The C.C. Gideon Room is on the second floor, has two queen beds and futon sofa bed that makes into a double. The private bath has an antique claw foot tub and there is also a two person spa tub in the room. C.C. Gideon was a contractor from the Minneapolis area. In 1918 he was asked to come to the Black Hills and meet with Senator Norbeck, who then hired Gideon to be the contractor for the construction of the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. Gideon, his wife Elma and four children drove out to the hills and set up their home in a wooden floored tent at the future site of the Lodge. The state provided convict labor for Gideon, who was a good shot and always carried a side-arm or shotgun. The lodge was completed in the fall of 1921. The Gideons were asked to stay on as care takers for the winter. The Game Lodge burned to the ground and was re-built and opened as public facility in 1922. Gideon and his wife were asked to operate the lodge as a tourist facility, which they did until 1945. During the years at the Lodge, Gideon was also involved in many of the early projects of Norbeck's including the laying out of Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road (including the design of the Pig Tail Bridges), the design of the Artist's Studio at Mt. Rushmore, the concession at Wind Cave, and numerous other public and private building construction in the area. There is a road side historical marker at the Pig Tail Bridges on Iron Mountain Road honoring Gideon as the Man who turned Vision into Reality.. Gideon was also the personal guide and a deputized U.S. Marshall while President Coolidge was staying at the Game Lodge. He accompanied the President on numerous fishing and hunting trips and became his stalwart and taciturn friend.

The Peter Norbeck Room is located on the main floor, has a king bed, private bath with shower and a two person spa tub in the room. Themed after the renown Prairie Statesman, a two term Governor, State Senator and U.S. Senator, best known for his conservation efforts in the Black Hills. It was Senator Norbeck that first noticed then acted upon the fact that the Black Hills, in the early nineteen hundreds, were devoid of wild game. He was able to persuade the state legislature to enact a bill authorizing a game park in the southern hills area. He next pushed through legislation that allowed the State Game Lodge to be built in 1918. In the mid 1920's he saw the need for a scenic drive through the area now known as The Needles then in the early 1930's he was the push behind the road known as Iron Mountain Road. He was instrumental in getting President Coolidge to South Dakota for the summer of 1927. He supported the plan to bring Gutzon Borglum to the area to start the carving of Mt. Rushmore. Prior to his political career he pioneered a deep well drilling system that brought water to many farms in eastern South Dakota. Be sure to stop at the Peter Norbeck Visitor's Center in Custer State Park and go to the Norbeck Overlook on Iron Mountain Road to learn more about this visionary.

The Annie Tallent Room is on the second floor, has two queen beds, private bath with antique claw foot tub and a two person spa tub in the room. Named after the first white woman to settle in the Black Hills, this room has an antique school desk in honor of her life-long profession. Annie Tallent came into the Black Hills with her husband and young son while the hills were still off limits to white settlers. They had heard rumors of gold (discovered by General Custer's men) and a group refered to as the Gordon Party collected in Nebraska and slipped into the area. They built the Gordon Party Stockade near where the town of Custer stands today. Upon discovery by the U.S. Calvalry, they were sent packing back to Nebraska. The Tallents stayed nearby and waited until the Hills were opened up to settlers and then returned to mine for gold. Everywhere Annie's husband took the little family she started a school and taught someone to be the teacher. After a few years there were schools operating in all of the principle gold mining areas. Having schools allowed real towns to grow and brought civilization into the hills quickly. Ultimately Annie was hired to be principal then superintendent of schools and would ride on horseback around to the various outpost schools every few months to make sure the programs were being properly taught. She retired and settled in Sturgis to be near her son. There is a monument in her memory outside of the city of Custer and a school and street were named after her in Rapid City. In recent years her book The Last of the Dakotas has been deemed offensive to the Native Peoples of South Dakota and is no longer in print. Nevertheless, her contribution to the settling of the Black Hills was significant.

