History

• The park grew rapidly in the 1920s, and the CCC built dams that set the future of water recreation in the area in addition to their other activities that transformed the park. In 1964, 23,000 acres were added to the park.
  
  The park is now home to 1,500 free roaming bison, elk, deer, mountain goat, mountain lions and feral burros. The burrows are known to stop cars and tourists to try to get food from them. The park also has a museum, the Peter Norbeck Center.
  
  

Roads

• Custer State Park is known for its scenic drives, which can also be walked or toured via bicycle.
  
  One such road is the Needs Highway, State Road 87, which winds past many fascinating rock formations and through narrow places. There is the eye of the needle, a granite spire 40 feet tall with a three-foot slit forming the eye.
  
  The Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway is a 68-mile loop that goes past the eye of the needle, Mount Rushmore and many other rock formations and views. There are several rock tunnels to go through.
  
  

Campgrounds

• There are nine campgrounds in the park. The Blue Bell Campground has 31 sites with full connections for RVs and tent camping. There are many activities, including hayrides, cookouts, fishing and horse riding. There are cabins available, fishing areas and a gift shop.
  
  The Center Lake Upper Loop Campground has 71 sites. It is the largest and takes same-day reservations. The Black Hills Playhouse is near the campground. There are evening programs put on by naturalists. The sites have water but no electricity. They have vault toilets, showers and restrooms. Tent camping is allowed as well as trailers. There is beach swimming on a small lake.
  
  

More Campgrounds

• The Grace Coolidge campground is for tents only, with no connections. It is a smaller area and has electric service. It has 27 sites, all of which are shaded. The campground has flush toilets and showers.
  
  The Game Lodge campground has 56 sites, some have electricity and water. There are flush toilets and showers. This campground offers bison safari jeep rides, horseback riding, nature trails and a restaurant.
  
  There are also campgrounds around Legion Lake and Stockade Lake, both of which have some electric hookups and water. There is fishing, a boat dock, swimming and planned activities.
  
  

Horse Camp

• With all the trails, it is only natural people would want to bring their horses. The French Creek Horse Camp is only for campers with horses. Sites can be used with a tent or camper. The corrals have numbers corresponding to campsite numbers.
  All the sites here have electrical hookups. There are 26 sites that may be reserved, and two sites for walk-ins.
  
  

Lodge

• There are several camping lodges at the park. Reunion Cabin is a large house with four bedrooms, large fireplaces and a full kitchen. The Creekside Lodge has 30 rooms, a lobby, a large great room, two meeting rooms and great views.
  Other lodges are the State Game Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge, Blue Bell Lodge and Legion Lake Lodge. All of these facilities have restaurants, public rooms and activities.
  
  

Area

• There are also some private campsites near the entrance to the park. These cater to RVs and have electric and water hookups. They have more amenities than campsites inside the park, but they do not have the views and the closeness to nature that the sites have inside the park.