Press Releases

September 14, 2026

Xanterra Travel Collection®, a leader in experiential travel and hospitality in iconic destinations, has been selected as the next concessionaire for Custer State Park in South Dakota, with operations expected to begin February 1, 2027, under a new 10-year agreement.

Xanterra will operate a broad range of visitor services throughout Custer State Park including lodging, food and beverage, retail, tours and recreation activities. In the coming months, Xanterra will work closely with South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks and the current operator to ensure a seamless transition and an exceptional guest experience from day one.

“Custer State Park is an extraordinary place, and we are honored to have the opportunity to help welcome guests to it,” said Andrew Todd, CEO & President of Xanterra Travel Collection®,. “We look forward to building a strong partnership with Custer State Park while bringing Xanterra’s long history of hospitality and stewardship to this remarkable destination. We are entrusted with some of America’s most treasured places, and Custer State Park is a perfect fit for our values and culture.”

A Legendary South Dakota Destination

Spanning nearly 71,000 acres in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Custer State Park is one of the country’s premier state parks, attracting more than 2.4 million visitors each year. The park is home to nearly 1,400 bison, as well as pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats, deer, bighorn sheep, coyotes, prairie dogs and numerous bird species. Its diverse landscape encompasses pine-covered hills, granite formations, meadows, lakes and red-walled canyons, creating an unparalleled setting for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing.

Among Custer State Park’s signature experiences are:

• Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway: This 18-mile route winds through rolling hills and red-walled canyons and is renowned for frequent wildlife sightings, including bison, pronghorn, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs.
• Needles Highway: The 14-mile scenic route winds through spectacular granite formations known as the Needles, with views of forests, meadows, mountains and Sylvan Lake.
• Iron Mountain Road: Part of the Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway, this famously winding 17-mile road features three pigtail bridges and stone tunnels, with dramatic views toward the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
• Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup: Held annually on the last Friday of September, this event brings cowboys and cowgirls together to gather the park’s bison herd into corrals while thousands of spectators watch.
• Buffalo Safari Jeep Tours: Open-air Jeep tours provide an up-close wildlife experience on the park’s back roads and rolling fields, led by knowledgeable guides who share insights into the park’s wildlife, history and landscape.
• Hiking and trails: Visitors can explore miles of trails, including the 7.1-mile Black Elk Peak Loop, the 1.6-mile Cathedral Spires Trail and the 1.1-mile Sylvan Lake Shore Trail.

Building on a Legacy of Hospitality and Stewardship

Xanterra Travel Collection®, has been operating in legendary destinations for 150 years, providing guests with up-close access and uncommon expertise in some of the world’s most remarkable places. The company operates in and near legendary national parks and destinations and offers distinctive travel experiences by rail, trail and water. Xanterra’s approach combines legendary hospitality with a softer footprint, reflecting its mission to operate with care for the planet and the people and places it encounters.

“Few truly wild places remain in this country, and Custer State Park is one of them,” Todd said. “Our responsibility is not simply to welcome people to a place like this, but to help ensure that future generations have the same opportunity to experience its untamed majesty.”