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Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes!

Cabin in Custer with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes!

Cabin with front deck from yard @ Golden Valley Ranch
Living room with large screen DISH satellite TV and electric fireplace.
Queen-sized sofa sleeper in living area
Dining table can add leaf, bench and stools to seat eight.
Kitchen and island with dinning room table

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8185.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View map
Custer, SD
  • Place, Custer State Park
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Place, Sylvan Lake
    ‪19 min drive‬
  • Place, Crazy Horse Memorial
    ‪20 min drive‬
  • Airport, Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional)
    ‪82 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes!

Golden Valley Ranch is a wonderful single story 3 bedroom, 2 bath log cabin sitting at the back of 7.02 acres surrounded by National Forest Service on 3 sides . The inside of the home is open and light plus there are views from just about every direction you look. There are two king sized beds, a smaller bedroom with a trundle (two singles) along with a queen sized sofa sleeper in the living room. All bedrooms and living areas have ceiling fans. There are two small ponds on the property fed by a natural spring that bubbles out next to the deck. The National Forest is out the back gate for those of you who want to ride four wheelers. A nice large deck with table and chairs is accessed from the kitchen door and has a gas grill for those cooking adventures! There is a wooden bridge that crosses the small creek at the upper pond so you can walk to enjoy the outdoors in the meadow. Enjoy the variety of wildlife and view from the front deck. Deer, fox, turkey and marmots are common sights. The veranda (all glass windows) front porch is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy the scenic beauty for morning coffee or evening beverages. It is 1-1/2 miles to the entrance of Custer State Park and Stockade Lake. The tall pine trees, the wildlife, the seclusion, bordering National Forest and being close to the town of Custer make this the ideal place to stay. Come see for yourself.

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Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Children under ten years of age are free.
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Parking only on gravel, no parking on center grass area (septic tank location)

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there are no carbon monoxide detectors or gas appliances on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Custer

Custer is home to this cabin. Crazy Horse Memorial is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Custer State Park and Black Hills National Forest. Needles Highway and Granite Sports are also worth visiting. Fishing and swimming offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Custer, SD

What's nearby

  • Stockade Lake - 2 min drive - 2.2 km
  • Custer State Park - 7 min drive - 6.3 km
  • Sylvan Lake - 19 min drive - 18.2 km
  • Crazy Horse Memorial - 20 min drive - 17.2 km
  • Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road - 28 min drive - 23.2 km

Getting around

  • Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional) - 63 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Baker's Bakery & Cafe - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Miner's Cup - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Purple Pie Place - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Frontier Bar And Grill - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Borders National Forest/Sleeps 8-Close to Town/Privacy Yes! located?

Situated in Custer, this cabin is 1 mi (1.6 km) from Stockade Lake and within 3 miles (5 km) of French Creek and Custer State Park. Black Hills National Forest is 2.9 mi (4.7 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 129 out of 131 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 131 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 131 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 131 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 131 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful stay tucked away from the city, very quiet. Host answered all our families questions and went above by giving us recommendations of places to eat and things to see. Home was clean and well taken care of and had a lot of essentials and more! Beautiful views to sit out and enjoy a meal on the deck or coffee in the morning.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

July 2025

We can not say enough about our stay at Golden Valley Ranch.It was spacious, well stocked, serene and absolutely beautiful. The location was perfect for our numerous outings. We would come back and stay here ANYTIME
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Priscilla A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

comfort & serenity

accessible but so very quiet no highway noise or other people lovely green space for games with kids, decks to sit and relax on fire pit area was fantastic with wood provided well appointed kitchen comfortable beds and linens great tv on rare occasin we wanted to watch
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful vacation spot

This place is a jewel. My husband and I along with our daughter and her two sons stayed here for a total of six nights and loved every minute. It is close to Custer and yet far enough away for privacy. Very quiet and has everything you need for a home away from home.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shelley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Exceeded expectations

What a delightful place for our family getaway. Very spacious and comfortable house. I loved the charming decor. Very well stocked.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kelly S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful and private

This property is close to Custer and Custer state park. Perfect location in a private peaceful setting. Trails, wildlife, views, it had it all.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rob S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place

A very charming place down a secluded private gravel drive. The three large rooms allowed us to spread out and have plenty of space. Perfect choice.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

ELIZABETH W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing, spacious and lovely

Fantastic place to stay. SO relaxing… on the deck, by the pond, in the sunroom. Many relaxing cups of coffee were had. the owners take great care to have everything you might need. Will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carrie K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place to stay!

The location of this house is fantastic! You feel like you are in your own hidden oasis. The house was clean, spacious and comfortable. It was so quiet that we slept with the windows open every night! We really appreciated the extras that came with the house (I.e. seasonings, coffee, board games and puzzles, etc.). We would definitely stay here again!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mary G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cabin Happiness

Everyone who entered the cabin were impressed. It was clean, comfortable, and located in a beautiful area. There was wildlife to watch, deer, rock chucks, and lots of birds. I would recommend this property to anyone wanting a great place to stay. We had 8 sleeping and many friends and family show came to spend time. I would go back in a minute.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Melissa J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little piece of heaven

This is the best property. The owners have thought of everything you could need while staying here. It is away from the hustle and bustle to allow for relaxing and creating memories with your family. Close to town and all attractions. Quiet and peaceful. Neat to watch the marmots play and the deer walking through the woods/property. Definitely a 10/10.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stanley H., Inverness FL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Quiet Relaxing Week in South Dakota

Everyone in our family loved this quiet country retreat. The cabin is exceptionally clean, beautifully decorated, and well-supplied. The kitchen is perfect for cooking and serving meals to small or large groups. Our favorite part of the cabin was the very spacious sun porch on the front of the cabin where one can read, play games, or simply gaze at the spectacular views of the Black Hills and the adjacent National Forest. Grilling and eating at the table on the deck and evenings around the bonfire were other favorite activities. This property is a perfect place to find seclusion even though it is very close to all of the tourist activities in the area.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2020

10/10 Excellent

Nicole H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nothing short of perfect!

