AGP Executive Report

Black Hills Getaway: Hot Springs pairs thermal waters with a well-preserved historic district, a longtime resort-town draw tucked into the Black Hills. Winter Travel: SDDOT, the Highway Patrol and National Weather Service will host a free Nov. 19 webinar on winter forecasts, road maintenance and driving safety, including how to use SD511 for live road updates. Tourism Leadership: Gov. Larry Rhoden reappointed Travel South Dakota Secretary Jim Hagen, who has led the agency for 15 years; officials say visitor spending topped $5 billion and annual visits neared 15 million during his tenure, with rural tourism a continued focus. Season Outlook: South Dakota’s 2026 tourism season showed modest, uneven growth: hotel occupancy rose 0.9% and state park visits increased 3%. In Hill City, vacation-rental stays climbed 37%, while restaurant activity softened and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendance fell 11%.

Tourism Leadership: Gov. Larry Rhoden reappointed Jim Hagen to lead Travel South Dakota. Hagen has served 15 years, during which visitor spending topped $5 billion and annual visitation neared 15 million. 2026 Visitor Trends: South Dakota tourism showed modest growth, but results varied. Hotel occupancy rose 0.9% and state park visits climbed 3%; Hill City businesses reported more vacation-rental stays but softer restaurant activity, with travelers looking to cut costs. Black Hills Hospitality: Travel South Dakota recognized 34 tourism businesses and 54 hospitality workers statewide, including attractions and lodging in Rapid City, Custer, Hot Springs and Keystone. Winter Travel: SDDOT, the Highway Patrol and National Weather Service will host a free online safety webinar Nov. 19, covering winter forecasts, road maintenance and tools such as SD511. Holiday Stopover: The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree drew crowds in Custer on its South Dakota journey, with a stop in Mitchell also planned. Outdoor Access: GFP launched Operation Outdoors, offering funding to veteran groups for state-park camping, hunting, fishing and wellness activities.

Tourism Season: South Dakota saw modest growth in 2026, with hotel occupancy up 0.9% and state park visits up 3%, but results varied. Hill City lodging and retail rose in June and July while restaurant business fell; stays in vacation rentals climbed 37%, as visitors looked to save on food costs. Black Hills Hospitality: Travel South Dakota named 34 businesses statewide “Great Places” and 54 workers “Great Faces.” Western South Dakota honorees include Reptile Gardens, Black Hills Caverns, Fort Welikit Campground, The Mammoth Site and Big Thunder Gold Mine. Outdoor Access: Game, Fish and Parks launched Operations Outdoors, offering funding to help veteran organizations arrange state-park camping, hunting, fishing and wellness activities. Holiday Stops: The 76-foot U.S. Capitol Christmas tree drew crowds in Custer and is scheduled to stop at Mount Rushmore before heading to Mitchell. Travel Costs: South Dakota ranked fifth-cheapest for dining in a recent state comparison, with average food and drink costs estimated at $70.88 per day.

Capitol Tree Tour: The 76-foot U.S. Capitol Christmas tree stopped in Custer and is due at Mitchell’s Corn Palace Thursday, Nov. 12, from 9 to 11 a.m., with music, refreshments and holiday characters. Tourism Leadership: Gov. Larry Rhoden reappointed Travel South Dakota Secretary Jim Hagen, who says the state will keep building tourism, especially in rural communities, and aims to become a top-10 vacation destination. Travel Costs: South Dakota ranks fifth among the nation’s least expensive states for dining out, with estimated food and drink costs of $70.88 per day. Outdoor Experiences: A new Game, Fish and Parks program will help veteran organizations arrange camping, hunting, fishing and other activities in state parks. Winter Travel: SDDOT, the Highway Patrol and National Weather Service will share winter forecasts, road updates and safety resources in a public webinar Nov. 19.

Winter Travel: South Dakota transportation and weather officials will host a public webinar Nov. 19 on the winter forecast, road maintenance, safety and tools such as SD511. Local Recreation: Harrisburg is proposing nearly $5.5 million for park upgrades in 2027, including a splash pad and other amenities, as the fast-growing city responds to residents seeking more activities. Destination Spotlight: South Dakota ranked second in Time Out’s list of the world’s most underrated destinations for 2027, praised alongside Romania’s Bucovina for its appeal beyond crowded tourism hubs. Outdoor Access: Game, Fish and Parks has launched Operation Outdoors, a donation-funded program to help veteran organizations offer camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities in state parks. Black Hills Weekender: Deadwood’s tattoo convention and Hill City’s Girlfriends’ Weekend drew visitors, while a reptile expo brought breeders to Rapid City.

