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Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts

Holiday home in Custer with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts

Back of house from the National Forest
View of Front of the House
view from the living area to the loft and kitchen
Completely furnished kitchen w/ tile floors and space to serve a large group.
view of kitchen from the living area

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 12

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Air conditioning
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View map
Custer, SD
  • Place, Jewel Cave National Monument
  • Place, Crazy Horse Memorial
    ‪30 min drive‬
  • Place, Sylvan Lake
    ‪39 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Other (See Description)

2 Double Futons

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Dining area

About this property

Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts

Great Home on over seventeen scenic acres - very private!! Bordered by hundreds of acres of National Forest. This contemporary 'A' frame home has three bedrooms,(two king beds and one queen bed) two baths, a loft with a daybed/trundle, and a queen sofa bed. Two bunk beds with three twins and one full size bed are in the 'Bunkhouse' in another structure about 50 feet from the house. Very private views of trees, meadows and abundant wildlife.

Bring your horses for a ride through the wilderness and then let them rest in the fenced acreage with a two stall stable, tack room and large corral.

This property is secluded, yet only minutes from historic Custer, with great restaurants and unique shops. A short drive will take you to Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Needles Highway, Stockade Lake, Bismark Lake, Sylvan Lake, and Legion Lake. Only 30 miles to the south is Historic Hot Springs which has shopping, restaurants and 'Evans Plunge'- a large natural warm water indoor swimming pool that features several slides and an outdoor pool in the summer.

This home was built in 2002 and has it's own well and septic system. The Bedrooms are carpeted, the well equipped kitchen and baths are ceramic tile and the rest of the living area has beautiful hardwood floors. Regulation size horseshoe pits and wood burning fireplace added in 2013.

Call for more information.

Pets are possible upon prior approval with additional damage deposit.

Keywords: House

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 12:00 PM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We are pet friendly for responsible pet owners.
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
See Rental Agreement for House Rules.

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
Parties and events (including family gatherings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 20
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
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

About the area

Custer

Located in Custer, this holiday home is near theme parks. Four Mile Old West Town Museum and Grand Magic Show are cultural highlights, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Rocky Knolls Golf Course and Sylvan Lake. Needles Highway and Granite Sports are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
Custer, SD

What's nearby

  • Four Mile Old West Town Museum - 11 min drive - 12.0 km
  • Crazy Horse Memorial - 30 min drive - 29.4 km
  • Custer State Park - 32 min drive - 32.7 km
  • Sylvan Lake - 39 min drive - 35.1 km
  • Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Road - 50 min drive - 48.9 km

Getting around

  • Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional) - 76 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Buffalo Cafe - ‬10 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts?

Checkout is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Best of Both Worlds - Wilderness ~And~ Comforts located?

Situated in Custer, this holiday home is within 9 miles (15 km) of Jewel Cave National Monument, Four Mile Old West Town Museum and Gates Park. Rocky Knolls Golf Course and Way Park are also within 12 miles (20 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 146 out of 154 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 8 out of 154 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 154 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 154 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 154 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lynette B.

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

4 day stay

Owners very reponsive to our needs.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

David S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Property was great! Great location. Incredibly quiet and amazing star viewing. House was clean and well stocked. I would absolutely stay here again.Hosts were very responsive to all communication.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jared W.

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

Relaxing location

Great location away from town.
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Courtney M.

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

Wonderful stay!

Fantastic location. Wonderfully stocked. Beautiful. Beds were comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Beverly S.

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

Beautiful!!

Had the best time site seeing and equal parts relaxing! Will be back!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jon F.

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

Great Location in the Hills

We enjoyed out stay very much. Very nice house and location in the Black Hills.
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Flory S.

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

Sturgis Week

This was our 5th time staying at this property, dating back to Sturgis week 2011. We love the property with the wildlife presence, but yet close enough to great motorcycle rides throughout the entire area. We have brought extended family, friends and our pets over the years and this property allows us to entertain as if it truly was our home away from home. We will definitely stay here on our next visit to the Black Hills. Loved it!
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike C.

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

Great Time

was a great place to set outside and relax and enjoy the scenery. grill outside and watch wildlife very peaceful.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Nathan B.

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

Perfect Black Hills Custer Getaway

We’re repeat visitors because of the beautiful location, outdoor amenities, and great value. The family takes immaculate care of the property and keeps it stocked with everything you need!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barb J.

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

Black Hills Vacation

Absolutely a beautiful place. Just a short distance from Custer. So peaceful and full of wildlife. Grandkids had so much fun.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Theresa S.