Exceptional knowledge of the region. Loved the suggested itineraries, complete with maps!; Jim and Fran B, Oct. 2007. Marilyn and Art were so gracious and kind. Their other guests were fun to be with and we had a great time. Art took time to play pool with our son and Marilyn took time to show us maps, make suggestions of things to do.; Kathy R., Sept. 2007. Could not believe how nice a B B could be.; Lou M., Oct. 2007. A wonderful place, very gracious hosts!; Dec. 2007. The most wonderful B B we have ever been to. Great experience!!!! We will return in the future.; Sharri B., June 2007. Beautiful views, nice evening desserts on the porch. Very hospitable couple.; Alan R., July 2007. The best place I've ever stayed! Definitely want to go back! Art and Marilyn are great!; Lori S., June 2007. An experience of a lifetime. Every thing and more we could ask for.; Kathleen S., June 2007. Would return and would recommend this to our family and friends.; Barbra M., June, 2007. Exceptional accommodations, very friendly and knowledgeable about the area.; Larry M., June 2007. It was the most awesome place we ever stayed, nice people and good food.; Kristine K., May 2007. Remarkable and excellent situation. Great food and exceptionally helpful hosts.; Bennett H., July 2007. Wow! The best B B we've ever experienced.; Jean C., May 2007. Marilyn and Art are the best! Fabulous 5-star lodge. Wonderful hosts and super breakfast!; Sara S., March 2007. Memorable. Wonderful log house in a superb setting. Made extremely welcome.; David E., June 2007. Marilyn and Art are the finest of Innkeepers. Great stories and even better views and food!! 5 star!!; Steve M., April 2007. We stayed on our honeymoon and return every year for our anniversary. Art and Marilyn make it special to look forward to.; Gary K., Feb. 2007. A wonderful experience. Would have loved to have stayed longer.; Graham P., Aug. 2007. Not enough superlatives to describe facilities and hospitality.; Stephen K., Aug. 2007. Excellent hospitality and very understanding of special needs.; Maurice B., Aug. 2007. We had a great time. Hosts and fellow guests were a delight.; Deanne S., Aug. 2007. Amazing scenery, beautiful rooms, excellent food. Definitely returning someday!; G. P., Sept. 2007. The warmest, most beautiful accommodations we had on our entire trip!!; Candace L., Sept. 2007. Best B B we have stayed in - Exceptional decor, food, hosts and location are superb.; S. W., Sept. 2007. Lovely pillows on the bed! Not to mention the beautiful surroundings.; Thomas E., Aug. 2007. Marilyn and Art are wonderful. Best B B by far we've ever been to! We will return!; Katie T., Oct. 2007. More than we imagined. Our memories are of our host and accommodations as much as the Black Hills.; Kirk G., July 2007. Would return without hesitation. Couldn't be better!; Jim K., July 2007. The Best.; Michael E., Aug. 2007. Outstanding First class. Lovely People.; Bob E., July 2007. We stayed with our children ages 14 11. We all enjoyed the B B and hosts.; July 2007. Our family has been going to the Black Hills every year since 1992. This vacation was our best to date.; Julie Z., July 2007. Click here for last year's testimonials. Comments are taken from actual comment cards submitted by guests to the Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota association after their stays. Buffalo Rock Lodge is a member of: Bed Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota. Black Hills Badlands Lakes Association

Buffalo Rock Lodge is a bed and breakfast set among some of the most beautiful scenery in the world; The Black Hills of South Dakota. We offer luxurious rooms, each with a private bath and jet tub. Eat a large, western-style breakfast on our west deck facing Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, which is three miles away. At night, enjoy some homemade cookies or pie on the deck. Maybe you like billiards? We also have a 4x8 Connelly pool table. Each room is tastefully decorated with an array of authentic western artifacts. The lodge is family oriented. We are in the heart of nature's playground with a majestic all natural landscape. © 2007 Buffalo Rock Lodge, Keystone, SD | All Rights Reserved | Design by. | Photos © Curtis Photographics

Art and Marilyn Oakes have deep roots in the Black Hills of SD. Grandpa C.C. Gideon came out in 1918 to build the State Game Lodge and stayed on as proprietor with his wife Elma Mary for 27 years. Other members of the family ran the concession at Mt. Rushmore, the concesssion at Wind Cave, and built the town of Rockerville. Grandpa was involved in the repopulation of many of the animals now considered native to the Hills. Art has become well known in the area as a man who loves the hills and works hard to protect what we all enjoy. He was instrumental in getting the lights turned back on Mt. Rushmore in 1995/96. He encourages wildlife in our area and has a group of wild turkeys that regularly come by for handouts. Other interests include photography and gardening. The Mt. Rushmore International Poetry Contest recognized his work with a second place overall for his poem Four Presidents In Memorium. Marilyn has written papers on the history of her grandfather C.C. Gideon and the early years of development in Custer State Park, and has worked on tourism boards including Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers of South Dakota and the Black Hills Badlands and Lakes regional tourism board. Recently, she has joined the Visitors Industry Alliance which is a lobbying group for the tourism industry. We offer our guests day tours, directions around the hills to maximize their time spent with the most desired locations and recommendations for restaurants, hiking trails, must see attractions, and anything else that our guests might need to know about the area.