Air Access: Delta will add seasonal Saturday service from Atlanta to Rapid City from May 29 to Sept. 4, 2027, expanding options for summer visitors to the Black Hills. Winter Travel: SDDOT, the Highway Patrol and National Weather Service will host a public webinar Nov. 19 on winter forecasts, road maintenance and tools such as SD511. Outdoor Access: South Dakota GFP’s new Operation Outdoors program will help veteran organizations fund state-park camping, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Black Hills Events: Deadwood’s Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Stroll brought visitors through downtown businesses, while Hill City’s Girlfriends Weekend and a Deadwood tattoo convention added to a busy weekend across the region. Road Safety: Deer collisions peak in fall, and state officials urge drivers to stay alert; South Dakota’s seatbelt use rate was 88.6% in 2024.

Winter Travel: SDDOT, the Highway Patrol and the National Weather Service will host a free online webinar Nov. 19 on the winter forecast, road maintenance, safety and travel tools such as SD511. Flight Access: Delta is adding seasonal summer 2027 service from Atlanta to Rapid City, running May 29 through Sept. 4, opening another route for Black Hills visitors. Deadwood Events: Downtown businesses drew visitors Saturday with the Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Stroll, a self-guided tasting tour designed to showcase local shops and encourage longer stays. Tourism Marketing: Travel South Dakota won marketing awards, and a new “Unexpected Stays Passport” aims to encourage travelers to explore distinctive places around the state. Holiday Outlook: A Thanksgiving forecast calls for possible flurries and colder-than-normal weather across the Upper Midwest, including parts of South Dakota, though local conditions remain uncertain this far ahead.

Deadwood Events: Downtown businesses drew visitors Saturday for the annual Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Stroll, a self-guided tasting tour designed to showcase local shops and restaurants and encourage longer stays. Cultural Tourism: Indigenous leaders gathered at Crazy Horse to help turn travelers’ curiosity into cultural respect, highlighting the importance of meaningful visitor engagement. Outdoor Travel: South Dakota is losing resident pheasant hunters as the nonresident business grows, a shift with implications for the state’s hunting tourism. Visitor Updates: South Dakota’s Unexpected Stays Passport has launched, and Travel South Dakota has won marketing awards. Road Travel: The final phase of Spearfish’s Exit 10 project brings new traffic changes; grading work is also set near Custer on U.S. Highway 16A and S.D. Highway 87. Deadwood History: A look at how casino revenue helped preserve the gold-rush town offers another glimpse into the forces shaping one of the Black Hills’ best-known destinations.

Festival Camping: High-voltage lines proposed for the Wheatland festival site could cut campsites and alter the landscape, raising questions about the venue’s future visitor experience. Outdoor Safety: A multi-agency rescue team saved an injured hiker after a fall near Falling Rock. Respectful Visits: Indigenous leaders gathered at Crazy Horse to encourage travelers to pair curiosity about Native culture with respect. Road Access: The final phase of the Spearfish Exit 10 project brings new traffic changes for visitors. Hunting Tourism: South Dakota is losing hometown pheasant hunters even as its nonresident hunting business grows. Visitor Planning: South Dakota launched its “Unexpected Stays Passport,” while Travel South Dakota received marketing awards. Deadwood: A look at how casino revenue helped preserve the historic gold-rush town.

Roadside History: Ardmore, the abandoned railroad town just north of the South Dakota–Nebraska line, offers travelers a glimpse of weathered homes and a once-busy frontier stop. Visitor Respect: Indigenous leaders at Crazy Horse are working to turn traveler curiosity into cultural respect, a timely reminder to approach cultural sites thoughtfully. Road Updates: Final work at Spearfish’s Exit 10 is bringing traffic changes; check conditions before heading through. Hunting Tourism: South Dakota is losing hometown pheasant hunters even as the nonresident market grows, keeping visitor spending important to the state’s hunting economy. Trip Ideas: South Dakota’s new Unexpected Stays Passport highlights distinctive places to stay, while Travel South Dakota has earned marketing awards. Deadwood: A look at how casino revenue helped preserve the historic gold-rush town offers another angle on the Black Hills destination’s past.