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

Peaceful and Beautiful

The place was so comfortable and relaxing! The pictures don’t do the place justice; it is beautiful and well taken care of. The wildlife (doe, fawn and chipmunk) was so fun to watch. I would definitely recommend Tom & Sue Thelen‘s place!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Steve L., Omaha NE

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

Wilderness & Comforts

Beautiful home with 3 decks in a rural setting surrounded by meadows & trees. No neighbors and very private. Assorted wildlife can be observed from the decks. Close to the city of Custer & services and many attractions near by. Custer State Park is not be missed.
Stayed 16 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

kraftdeb

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

Wonderful Location, Great Space

As winter guests, we spent much of our time inside. There was enough space -for children to play, board games, and visiting. We walked outside on NFS ground and enjoyed time away from crowds of people. The kitchen is well furnished. The house is decorated with art created by Sue. As nature lovers, they were much appreciated. We did not need to use the bunkhouse- good thing as it does not appear to have heat.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

angie z.

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

Paradise

This is our second time staying here and it will be the only place we come back to in the area. We like to go to different places/areas but this property is so amazing there is no need to try others.Tom and Sue really do everything to ensure your stay is as comfortable as it could be. The area is peaceful and the home is welcoming. You feel like you are at a friends house. Thank you
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
AMAZING! This is exactly what we wanted in a vacation home. It has it all! Peace and quiet, every amenity of home and close to everything we wanted to see and do. The home was clean and well kept. Tons of dinnerware, pots and pans and small appliances. We used the grill out back and the fire pit which made for an awesome evening. We would definitely choose to stay again if back in the area.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Logan J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house and land was in a great location. We want to thanks the owner for renting the house to us. We all love it. The owner was very helpful when we had a question. They got right back with the answer.When I get ready to go back up I will see I can get the house again.They are great people to deal with and will let anybody know about the house to rent.Thanks again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sandy G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was very comfortable. It had everything we needed. It was close enough to town but yet far enough out to give us the wilderness feel. We loved watching the animals and sitting on the porch enjoying the peace and quiet.
Front of house
Hot air balloon ride in field near the house
Our hot air balloon ride that took off in a field near the house
Buffalo on way to Hot Springs
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mark K.

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

Memories Made!

The house was clean and comfortable, outside was a gas grill and fire pit. We grilled several meals and started the fire pit and made s’mores. We saw turkeys and deer on the property every day. Each morning we were greeted by a couple of chipmunks on the deck. to say we had a wonderful time isn’t understatement. Thank you, Tom and Sue.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julio S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful setting. Hosts were very helpful and responsive
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Linda T.

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

Great setting

Beautiful setting.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sue F.

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

Quiet retreat

Beautiful home, wildlife galore. The turkeys would come right up on the deck and look in the windows. 4 deer visited every afternoon. Everything was perfect!!
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

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

Back to the Black Hills

We Came to the Black Hills for a wedding and stayed for a week. Property was great, there were 10 of us and had plenty of room. The acreage made it nice for the kids and dogs to run and play kids really like the horseshoe pit! Location was great a lot to do in a 20 mile radius
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bryce B.

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

Family vacation

Lovely property with everything we needed and more. Beautiful views, peaceful, close to all main attractions and plenty of space for our group of 6 people.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kris T.

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

Best of Both is best!

This home was wonderful. Bigger than pictures. Huge closets downstairs for storage. Not much drawer space but shelves in closets. Lots of cookware , servingware, dining items: 4 crockpots, 4 types of coffee makers, multiple mixing bowls. There is an electric griddle but the temperature dial is messed up so not accurate. We had to put the coffee makers and a crockpot in a bedroom to make room for food in kitchen. Beware of outdated items in refridgerator and spice cupboard. Guests leave a lot of stuff. Plenty of paper goods.No sheets on bottom bunks but we had blankets that the guys used. There was probably some in the house but our blankets worked. Bunkhouse was comfortable. Saw deer and the lightning show was awesome(storm was 15 miles away). Sue's artwork around the house is amazing. Tom responsive to our questio s. Highly recommend this VRBO.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Wonderful place

The house is exactly as it’s described. Anyone who stays in the small room with queen bed better be a early riser or heavy sleeper. The room has a sky light that doesn’t have a darkening blind, so 5:30am it’s daylight in there. But bed was comfy and I was fully rested.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

About the host

Hosted by Tom & Sue Thelen

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Why they chose this property

What makes this property unique

Languages:

English

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