In South Dakota, where you stay can be just as memorable as where you go. From sleeping in a haunted hotel room or above an underground winery to waking up on a working cattle ranch at the edge of Badlands National Park, this episode explores accommodations that turn a night away into part of the adventure.
Join host Brian Thacker as he travels to Valiant Vineyards to learn about the winemaking heritage of this family-owned winery before turning in at the bed-and-breakfast upstairs. Then it’s off to Circle View Guest Ranch, where he searches for a missing herd of cows, tours an original 1800s homesteaders’ cabin and spends the night in a private guest room. Finally, he checks into Rapid City’s historic Hotel Alex Johnson — where the living may not be the only guests — to hear tales of the mysterious Lady in White, dine at the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and stay in its most infamous room.
You’ll hear from:
- Eldon Nygaard from Valiant Vineyards Winery & Distillery
- Philip and Amy Kruse from Circle View Guest Ranch
- Mitch McKeithan from Hotel Alex Johnson
[My grandmother] saw the chickens, and they were plucking around and being happy, and she said, ‘Well, if those chickens are happy, I’m going to be happy, too.’ She made it her home the rest of her life.
”Featured Locations
Valiant Vineyards
Raise a glass at South Dakota’s oldest winery, just minutes from downtown Vermillion. Sip your way through locally crafted pours, a tradition that began with a batch of homegrown mulberries in 1961, while the Missouri River valley spreads out before you. Make the most of your visit with a stay in one of six themed rooms at the on-site B&B.
Circle View Guest Ranch
Ready for a real escape? For more than 20 years, this working cattle ranch has welcomed guests to spend their days riding horseback, bottle-feeding calves and collecting eggs from free-range hens. When the chores are done, cast a line in the White River, stroll its cottonwood-dotted shores or explore the surrounding Badlands terrain.
Hotel Alex Johnson
With the old-world charm of its Germanic Tudor-inspired architecture paired with modern-day comforts, it’s no wonder Hotel Alex Johnson has hosted presidents, celebrities and rock stars. Whether you’re spending the night or simply enjoying craft cocktails at the rooftop Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar, this Rapid City landmark is worth a visit.
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