April 16, 2026

This piece is sponsored by The Ramkota Companies.

Scott Stern and his family were ready to spend some time together despite the 2020 pandemic — and one destination quickly emerged as the best choice.

“I had heard someone from another state canceled their trip to Custer State Park because they were worried about transmission of COVID, and I just didn’t want the resort to take a financial hit,” he said. “I was more than willing to look for an opportunity for a family outing. I was frustrated someone was calling out our state, and I felt an obligation to jump in.”

The resulting trip became “just a wonderful time under the circumstances,” he said.

“Our family could all be together. We had little grandkids who played in the water and watched the buffalo, and it turned out to be a great family event. It’s become an absolute gem for our state. It’s just a really cool spot, and they do such a nice job with it. They really do.”

Not long after, Custer State Park Resort again became the site of a memorable visit for his family — this time on even shorter notice.

Scott and Staci Stern’s daughter, Kaitlyn, had planned to get married at a winery in Colorado. But about three weeks before, they received notice that restrictions had changed significantly.

“We would have been limited to just 50 total guests, with no dance, and guests would be required to remain seated at their tables and were not allowed to be up mingling,” she said.

“With the size of our wedding party alone, that meant only immediate family and grandparents could attend. Although we had intentionally chosen a destination wedding to keep things smaller, this was far from how we had envisioned our day. We were incredibly disappointed and unsure what to do, especially since moving the date was not something we wanted.”

Their family trip sparked an idea, though: If others had canceled at Custer, maybe they could accommodate a wedding.

“We went right back to Josh, and they took care of us,” Scott Stern said. “In two weeks, they pulled it off. It was incredible. We had no issues, and everyone stayed healthy.”

That’s the mentality the Custer State Park Resort operating team brings to its work.

“We have a really hard time saying no to a guest,” said Josh Schmaltz, president and CEO of The Ramkota Companies.

“We tend to figure things out, and at the end of the day, if the guest is happy, that’s all that matters.”

The resort had 22 weddings scheduled that summer — and some key cancellations: the exact weekend Kaitlyn had planned for her wedding.

“We were given the opportunity to choose from any available venue, and the staff graciously held those options for us while we made our decision,” she said.

“We quickly reviewed photos and options online and chose Sylvan Lake. The setting was absolutely breathtaking, and we loved that it offered both an outdoor ceremony on the lake lawn and an indoor reception space as a backup to South Dakota’s unpredictable weather. Looking back, it felt like it was always meant to be.”

With help from the Custer team, the wedding drew nearly 300 guests.

“The team at the park was incredible. They understood the time constraints we were under and made the entire process seamless. What typically takes months of coordination was condensed into just a few calls and emails, yet we never felt rushed or overwhelmed,” Kaitlyn said.

“By the Friday before the wedding, they had all the tables and chairs set up, which allowed our family and friends to step in and decorate at a relaxed pace. That made such a difference. It meant I could spend the wedding morning simply getting ready with my bridal party and family without worrying about logistics.”

The team crafted the family’s signature “Stern Punch” cocktail for the wedding, handing guests a glass as they moved from the ceremony to the reception.

“It was such a fun and personal way to kick off the celebration,” she said. “We received so many compliments from guests about the catering — it was exceptional.”

The team went above and beyond, bringing out a late-night nacho bar and ice cream bar during the dance, along with chocolate-covered strawberries, which the couple celebrated with every Valentine’s Day.

The staff also timed the late-night food perfectly during the dance, giving guests the energy to keep going well into the evening.

“Beyond that, the staff themselves were simply wonderful,” Kaitlyn said. “They were friendly, attentive and genuinely excited to be part of the day. Their energy made the entire experience even more special.”

That’s the culture Ramkota has fostered at Custer State Park Resort since becoming its operator in 2007. In part, Schmaltz credits the company’s employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.

“It’s created loyalty and team members who think and act like owners because they are owners,” he said. “Multiple general managers at Custer State Park Resort lodges have been with us in some capacity for a decade or more.”

All team members are trained in customer service excellence, he added.

“We have many returning seasonal team members and our core group of leaders, but we still have new faces every year,” Schmaltz said. “Some have hospitality experience and some don’t, so we’re looking to instill consistent standards in servicing all guests.”

That definitely resonated with the Stern family, Scott Stern said.

“It’s not easy to run a part-time business that takes a huge amount of human resources. It’s not an easy thing to manage at all,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about them. They’re forever in our hearts for multiple reasons.”

His daughter agrees.

“I feel incredibly grateful to the park staff for providing us with such an amazing alternative during what could have been a very stressful time,” she said.

“In the end, I would not change a thing and am thankful for the restrictions in Colorado so we could host our event in the park. What initially felt like a setback turned into something even more meaningful than we had planned. Now, whenever we visit the Black Hills and Sylvan Lake, we get to relive that weekend and reflect on what was truly a perfect day. It is a place that will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we experienced so much kindness from the park staff during a time when it was needed most.”

This season, Custer State Park Resort has some capacity for additional events, Schmaltz said.

“You might have to be flexible and look at a wedding on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday, but that’s the nice thing about it being a destination — you’re often here for multiple days, and you have that flexibility,” he said.

The resort is a great fit for other events, including family reunions, anniversary celebrations, bachelor/bachelorette parties and corporate retreats.

“We also have dedicated event planners on our catering and sales teams to help with everything and give guidance as to what works best,” Schmaltz said. “Our team truly enjoys helping every guest create a memorable experience.”

To learn more about hosting your event at Custer State Park Resort, visit here.