The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-06-03
LODGE UP RAPID CANYON
INTERESTINGLY DESCRIBED
Beauty Spot in the Hills In
habited by Pierre People

Pierre has perhaps put up one the
most unique recreation schemes in
the west and it's initial performance
was eminently satisfactory. 1t is
club in which siXty-tive families have
joined, making between three and
four hundred individuals, who with
their invited guests have the right
to enjoy the privileges of the club
The club house is located in Rapid
Canyon, thirteen miles back of Repi
City, in the Black Hills and six hours
ride from the capital city.
A corporation known as Pierre
Lodge was organized in the spring of
1909 and its membership was limited
to sixty-fve citizens of Hughes and
Stanley counties and persons who
have previously been residents of
these counties and their families.
The shares were sold at S66 each and
the proceeds were invested in a very
comfortable building located at Hise-
ga station on the Rapid City and
Mystic short line, at point where
fine water from the spring gulch can
be carried throughout the building by
gravity. Rapid river flows through
the canyon and close under the broad
verandas Of the club. The club has a
rustic, slab sided exterior which is
deemed very appropriate and very at
tractive, while within it is lathed and
plastered and plumbed with hot and
cold water, baths, etc., in modern
style. There is spacious general
room with monster fireplace, dining
room and kitchen below, and above
ten bedrooms open upon ten foot
wide verandas which surround the
house. There is rest and comfort in
every line of it. Several large house
tents complete the housing. and as
the verandas are available for sleeping
purposes seventy persons can be ac-
commodated at one time and the first
years experience demonstrated that
to be as many as can get away from
home to enjoy the lodge at any one
time.
The plan from the start has been to
make the club absolutely democratic
and it has been open to every citizen
of good character who applied to the
extent of its limited membership.
The experience has shown the best of
good fellowship among the members
regardless of position. Where entire
families are accommodated the matter
of expense is of course to be consider
ed and that has been maintained at
the minimum, the character of the
accommodations considered. A good
table of substantial viands is provid-
ed, eminently satisfactory to the
palates of the mountain climbers and
fishermen who make up the company.
Last year the club was kept open
tifty-one days and POI guests were en-
tertained, there being an average of
twenty-nine in the house each day.
Fifty cents day per guest was
charged for meals and a separate
chaage of ten cents was made to pro-
vide fund for the maintenance Of
the property. This charge was fonnd
sufficient to pay all expenses and a
balance of 1926 was found to be on
hand at the close of the season.
The club house cost $3,360 and was
furnished at a cost of about $780, 1t
is located amidst the most rugged
mountain scenery where splendid
pines furnish shade and the river sup
plies good trout fishing. The railroad
is at the door, equipped with self-pro-
pelling motor cars which communi-
cate frequently with Rapid City and
bring the mail promptly from every
train. On the whole the situation is
pretty nearly ideal and the members
of club have gotten degree of salts
faction and enjoyment from it that
makes them most enthusiastic about
the enterprise. Recently the club Sc
cured the title 10 tract OF thirty
one acres of land surrounding the
club which will be plated and let to
the members upon long time leases
and many private cottages will be
built, which will relieve the pressure
upon the accommodations of the club
and permit other citizens to avail
themselves Of its privilege.
The success Of the Pierre enterprise
has attracted the attention OF other
towns and it is reported that several
similar undertakings will be carried
out. The accessibility of Rapid Can.
yon as we'll as it superb attractions
from a scenic STANDPOINT makes it a
popular summering place for the peo
pie of eastern South Dakota.
The beautiful and restful summer
ing places of South Dakota are legior
aud 1t is not necessary to 60 to tht
Black Hills to find a location, al
though the hills present some adyan