Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-08-18
sylvan Lake.

This peerless summer resort is rapidly
fact that by reason of the limited facili
ties for the accommodation Of visitors il
has not been advertised, as X was not
desired that more should come than
could be satisfactorily accommodated.
The Crary cottage, the only place where
accommodations may be had, is wholly
insufficient to meet the demand, and
may are compelled to abreviate their
visit to this charming spot on this ac-
count. Referring to the merits of the
matchless scenic wonder, Clusters lead
ing suburban attraction, the Deadwood
Pioneer, in "A recent issue says:
Nowhere in the Hills does the seen
cry excel that Of Sylvan lake 1t is
doubtful if anywhere between the
Cheyenne and the Belle Fourche can
equal it in grandeur. Enthusiastic
travellers venture the assertion that even
Switzerland in all her glory does not
surpass it. When it becomes better
known it will be without doubt a great
summer resort. 1t is only three years
since there was anything at all there,
and now the accommodations are sadly
inadequate and on this account summer
visitors are discouraged. The hotel
which was to have been open for guests
at the beginning of the season stands
unfinished on the shore of the lake, a
victim Of the had times. The little
lake which it overlooks is surrounded
on two sides by rocky cliffs and on the
other two by grassy timber and slopes.
1t is fed by two mountain streams and
reflects a sky so near that its blue is
sapphire and clouds that hang not very
far above il. Half q dozen little row
boats rock gently Oh the S,vtcr, and
everything suggests long dreams Of
light" And all this is $500 feet above
the level of the sea. A rocky, romantic
pathway leads from the wagon road
down to the hotel and the lake, down
through a short, narrow tunnel cut in
the rock, where rocks fallen from above
and caught make the top of the tunnel.
A little beyond, above the tall slender
points of rock known as the Needles and
unlike anything else in the Hills, lIar-
ney Peak raises its lofty head above the
surrounding peaks, and here, nearly
every day, tourists wend their way on
iltlle DuTTOS until, WIlnIn Il lew hundred
feet of the top. the burros are left be-
hind aud the tourists Chamber up on foot
to look down from this, the highest
pinnacle, upon the length and breadth
Of a country that the Indians thought
too good for man. There is no spot in
the vicinity hat is not beautiful. The
Crary cottage, built for a private resi-
dence, but now forced to accommodate
u hat guests are there, stands under an
oyerhanging cliff known rs thu Queens
Drawing Room, and at the end Of a
drive that might seemingly end at an
enchanted palace. the horses are fed and
sheltered. Tourists are taken TO the
lake, up the high cliffs close by the cot
tage, down the long beautiful rocky
gorge and up TO the top Of Harvey and
there are told they "have no. seen the
one-half." To all tourists who are seek
ing 10 avoid the heat, who would see the
year round, the sun rise high in the
heavens before the morning chill is
conquered; who would enjoy the luxury
Of pine wood fire in the CRATE and lie
down at night under the grateful warmth
of blankets, to all such. Sylvan lake as a
summer resort is eminently recommend
al -