Nestled among 6 serene acres in Custer County, SD, McDonald Mountain Ranch offers a tranquil retreat. The historic Calamity Jane cabin features an open floor plan with a king size bed and twin bed, kitchenette with essentials like toaster and drip coffeemaker, small bath with walk-in shower and toilet. Step outside onto the all-cedar deck for BBQ grilling or head to nearby Center Lake for swimming/fishing.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire cabin
1 bathroomSleeps 431 sq m
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Free Wi-Fi
Air-conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available
Barbecue
Add dates for prices
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire cabin to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park
Just a stone's throw from Custer State Park! Three guest cabins, plus two suites in the lodge, are located on 6 beautiful, serene acres in Custer County, SD.
The Calamity Jane cabin is an authentic, historic log home with the original wood floor, main door, and historic rock fireplace. (Due to its historical nature the fireplace is non-functioning.) The cabin got its name because Calamity Jane herself spent an evening in the cabin while traveling through the hills back in the day.
The Calamity Jane is an open floor plan which sleeps 3 people. It has a king size bed and a twin bed. A kitchenette and small bath were added to the original cabin. (The old outhouse still stands nearby; we use it as a gardening shed.) The kitchenette includes a sink, microwave, mini fridge, toaster, drip coffeemaker, and an induction hot plate. We stock the kitchenette with pots, pans, basic cooking and eating utensils. We include dishes, drinking glasses, basic spices, and a limited amount of coffee and filters. A small bath with a walk in shower and toilet. There is also a kitchen table with two chairs, as well as a dining table with four chairs near the fireplace. There is a 32" Roku TV in the main cabin. We use Starlink satellite internet for our Wifi. Outside there is an all cedar deck with a small table, 2 chairs, and BBQ grill for outdoor enjoyment.
There is a 3 day minimum to rent the Calamity Jane.
McDonald Mountain Ranch is in a very convenient location. Center Lake is nearby, which is a swimming/fishing lake with picnic tables, barbeque grills, showers and restrooms; located 2 miles away from the ranch. The Black Hills Historic Playhouse is also within a few miles. The beautiful Iron Mountain Hiking Trail is right around the corner. The Wolf Camp outdoor restaurant which serves barbeque ribs, burgers, pizza, etc is 1/2 mile away. The entrance to Custer State Park is also right around the corner.
Minimum age requirement on Calamity Jane is age 3
Unfortunately due to many considerations and despite the fact that we are huge animal lovers, we do not allow pets in our cabins. If a guest arrives for their reservation with an animal they will NOT be given a rental key NOR issued a refund.
We do not have guest laundry facilities. There are laundromats in Keystone and Hill City.
Check in is at 4:00pm MST. Check out is by 11:00am MST. Due to our small staff we do not offer early check nor late check out.
Driving and Parking Info: The Ranch is located directly off of a well maintained and paved county road. Our driveways are hard packed dirt and gravel. We have limited parking near each of the cabins and suites. We have an additional parking area at the rear of the main lodge. We have a large, well kept meadow beyond that for overflow parking of motorcycle trailers, side by sides, etc. We ask that you please do not block the main driveways or the two car garage at the front of the property.
Property amenities
Ski
Snowboarding nearby
Internet
Available in the cabin: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Car required
RV/bus/lorry parking on site
Limited on-site parking (max 2 spaces)
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Microwave
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
1 bathroom
Hair dryer
Shower
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Entertainment
Smart TV
Outdoor areas
Barbecue grill
Patio
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
3 steps to reach entrance
Hardwood flooring in public areas
Smoke-free property
Location highlights
In a rural location
In the mountains
Near a zoo
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Casino nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Hunting nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Mountain climbing nearby
Rock climbing nearby
Snowmobiling nearby
Spelunking nearby
Swimming nearby
Water tubing nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Winery tours nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Check-out instructions
The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Turn off the lights
Leave the door unlocked and key inside the rental.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is required for transport to and from this property
About the area
Located in Hermosa, this cabin is in a rural area and in the mountains. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by Mount Rushmore National Memorial, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore. National Presidential Wax Museum and Rushmore Tramway Adventures are also worth visiting. Take in the nearby slopes with snowboarding, or try out other outdoor activities such as snowmobiling. Visit our Hermosa travel guide
Is Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park?
Limited spots are available.
What time is check-in at Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.
What time is check-out at Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park located?
Situated in the mountains, this cabin is 2 mi (3.3 km) from Custer State Park and within 6 miles (10 km) of Black Hills Playhouse and Center Lake. Presidents Park and Big Thunder Gold Mine are also within 6 miles (10 km).
Have a question?
AI iconBetaBeta
Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.
Cozy, Historic Cabin by Rushmore & Custer St Park Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Beautiful setting in the Black Hills-rural yet near all of the attractions!
Our second stay at the McDonald Mountain Ranch! Love the location and the friendly host! So close to all of the attractions yet on a peaceful rural road next to Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest. Beautiful area with so much to see and do!
This is a beautiful place to stay. The view is awesome, where one can see wild turkeys,deer, and other wildlife. Close to Mt. Rushmore and Keystone, SD. Mr. McDonald is a treasure to visit with.
We loved this place the cabin was so cute…perfect for just the two of us. Scenery was beautiful on the way there and outside on the deck. Would recommend to everybody to come enjoy this little cabin
Everything was great! If you are looking for a rustic cabin, that is clean and taken care of…this is it! We will be back for sure! Very peaceful location.
RUSSELL F.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Erik
6 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This was an excellent stay in a 1800s cabin. Richard the owner is a true gem. Stop by and visit with him when he is out relaxing on his porch- It is worth it.
It was nice and quiet there was some traffic due to the location of the cabin
Judy M.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Roger
14 Sept 2023
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
The cabin was comfortable and in a good location to get to all of the attractions in the area. I didn't like it being so close to the road but it wouldn't keep me from coming back. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to stay there. Thank you.
Lovely property. Close to where I needed to be. Lots of deer, drive slow and safe especially around 5-6p. FYI navigating to Old McDonald Ranch is better than typing the address to GPS.
The lock might benefit from an update. I was having trouble locking it as you have to pull the door hard while turning the key.
This was a great little cabin in a beautiful area. The deer were great to see most mornings as we were watching the sunrise. We also saw wild turkeys. Very relaxing place to stay and close to other attractions.
We stayed 4 nights and absolutely loved it. We would love to stay again. The host is so helpful and friendly. The property is beautiful and you see alot of wildlife. Close to Custer and Keystone! I highly recommend this property.
This was a great place for our family to stay to get to all the places we wanted to go…Mt Rushmore, Custer, and Windcave.
Kirsten L.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Crystal
14 Oct 2022
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This quaint cabin makes you feel secluded and peaceful and at the same time not far away from many local activities and attractions. It was very clean and quiet and relaxing. Highly recommend!
We loved the property and enjoyed visiting with Richard! The hikes on the property were a great way to start our days! It is close to several towns for shopping and fun activities, as well as Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Crazy Horse. Sylvan Lake, at the top of a mountain, was a beautiful picnic spot!