About Us :: Recreational Adventures Co.

The lodge, campground, and cabins of the Mt. Rushmore KOA and Palmer Gulch Lodge are surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills and located at the foot of Harney Peak.  This pristine location is home to thousands of travelers’ vacations each year.  We are proud of all the activities and accommodations we offer our guests. We are also proud of its history, which dates back to 1925.  

The following is a brief look at our history:

1925 ::  A mining engineer dreams of developing a Black Hills country club. Other investors join in to purchase land along Palmer Creek, at the base of Harney Peak, five miles west of Mt. Rushmore.  Four private summer cabins and five rental cabins are constructed.

1929 :: Sold due to the Great Depression. Members of the club could no longer contribute much. The new owner operated the club, where golf, horse riding, picnicking and touring the  hills were the staple activities.

1962 :: The country club was once again sold and the new owners transformed the club into a dude ranch called Palmer Gulch Lodge. The golf course was turned back into natural meadows and valleys. Horse riding, socializing with other guests, and touring the Black Hills remained the activities of the day.

1972 :: Property was sold to the present day owners with the intent of developing a campground.

1973 :: Campground opened its doors as a franchisee of Holiday Inn (Holiday Inn Travel Park).

1976 :: Campground became KOA franchise with the present day name of Mt. Rushmore Hill City KOA.  Along with the Lodge at Palmer Gulch, this property is known as The Resort at Palmer Gulch.

Today, The Resort at Palmer Gulch caters to the thousands of travelers to the Black Hills each year and to the local residents looking for a vacation getaway, providing them with a Black Hills vacation experience that is full of the adventure that makes the area so exciting and beautiful.