11/10/2026
PIERRE, S.D. – Travel South Dakota is proud to recognize 34 businesses with a 2026 South Dakota Great Place designation and 54 individuals with a 2026 South Dakota Great Face designation. These tourism-focused businesses and individuals earned the designation for their outstanding hospitality and customer service.
“South Dakota is known for its remarkable places, but it's our people — our great faces — who make our state truly special,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I'm proud to recognize these outstanding businesses and individuals who represent the best of South Dakota’s tourism industry. Their dedication to serving others reflects the values that make our state strong, safe, and free.”
The South Dakota Great Place program puts a spotlight on businesses that exemplify great service by going above and beyond for guests and employees. The South Dakota Great Face program honors individuals in the tourism and hospitality industry who excel in customer service by providing top-tier service to guests. The goal of both programs is to strengthen the tourism industry in South Dakota and offer support to tourism industry members.
“The people behind South Dakota’s tourism industry are among our greatest assets,” said James Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “Every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impression, and these businesses and individuals have shown an exceptional commitment to doing just that. We proudly celebrate their efforts and the role they play in the success of South Dakota’s tourism industry.”
To view the list of Great Place businesses recognized, please click here. For a list of Great Face individuals, click here.
Online application forms for 2027 South Dakota Great Place and 2027 South Dakota Great Face will open in March 2027. All are encouraged to participate. For more information about the Great Place program, click here. To learn more about the Great Face program, click here.
The department also offers an Online Hospitality Training program. The training is free, and all tourism industry businesses are encouraged to share the training with their staff. For more information about the department’s hospitality programs, please click here.
The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Travel South Dakota and the South Dakota Arts Council. The department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.
-30-
Media Notes: The 2026 South Dakota Great Place and South Dakota Great Face designees listed by community and organization:
Aberdeen
Wylie Park/Storybook Land
Arlington
Lake Poinsett Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Brandon
Big Sioux Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Brookings
The Carrot Seed Kitchen Co.
Children's Museum of South Dakota
Downtown Brookings
McCrory Gardens at SDSU
The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center
Prairie Repertory Theatre
Visit Brookings
Bruce
Oakwood Lakes State Park (SD GFP)
Canistota
Lake Vermillion Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Chamberlain
Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center
Custer
Fort Welikit Campground
Garretson
Palisades State Park (SD GFP)
Hot Springs
The Mammoth Site
Keystone
Big Thunder Gold Mine
Lake Preston
Lake Thompson Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Madison
Lake Herman State Park (SD GFP)
Walker’s Point Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Mitchell
My Place Hotel/Mitchell Holdings LLC
Rapid City
Black Hills Adventure Tours
Black Hills Caverns
Black Hills Visitor Information Center
Elevation Inn & Suites Downtown Rapid City
Reptile Gardens
Sioux Falls
Experience Sioux Falls
McCrossan Boys Ranch
Washington Pavilion
Watertown
My Place Hotels
Quality Inn and Suites
Venerts Hotel Management, Inc.
Yankton
Lewis & Clark Recreation Area (SD GFP)
Visit Yankton
Brookings – Brookings Regional Growth Alliance / Visit Brookings
Laura Schoen Carbonneau and Kirsten Gjesdal
Brookings – Children's Museum of South Dakota
Chris Hartman, Tyke Knudson and Kerrie Vilhauer
Brookings – McCrory Gardens at SDSU
Carson Hunsley, Lisa Marotz, Sophie Pavelka-Lundberg, Lori Puetz, Sydney Trio-Paulsen, and Laura Valentina Lopez Bustos
Brookings – The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center at SDSU
Katrina Gunderson, Christina Castillo, and Anna Stemsrud
Chamberlain – Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center
Wanda Bunker
Keystone – Big Thunder Gold Mine
Will Gonsurion and Lizzy Parson
Keystone – Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Riley Klinetobe
Keystone – Rushmore Cave
Jonathan Venner
Keystone – Sprockets Fun Foundry
Julie Babcock and Ben Chleborad
Rapid City – Black Hills Adventure Tours
Kevin Dorsman, Mike Faust, Scott Gengler, Carrie Gerlach, Denny Gienger, Julie Gienger, Mickey Higgins, Bruce Junek, Al Maas, Jamie McSherry, Aura Plooster, Kevin Plooster, Tim Soelzer, Jacki Stenson, Tass Thacker, and Justin Theurer
Rapid City – Black Hills and Badlands Tourism Association
Lois Peterson
Rapid City – Black Hills Caverns
Isaac Cristol and Elsa Grauman
Rapid City – Black Hills Visitor Information Center
Kelly Braun, Twila Ferguson, Tamie McMeekin, Skip Stanec, Ed Toms, and Emily Wright
Rapid City – Elevation Inn and Suites
Andres Garcia and Susana Guzman
Rapid City – Reptile Gardens
Joey Phillip and Ben Schumacher
Sioux Falls – Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel
McKenzie Speck
Sioux Falls – Experience Sioux Falls
Briana Burri and Zane Lodmell
Yankton – Lewis & Clark Recreation Area
Amanda Ireland
CONTACT
Katlyn Svendsen, Global Public Relations & Content Services Senior Director
Travel South Dakota
Email: [email protected]