CSP Open House Weekend starts Friday

This weekend, May 15-17, residents and visitors can enjoy free entrance into all South Dakota state parks and recreation areas as part of the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks’ annual open house weekend. In addition, a number of parks will be hosting special events. Camping fees still apply.
This weekend is also Free Fishing Weekend. No fishing licenses are required. Regulations and limits still apply. All guests who stay at a Custer State Park Resort lodge room or cabin during the weekend will be entered into a drawing for a free upgrade to the Ponderosa Cabin at Blue Bell Lodge
At Custer State Park the weekend begins at 8 a.m. Friday, but the events begin Saturday at 8 a.m. with a pancake feed at Legion Lake Lodge. Donations made will support Custer County Search and Rescue.
From 9 a.m. to noon there will be fishing fun at Legion Lake, with registration at 9 a.m., fishing at 9:30 a.m. and prizes at 11:30 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. there is a history stroll where attendees can meet at the Creekside Trail at the State Game Lodge to join a park naturalist for a walk to learn about some of the history of the area.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the outdoor fair at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, which includes a variety of hands-on activities and events. Among the events are a fire truck demo and water works fun, a South Dakota volunteer naturalist and representatives from Custer County Search and Rescue, 1880 Train and the Mammoth Site.
Hayrack rides will leave Blue Bell Lodge from 11 am. to noon, and music by Kevin Killian will be played from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Those who are interested in taking a tour of the bison corrals should meet at the Bison Center at 1 p.m.
Hayrack rides will be available again from 2-3 p.m., and Killian will perform from 5-8 p.m. The day winds down with a trivia night at Sylvan Lake Lodge, where participants can test their knowledge of park history, wildlife and local legends.
The following day’s events again start at 8 a.m. with the Legion Lake Lodge pancake feed, followed by the Bison Olympics at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
Hayrack rides will resume at 11 a.m. at Blue Bell Lodge, and Rusty Rierson will perform at Blue Bell Lodge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hayrack rides continue at 2 p.m., leading into the buffalo chip flip at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
Registration for the event begins at 3 p.m., with the flip from 3:30-4 p.m., followed by awarding of prizes.
The day concludes with three more hours of music from Rierson beginning at 5 p.m. at Blue Bell Lodge.