Hidden History: Ardmore Ghost Town, just north of the South Dakota–Nebraska border on Highway 71, offers a glimpse of a once-busy railroad stop now marked by abandoned homes and buildings. Road Travel: The final phase of the Spearfish Exit 10 project brings new traffic changes; check local updates before driving through the area. Hunting Tourism: South Dakota is losing hometown pheasant hunters even as its nonresident hunting business booms, highlighting the growing role of visitors in the state’s hunting economy. Cultural Travel: Indigenous leaders gathered at Crazy Horse to help turn traveler curiosity into cultural respect. Deadwood: Casino revenue continued climbing, with September gaming handle up more than 10% year over year. Tourism Promotion: Travel South Dakota won marketing awards, while the state’s new Unexpected Stays Passport aims to put distinctive lodging experiences on travelers’ radar.

Road Watch: Spearfish’s I-90 Exit 10 project is entering its final phase, with left-turn restrictions on North Avenue and Old Highway 14; drivers headed to Old Highway 14 should use Exit 8. Outdoor Safety: South Dakota had the nation’s second-highest motorcycle fatality rate in 2024, while a recent multi-agency rescue brought an injured hiker off a cliff near Falling Rock. Cultural Travel: Indigenous leaders at Crazy Horse are working to turn visitor curiosity into cultural respect, a timely reminder to approach Native sites and traditions thoughtfully. Wildlife Tourism: South Dakota is losing hometown pheasant hunters even as its nonresident hunting business grows. Black Hills Heritage: Deadwood’s gaming revenue has helped fund preservation of the historic town visitors come to see; a nearby Black Hills community is also drawing attention as a quieter alternative, with fossils and railroad history. Visitor Perks: South Dakota has launched its Unexpected Stays Passport, and Travel South Dakota recently won marketing awards.

Road Travel: The final phase of Spearfish’s $1.3 million I-90 Exit 10 project brings new traffic patterns starting Monday. Left turns from Old Highway 14 will be restricted; use Exit 8 as an alternate, while Exit 10 ramps stay open. Work is expected to wrap up Nov. 20. Rider Safety: South Dakota had the nation’s second-highest motorcycle fatality rate in 2024, with 33 deaths, according to a new state-by-state analysis. Cultural Tourism: Indigenous leaders at Crazy Horse Memorial’s tourism summit urged visitors to engage with Native culture respectfully, highlighting its role as living heritage in the Black Hills and Badlands. Deadwood’s Heritage: As the town marks 150 years, preservation leaders credit casino tax revenue—approved by voters in 1988—with helping restore historic buildings and protect the places visitors come to see.

Deadwood at 150: Casino revenue has helped preserve the gold rush town’s historic character. Since gambling returned in 1989, a share of casino taxes has funded building restorations and local archives — protecting much of what draws visitors today. Cultural Tourism: Indigenous leaders at the Crazy Horse Memorial’s tourism summit urged visitors to engage with Native culture as living history, not a relic. Speakers discussed ways tourism can support cultural preservation across the Black Hills and Badlands. Black Hills Outdoors: Crews hoisted an injured person up a cliff near Falling Rock after a long fall. The multi-agency rescue is a reminder to take care on challenging trails. Pheasant Hunting: South Dakota is losing hometown pheasant hunters even as its nonresident hunting business grows, highlighting the state’s draw for visiting sportsmen.

Black Hills Safety: Crews from several agencies rescued an injured hiker after a long fall near Falling Rock, west of Rapid City, hoisting the person up a cliff and taking them to hospital. Weekend Outlook: Mitchell’s forecast is dry and sunny Saturday and Sunday, with highs near 60—good conditions for a fall outing. Pheasant Country: South Dakota’s nonresident hunting business is booming, even as the state loses hometown pheasant hunters; visitors are filling roads and public hunting spots this season. Badlands Wildlife: A bison greeted visitors at the Badlands National Park entrance, an unexpected wildlife encounter for one traveler. Travel Promotion: South Dakota has launched its “Unexpected Stays Passport,” a new tourism promotion spotlighting distinctive places to stay.

Pheasant Country: South Dakota is drawing a growing wave of nonresident pheasant hunters, even as local hunters become less common. The crowds are adding business for hunting destinations, but visitors are urged to respect farmers and public-access rules. Tourism Promotion: Travel South Dakota won marketing awards, while the new Unexpected Stays Passport offers another way to discover places to stay around the state. Wildlife Encounters: A bison gave Badlands National Park visitors an unexpected welcome, and black-footed ferrets are again appearing in the region’s recovery areas. Outdoor Planning: A free National Forests and Grasslands Passport lets visitors collect digital badges at participating sites, including South Dakota destinations. On the Road: Grading work is scheduled near Custer on U.S. Highway 16A and S.D. Highway 87; drivers should watch for changing conditions. November is also peak season for deer-vehicle collisions, so stay alert, especially around dawn and dusk.