This cabin provided everything we were looking for and more! It was spacious, clean, cozy, and had a homey, cabin-feel. There were plenty of dishes, pots, pans, spices and other materials one might need to easily prepare a meal. The host, Elaine, was very responsive and even went out of her way to provide a shower chair and collasible chairs for my my disabled mother. The pull-up external entrance to her room only had one step and there was a walk-in shower. The view near the cabin and the fire pit were a bonus, as well as the fact that it was easy to navigate to and from off of a main road. There were plenty of incredible things to do close by and it made for a very memorable trip - my mom's favorite was the wildlife loop where we drove through a herd of buffalo. And for those who are looking for fishing, there are 2 amazing lakes and a few creeks very close to the cabin. We caught the most fish that we have caught in years! Pike, blue-gill, crappie, perch, bullheads and trout. I HIGHLY recommend staying here!! THANK YOU for opening up your vacation home to us!!! We greatly appreciated it!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Susan G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything about this house was amazing. Deer on the lawn when we arrived, kitchen very well equipped, hostess was so helpful and accommodating. She helped locate a cabin down the road when my nephew and family decided that they would like to join us. Weather was perfect and we couldn’t have found a better location. We mostly cooked at home and had a wonderful time.
Cathedral Spires hike
Aspens changed color a lot while we were here.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lesley R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic cabin and super close to so many great places, including restaurants and Custer State Park. The cabin is well equipped with everything you could need to have a comfortable and convenient stay. Thoughtful touches abound - such as Kleenex boxes in nearly every room. The decor in every room is really great and homey. I would definitely book this cabin again. The property is beautiful, peaceful, and super private as well. We also enjoyed all the wildlife - rabbit, deer, and an industrious squirrel. He was collecting pine cones for the upcoming winter.
Inviting home with great curb appeal
Love the back deck with lights
Nice plants throughout the property
A bunny greeted us upon arrival and was present every evening.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Linda H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay at Golden Valley Ranch. It’s not very far from Custer, but it’s very private and quiet. The kitchen is stocked with everything you may need for cooking meals. Everything was super clean. Communication with the owner was prompt and helpful. We would definitely return if we return to the Black Hills.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This modern cabin has several amenities to offer. It is comfortable, spacious and well maintained.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joy H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We absolutely loved our stay at your house! We visit Custer every year and have stayed in a dozen different places. Yours is our new favorite. The house is perfectly located…secluded and private but close to town and nature. The house itself is so clean and cozy with everything you need - in the kitchen, family games, fire pit essentials, even some coffee to get us started. The decks are a perfect place to relax and visit. The yard was great for games and the fire pit made for fun evening gatherings. It really felt like home. We will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Penny C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent stay, clean, well stocked pantry of spices and misc, beds slept well, beautiful wildlife and walking trails. Very peaceful and quiet. Very spacious. Comfy couches!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Troy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent remote property with easy access. Great place to stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay

We had a great stay at the house in Custer. Perfect location to easily explore the Black Hills area (Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Badlands). Very spacious and clean. Enjoyed seeing deer in the morning. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joanna P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Black Hills Launch/Rest Site

Great location! Property well equipped with kitchen items, sheets/towels, laundry detergent, and even yard games. Quiet and secluded but still only minutes to town of Custer. Plenty of space for kids to play indoors and outdoors. Overall we enjoyed our stay and would stay again. A few quirky things we noted: Bedroom with trundle bed doesn’t have a door. One of king bed bedrooms can only be reached by walking through trundle bedroom or going outside. Light to work second bathroom overhead light also turns on light in trundle bedroom.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sarah F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This house is just as advertised. It is in a beautiful, secluded spot a few miles outside Custer. Perfect location to do all the fun things in the hills and relax at the end of the day.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

John Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay!

Nice house with a nice view and a great space for a family vacation.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kerry S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cuater

Wonderful stay and the cabin is as pictured. Perfect location to visit all the sites in the area. We would stay there again.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

About the host

Hosted by Elaine and Kirby Mellegard

Host profile image
We have lived 30+ years in the Black Hills. We recently retired and live in Rapid City. We enjoy outdoor activities of fishing, hiking, four wheeling, boating. This property offers easy access to those and all the attractions of the Hills.

Why they chose this property

It was a rare opportunity to get an authentic log cabin that offers privacy yet easy access to town. It also has the historical note of being in the valley where General George Armstrong Custer camped in 1874 and near where gold was discovered on French Creek.

What makes this property unique

It has modern amenities in a rustic log cabin offering a very private setting, yet only 3 miles to town.

Languages:

English

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