools optional) are included with your rental of the Barn. Ideal for Sweetheart tables, Memoir Tables, and more. Our banquet staff will place them where you would like, inside the Barn.
Farmhouse Tables
Cake Table, Dessert Stations or Guest Book
Two (2) 8-foot Farmhouse Tables are included with your rental of the Barn. These fit perfectly in the alcoves at the front of the room, and are often used for your Dessert Stations, Guest Book, Gifts, and more. Each farmhouse table measures 96” x 40”.
Stone Fireplace & Patio
Whiskey Barrel Tables, Stools & Heaters
Perfect for socializing. The Barn’s private fireplace and back patio makes the perfect spot for your banquet bar. Access this patio from the french doors of the Barn, or the peaceful flagstone walking path outside. Use of our propane patio heaters included.
Historic Restaurant
The State Game Lodge is a gracious native stone and wood lodge built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927, and the Grace Coolidge Creek still serenely winds through the valley today. The Barn sits adjacent to this historic restaurant & lounge, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner all season long.
Resort Cabins & Lodge Rooms
Guests will love the option to stay on-site at the resort for your wedding weekend. Chose from Historic Lodge Rooms, Hotel Rooms, Creekside Lodge Junior Suites, or Resort Cabins - all are climate-controlled, fully modernized with picture perfect Park locations.
Within a 10-20 minute drive, explore the other three (3) full-service resorts in Custer State Park
Specialty Group Cabins
Fully-stocked with kitchen pots, pans, utensils, and place-settings, our Specialty Cabins serve as grand hospitality suites for your pre- and post-wedding gatherings. Cabin guests are welcome to cook for themselves in these cabins, and why not? The designer kitchens make gatherings easy.
As a full-service resort, we will assign to you an Event Manger, who will work with you to order all of the Catering and staffing needs for your meal(s) provided in-house from the State Game Lodge. The Barn will be set with tables, house linens and skirting, linen napkins, water glasses, silverware, banquet china, and cross-back barn chairs as you have requested and arranged in advance with your Event Manager. From there, our banquet staff continues to execute the cocktail hour, buffet, in-house desserts, and late-night snacks as ordered from us.