Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-06-13
SYLVAN LAKE.
A cursory Description OF the Marvellous
Scenic Grandeur, and Exception
al Climatic features of
this Peerless
nLYsIuM OF THE NoRrHwEsr
Embrscing o Dssultory Mention OF the
Various improvements Completed. and
Now In Progress. for the Accornmoda-
ton and Comfort of Visiting Guests.

Various improvements Completed. and
Now In Progress. for the Accornmods-
ton and Comfort Of Visiting Gussts-
This unrivslled pleasure resort, locat-
ed six miles north of Custer, from
which point it 70 accessible by stages
connecting with all railroad trains. the
fame of which, as yet, may be said to b
largely in embryo, a fact due to its re-
cent origin, and the absence Of any con-
siderable effort on the part Of its pi !,
pmosors to give publicity to its supsrios
natural advantages as e1mmsr resSrt,
has nevertheless attained q fair degree
Of prominence, and promises n the near
/ future to compare favorably In this
direction with the most popular pleas
ure resorts extsnt.
No spot upon the rugged and roman
tic face Of earth has so completely cap
tivated visitors with the marvellous
grandeur of its scenic surroundings,
and climatic conditions.
The surprising beauty and matchless
grandeur Of the rare medley of native
scenery here presented, battles all effort
in its adequate description, and can on
iy be appreciated by those who enjoy
the exalted opportunity Of feasting
their eyes upon the enchanting scene.
Here it is that nature in her bounte-
Gus bensficsnce, has apparently put
forth her greatest effort in the creation
of scene of such rare panoramic
beauty and striking grandeur as TO sug-
gest the thought, that it was specially
wrought and placed on exhibition as
her crowning masterpiece.
The more renowned resorts of the
world, whose attractions are largely due
to palatisl hotels, and the varied ad-
juncts to personal comfort and enter
tainmsnt, secured by the vast expendit-
ure Of money, are, as a rule. notably de-
ficient in ma ural attractions. as COM
pared with the charming spot of which
We write.
Art is not factor in the make up oi
the grand scenes which are here pre-.
ssntsd. nor will the future popularity oi
this inimitable resort materially depend
upon elaborate artistic adornment, at.
tanned by large investment of capital
Nature has endowed it with . wealth ol
numan afr comoinsu are powe:Tess e
reproduce. 1t is TO these God-giver
features that comparison with the NOR,
celebrated resorts of the world is 10
vited.
The elegant hotel and other essentisi
Improvements already provided, to
which We will refer later, are of a char.
acter that warrant excellent accommo'
dations. and full measure Of personal
comfort, but this feature, however pleas.
ing it may be to the visitor, is over.
shadowed and forgotten in the contsm.
plation of the superlative grandeur OF
the native scenery by which the
charming spot is SO richly enyiroped.
Most prominent and impressive
among the scenes comprising this
matchless museum Of natures handi-
work, are the giant peaks whose lofty
sdamantine spires pierce the passing
clouds, their quaint and fantastic out
lines clearly mirrored upon the placid
bosom Of the shimmering lake at their
base, which, in the mellow sunlight,
present picture of rare beauty and
SURPRISING grandeur, and one upon
which the eye of the appreciativs OBJ.
server delights to dwell.
Looking to the north from the south.
ern border Of the lake, towering cliffs,
whose weird outlines, pictured upon the
cerulian sky, are seen in the distance,
upon the lofty SUBMITS of which no
human foot has ever trod. where the
shrill scream of the eagle, which per-
chance may select these lonely retreats
for the building Of its eyris, the muir
murinE wall of the passing winds and
the echoing peal Of natures artillery
are the only sounds that ever break the
eternal solitude.
Farther out, rising in silent grandeur,
lifting aloft its rocky heights. and tower
ing eight thousand feet above tide, the
Monarch Of the Mountains, with its
countless crags and grand and imposing
outlines standing out in bold relief, and
overlooking Cathedral Park with its
myriads of craggy peaks and LOFTY spires
giving to them the appearance of an
cisnt castles, Harvey Peak. in all its
majestic grandeur. presides as the silent
sentinel over this rapturous realm.
Scenes of rarest native beauty oi
which description in detail would in.
volve much more Of our time and space
than 10 at present available, greet the
eye on every hand, which. in the agxrs.
gate, complete . combination of scenic
attractions which may be safely said to
be unrivalled in this or any other
known region.
Its climatic advantages are such as to
commend il to the favorable csnsidera.
tion Of those who are desirous of sscap.
ing the oppressive heat incident to the
summer montbs in the lower attitudes
excessive heat being entirely unknown
in this delightful region. and the yexa.
tious annoyancss resulting from the
presence Of mosquitoes and other
troublesome insects. % common &c
many resorts Of this character, are also
wholly unknown here.
The Improvements provided for the
accommodation, comfort. and entertain
meat Of guests. while, ~ yet, they are
not a. elaborate - may be found at the
older and more prominent resorts o.
the period. have been carefully planned
with view to providing for the highss
degree of bodily comfort, and the mos
pleasing and enjoyable entertainnen
! for patrons.