A Western Heritage
Storage
Reservations

His name was John Harrison Hart, and he settled the ranch in the 1880s. It is only fitting that this land bears his name today.

Hart was straight from the pages of Old West history, and he carved out his ranching empire while Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane roamed the streets of Lead and Deadwood.

There is much about him which is legend, but far more which is fact. This bull driver, Civil War fighter, scout, pioneer, and frontiersman blazed a reputation remembered even today by those who live around the ranch. The legend says he arrived in the Black Hills with only $15 in his pocket and survived the first winter by chopping wood for 75¢ a cord. The facts show his hard work, entrepreneurial skill, and innovative mind parlayed what little he had into a successful freight line from Pierre to Rapid City and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The legend says he never learned to drive a car, even though he lived to see World War II. The fact is that you still can find people who remember driving him around his
ranch when – too old to ride a horse or wagon anymore – he just couldn’t stand being away from the land he loved.

The final chapter of our story is the purchase of the 13,000 acre Hart Ranch in 1983 and the construction of the Camping Resort. In 1984 the membership was deeded the 195 acre resort. There are several companies associated with the Hart Ranch name – Hart Ranch Arena, Hart Ranch Golf Course, and Hart Ranch Development Company. The Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club is an independent and separate corporation.

A Western Heritage

John Harrison Hart came to the emerald forests and creek-carved canyons of the Black Hills during the gold rush days of the 1880s with $15 in his pocket. Tapping his entrepreneurial skills, Hart soon bought a 13,000 acre ranch for himself. But he didn’t let success get to his head. Hart was a true cowboy, driving cattle by horseback on his ranch until his death. The Western life was all he knew, for though Hart lived to see World War II, he never learned to drive a car. Today, Hart Ranch is one of Western South Dakota’s premier recreational resorts, but like John Hart, we haven’t let success give us a big head. We may have swimming pools, hot tubs, and tennis courts, to name a few, but our greatest amenity is the simple Western lifestyle Hart Ranch has represented for over a century.

Storage

We do have storage moves available for $9.50 + tax one way move. However, we must have a 24 notice if you need a storage move.

Reservations

Reservations are made through the resort at 800-605-4278. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance. We require a 48 hour notice of cancellation or 72 hours on a holiday weekend. Cancellations during the Sturgis Rally must be cancelled two weeks in advance.