Nov. 24, 2025

The “Great Places Don’t Just Happen” campaign to fund 30 projects in state parks across South Dakota has taken a major step forward with a donation from The Ramkota Companies to fully fund an ADA-accessible amphitheater at Custer State Park.

The new addition will be centrally located at the Visitor Center and offer an inclusive outdoor gathering space for educational programs, park events and community use, ensuring that visitors of all abilities can experience one of South Dakota’s most treasured destinations.

“We saw the vision for the project right away and thought it was natural to support it,” said Josh Schmaltz, president and CEO of Ramkota, which operates the park’s lodging and many of its services. “We love the commitment to education and accessibility, and from our standpoint, it offers one more reason for people to visit, extend their stay and enjoy the park.”

The amphitheater will replace the current use of the Tatanka Barn, which faces challenges with limited parking, capacity and visitor navigation. The new amphitheater will offer ample parking, enhanced accessibility and larger audience accommodation for programs held throughout the spring, summer and fall.

For more than two decades, Ramkota and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks have worked side-by-side to enhance visitor experiences at Custer State Park.

The collaboration has increased visitation, improved the quality of lodges and campgrounds and, perhaps most importantly, raised the bar for customer service and hospitality across the park, according to a statement from the South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation.

“This partnership has become widely regarded as a model for how private enterprises and public stewardship can work together to strengthen South Dakota’s tourism and outdoor recreation economy,” Schmaltz said.

“Philanthropy can and should be a component of that relationship. We take a lot of pride and ownership in helping operate this incredible park and are glad we have this additional way to support it.”

The “Great Places Don’t Just Happen” campaign is structured so that as projects are funded, construction can move forward even as fundraising for the balance of the campaign continues. Construction will begin on the Custer State Park amphitheater this spring, which will allow for visitors to use it in the coming season.

The campaign “is dedicated to strengthening South Dakota’s world-class state park system, advancing the state’s long tradition of outdoor recreation and conservation,” the foundation said.

“The Parks & Wildlife Foundation, along with the generous donors, have played a major role in elevating what our parks can offer, and this is another excellent example of that,” said Kevin Robling, secretary of South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks.

The campaign “is our chance to gather and give to the cause we care about the most,” said Kristina Coby, executive director of the foundation.

“Ramkota Companies has made an inspiring gift that will not only benefit the park for generations but likely encourage others to consider how they might support this statewide effort.”

The foundation’s 40-year history has shown that South Dakotans want to do their part to enhance outdoor recreation for the future, Coby added.

“From the formation of Good Earth State Park to the Visitor and Bison centers in Custer State Park, from Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve to Fort Sisseton, people want to give back to the places where they’re making memories with their kids and grandkids. Gifts like this one from Ramkota ensure that we can all look forward to making memories well into the future.”

New campaign aims to fund almost 30 projects in 19 state parks