Custer State Park is South Dakota’s first and largest state park. The park covers an area of over 71,000 acres (287 km2) of varied terrain including rolling prairie grasslands and rugged mountains.
The park is home to a herd of 1,500 bison. Elk, coyotes, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, river otters, pronghorn, cougars, and feral burros also inhabit the park. The park is known for its scenery, its scenic drives (Needles Highway and the wildlife loop), with views of the bison herd and prairie dog towns.
The area originally started out as sixteen sections but was later changed into one block of land because of the challenges of the terrain. The park began to grow rapidly in the 1920s and gained new land. During the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps built miles of roads, laid out parks and campgrounds, and built three dams that set up a future of water recreation at the park. In 1964 an additional 22,900 acres (93 km2) were added to the park.
Thirty-six bison were bought in 1914 to begin a herd. Now the park sustains a herd of 1,000 bison.
Museums in the park – The Peter Norbeck Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is located on U.S. Route 16A in Custer State Park. Exhibits focus on the park’s natural history and cultural heritage, and include wildlife dioramas, a CCC bunkhouse and a gold prospecting display. The center is named for South Dakota Governor and Senator Peter Norbeck. Many of the park’s naturalist programs begin at the center.
Badger Hole, also known as Badger Clark Historical Site, was the home of Charles Badger Clark (1883–1957), who was named South Dakota’s first Poet Laureate in 1937 and was noted for his cowboy poetry. The house is maintained as it was when Clark lived there.
Opened in May 2016, Custer State Park’s visitor center has information on the animals of the park, as well as a 20-minute film detailing the history and layout of the park.
Movies filmed in Custer State Park, include The Last Hunt (1956), How the West Was Won (1962) and A Man Called Horse (1970).
U.S. President Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace vacationed at Custer State Park for several weeks during the summer of 1927. Grace Coolidge Creek and its surrounding campground and trail are named in honor of the visit. In nearby Rapid City, where he had his summer office, Coolidge announced to assembled reporters, “I do not choose to run” for re-election in 1928.