April 3, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by The Ramkota Companies.

It’s the annual St. Patrick’s Day dart tournament, and about 700 players are taking aim inside the Ramkota Hotel in Pierre.

“It’s fun. We do two big tournaments in March: the dart tournament and a state pool tournament,” said Debi Kessler, who has been general manager of the Ramkota since 2019.

“It’s been going on for decades, long before I arrived.”

This year, though, it’s clear the Ramkota hit the target in a different way. As players arrived, the feedback flowed on the hotel’s recent top-to-bottom renovation.

“We’ve had so many comments about how it looks different,” Kessler said. “It’s a really fun time right now with the reactions we’re getting from everyone when they walk in. It’s a complete 180.”

Essentially every corner of the almost 40-year-old property has been touched by upgrades, which started last summer and are finalizing with finishing touches.

“The Ramkota Pierre has been a significant part of The Ramkota Companies for decades. Our roots run deep here, and we’ve always had a lot of pride in having the hotel and convention center in our state’s capital,” said Tom Morris, executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Ramkota Companies. “We wanted to achieve a new, refreshed look that would be inviting and comfortable for our customers.”

All 151 rooms received new carpet and paint, updated ceilings, upgraded LED lighting, new locks and furnishings that include space for a refrigerator, microwave and extended desk, along with upgraded mattresses and bedding.

“It’s a huge change,” Kessler said. “Everything is really contemporary and provides a different vibe for us.”

The hotel now includes new family-friendly suites that walk out to the indoor pool and are ideal for birthday parties and family gatherings.

The hotel also offers three two-story executive lofts, which have renovated living spaces and amenities that support entertaining.

“Those got a complete refresh with absolutely everything redone,” Kessler said. “And there are some special touches, including headboards made from native wood that a Sioux Falls craftsman did for us. The finishes throughout are more luxurious.”

On the dining side, there are also big upgrades.

“We now have a really nice breakfast area with a hot buffet every morning, including a custom omelet station,” Kessler said. “That’s a big step up for guests.”

The newly rebranded Riparian Pub & Cafe offers a lunch buffet that’s open to the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and rotates features, including a Sunday brunch.

“It’s a whole great refresh,” Kessler said.

In the evening, the pub serves a revamped menu of pizzas, pastas, burgers, sandwiches and heavy sharable appetizers. A revamped bar with additional tap lines includes a happy hour that’s becoming a local destination.

“We’re so glad to be able to be open seven days again,” Kessler said. “Our staffing is strong, and we’re getting applicants and have been successful in hiring, which is allowing us to increase service.”

The convention side of the property has many improvements, too, including new carpet and vinyl, a resurfaced dance floor and enhanced technology.

“It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Kessler said. “It’s been a lot of fun to show it to event planners and to start hosting events, including a party on short notice for the new governor’s administration that turned out beautifully.”

Morris agreed.

“We’re very pleased with the finished product throughout the hotel and convention center and feel it turned out perfect,” he said. “It has been rewarding to hear all the positive comments from our guests.”

The feedback is deserved, Ramkota CEO Josh Schmaltz said.

“Tom was the driver in getting that project done,” Schmaltz added. “Without him leading the project, we wouldn’t have gotten it done and not to the quality that it is today.”

There are 14 weddings already scheduled this summer at the Ramkota and many annual events, though the hotel has capacity for more.

“There’s still opportunity,” Kessler said. “And we’re still finalizing some outdoor landscaping improvements, including new concrete that will serve about 40 of our walkout rooms that are great for hunting and fishing guests.”

And for those who are especially longtime guests, an old favorite has come back with a new twist.

“Many loyal customers will remember Noah, the original piranha who was a permanent resident at the Ramkota for years,” Morris said. “With the renovation, we brought in a new aquarium, found his grandson and had him shipped to us from California, so now Rip is our new resident piranha welcoming guests in our lobby.”

The human members of the team are even more engaged now that the hotel renovation is done too.

“Our staff is extremely proud of this hotel,” Kessler said. “It’s absolutely beautiful, and it’s really fun to be in our building right now.”

It’s a tight-knit team. For instance, on this day, Kessler and her management team are helping out behind portable party bars serving tournament guests.

All her tips are thrown into a pool that funds an employee party.

“We all step in and help here,” she said. “Ramkota overall is just such a great company to work for. There’s a lot of pride working here, and we’re just glad to be on the team.”

The Ramkota in Pierre as well as its sister property ClubHouse Hotel & Suites are part of Ramkota’s employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, meaning qualifying employees are part owners.

The team is “the best,” Morris added. “It has been a pleasure working with them during the transformation. Many of them have been there for years, so it is now special that they are part of The Ramkota ESOP and are employee-owners. Their pride in ownership shines through in everything they do, especially with the high level of customer service they provide our guests.”

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