Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-09-11
BEAUTY SPOT OF THE HILLS.
Marvellous Work bf Nature - Beautiful
Sylvan Lake Growing in Popular
ity as Pleasure Resort.

It is remarkable how rapidly Sylvan
Lake is growing in popularity. Each
year has shown an increasing number of
tourists at this beautiful spot of the
Black Hills, but this year has broken all
records in the number of visitors. That
the resort is destined to become even
more popular next season is certain as
it has gained many new friends this
summer without losing any of the old
and already the management is PLAN
Mug new improvements for the accom-
mediation of visitors. A number of new
bath houses are to be built before the
opening of the hotel next summer and
also club house in shaded nook
across the road from the hotel.
The hotel, under the capable manage
ment Oft. ]. Carroll, who has leased 1t
for q number of years, furnishes every
thing necessary for the comfort of the
tourists. 1t is situated on the edge Of
the lake which is six miles from the
historic town Of Custer on the Burling-
ton and reached by an interesting drive
over a rough and rugged mountain road.
The conveyance is rig drawn by four
horses. 1t is not unlike the stage coach
of the pioneer DAYS, but the people Of
the Black Hills have become 30 progress
sive that they call it by the more digni-
fed name tally-ho.
l;ttIo ,you ont fropn Tuctar tho
ascent is made into a mountainous coun-
try which becomes more and more rug
ged as the approach to the lake is made.
The huge rock formations of which
there are hundreds within a few miles
of the lake are noticed before entering
into the Sylvan lake grounds, and can
not help but fill the visitor with feel
ing Of awe at the stupendiousness of
natures handiwork. Pictures do not
give an adequate conception as they only
convey to the mind an imperfect i'm
preston of the limited view of the
camera and while any one of the hun
dreds of gigantic rocks set off by itself
might easily inspire admiration and
wonder at the marvellous work of nature,
it is the collection of so many stipend
Gus sights within SO small space of
few square miles that completes the
picture and brings the close student Of
nature and the world.trotter to the real.
ization that there is nothing like it
anywhere else in the universe.
The guide books and the photog-
raphers pick out few views of the
Needless" the hanging rock, the guar
dian of the pools, the arm chair and a
few others; centering attention especi-
ally upon these single views. While
any one of these may be wonderful in
itself, 1t is only one of hundred or
more equally interesting sights that
awaits the sightseer.
The trip to Harney's peak is without
doubt the most popular and it is well
worth the hard and long journey neces-
sary to reach the highest elevation in
the Hills. About half mile from the
hotel is a mica mine, where fne speci-
mems can be picked from the rocks. In
many of the rocks in the Sylvan lake
grounds, may be found collections of
mica which is freely picked from the
rocks and the pathway to Harney's
peak is strewn with shining pieces of
mineral. The Needles" which are
famous for their beauty are collection
of many rocks towering several hun
dreds of feet in the air, some of them
being quite thick, while others come to
sharp point. They surround a wood
ed, grassy plot, which is named Cathed-
raj park.
Harney's peak, which is $500 feet in
altitude, is the highest point in the
Black Hills and affords grand view of
scenic country for many miles. On a
clear day it is possible to see into Ne
braska, Wyoming and Montana and the
bad lands can be seen as far as the eye
can reach.
Some of the largest rocks to be seen
in the boundary of Sylvan lake grounds
are those back of the hotel, the collec-
ton being known as the Queens Parlor.
A trip not taken by all the tourists, but
which is certainly worth while is the
one through the Gorge down to the
pools and the large rocks above the
pools, the crowning feature of which is
"The Guardian of the Pools" large
rock in the shape Of woman's head
entirely formed by nature.
The Gorge route is a gradual descent
over large rocks and great boulders
which causes one to marvel at the sim
gular collection of nature. The great
stones fill the valley for a distance of
about three-quarters of a mile, and the
tourist who is wise will provide himself
with good pair of cowhide shoes with
double soles and some rough clothes be-
fore be takes the trip. The Hill City
road is but short distance above the
pools and will afford the easiest way
back to the hotel. The stranger will
feel safer if he makes the trip in COM
pany with some one who knows the
way, as there will probably be dozen
times when he will think he has lost
himself and will become aware of the
fact that there is no one there to find
him.
While at Sylvan lake there is plenty of
quiet for those who want it and the "born
tired" can get along very easily, yet for
the ambitious tourist and the lover of
nature it may be made astrenuous place
to spend vacation. Climbing Harney's
| na.k uhethar afoot or on the hack of a