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How to Tour Blue Bell in Brenham, TX

Beloved across the state, Blue Bell Creameries is a Texas institution–and what better way to enjoy the state’s favorite ice cream than by visiting Blue Bell in Brenham?

The original home of Blue Bell Ice Cream welcomes visitors to tour its Observation Deck, charming grounds, and–more importantly as far as I and kids across the state are concerned–gigantic scoops of ice cream served up in their on-site parlor.

Visiting Brenham and want to tour Blue Bell Creameries while you’re there? Here’s everything you need to know before you go!

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A Brief History of Blue Bell in Brenham

While Blue Bell has more than one creamery today (you can also visit one in Sylacauga, Alabama), it all started right here in Brenham, Texas, in 1907.

The Brenham Creamery Company was originally founded to produce butter, but as time wore on, the ice cream was what really stole the show.

In 1930, the company was renamed Blue Bell Creameries, in 1958, butter was officially discontinued and Blue Bell became solely focused on ice cream.

Texans have known and loved Blue Bell for generations (Mooo bars, Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches, and the Blue Bell individual cups are extremely fond memories from not just my childhood, but my dad’s), but it wasn’t until the 1980s that Blue Bell expanded outside of Texas.

Today, you can find Blue Bell products–including ice cream, frozen treats, and sherbert–in 22 states around the country.

What to Do at Brenham’s Blue Bell Creameries

Grab an ice cream (or several)..

Blue Bell’s second-floor Ice Cream Parlor is incredibly charming, featuring plenty of Blue Bell memorabilia–and for $1/scoop, you can sample one of 16 ice cream flavors on offer at the time, and/or a frozen treat like a Fudge Bar or Mooo Bar.

It’s a fantastic and very affordable way to have fun in Brenham, and since flavors rotate throughout the year, you never know exactly what you’re going to get.

Visit the Observation Deck.

Want to watch Blue Bell be created in real-time? Head to the Observation Deck for a birds-eye view of how the ice cream is made!

Snap photos of the creamery.

Not only is the Ice Cream Parlor charming and the Observation Deck incredibly interesting, but the grounds of Blue Bell Creameries in Brenham are also worth a peek, featuring statues, pretty corners, and even an old-fashioned ice cream truck.

Shop for souvenirs.

The Blue Bell Country Store is packed full of Blue Bell themed products–many of which are a nostalgic throwback to decades past!

Check out the Visitor’s Center.

Here, you can learn all about the history of Blue Bell, complete with artifacts and stories from decades past.

Check out the Texas High School Baseball Museum.

As you walk in to head to the Ice Cream Parlor, you’ll find a surprising sight on the first floor: a small museum dedicated to high school baseball in Texas!

Though small enough that you could almost consider it a display rather than a full museum, it’s a fun addition to visiting Blue Bell in Brenham.

Tips for Blue Bell Tours in Brenham

Come hungry.

While you don’t technically have to order a giant helping of Blue Bell at the Ice Cream Parlor, it’s one of the best things about visiting!

Understand that you can’t tour the creamery floor.

Once upon a time, people visiting Brenham could take a more detailed Blue Bell tour to see how the ice cream was made on the ground–however, those tours have since been discontinued, and the Observation Deck now serves the same purpose.

… but it’s still worth visiting.

Even without a full tour, visiting Blue Bell Creameries Brenham is well worth it!

Enjoying a scoop at the Ice Cream Parlor and checking out the Observation Deck are some of the most fun things to do in Brenham, and a Blue Bell tour makes an excellent day trip from Austin , Houston, or College Station (and don’t forget to visit the rest of the beautiful town, too!).

Essential Information for Visiting Blue Bell Creameries

Blue Bell’s Ice Cream Parlor, Visitor’s Center, Country Store, and Observation Deck, along with the Texas High School Baseball museum, are typically open Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit on the weekend, so be sure to plan your trip during normal business hours!

GPS directions will deliver you right to the front of the creamery, and the campus is well-marked. You’ll find the entrance for the ice cream parlor directly to the right of the large white building that says “Blue Bell Creameries” at the top.

Due to concerns surrounding health and safety in 2020, the Observation Deck is currently closed–however, the parlor alone is worth stopping to tour Blue Bell while in Brenham!

3 thoughts on “How to Tour Blue Bell in Brenham, TX”

What’s the point of coming to visit if you have discontinued the tours and the observation deck is closed? And you are closed on weekends when family visits can be arranged?

Question: my favorite ice cream is Blue Bell Peach Homemade Vanilla. Will you PLEASE continue making it?? !!

Brookshire Brothers in DaytonnTexas, zip code: 77535 is out of it right now. Please bring it back! Thank you. PS. The negative comment about visiting is not from me.I never left a comment before. Please answer. Thank you, Meredith

I remember coming here when I was 9 years old and now that my daughter is turning 9 in July I would love to bring her and my nieces for a tour. Is the Observation Deck back open??

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Visit The Original Blue Bell Creamery In Texas For Your Favorite Scoop

Taste the iconic Homemade Vanilla, straight from the source. 

In the South, there is quite literally no bad time to enjoy Blue Bell ice cream. In fact, we insist on indulging in the Texas-based creamery's creations year-round, from the limited-edition holiday releases—the Eggnog and Peppermint flavors certainly got us in the spirit—to quintessential summer flavors like peach and Homemade Vanilla. Is there really anything better to pair with buttermilk pound cake or ooey-gooey cobbler? Per the creamery's slogan, it "tastes just like the good 'ole days." Oh, we know. Find your favorite flavor at your local grocery store, or, even better, go straight to the source and visit the original Blue Bell Creameries.

You're supporting a Southern-owned business with every tub bought from the grocery store since Blue Bell Creameries started in a small town in the Texas Hill Country . Founded in 1907 in Brenham, Texas, the creamery was first dubbed the Brenham Creamery Company before being renamed in 1930 in honor of Texas' iconic bluebell wildflower. The rest is delightfully sweet history.

What many people don't know is that you can still visit the original creamery in Brenham, Texas, to tour the facilities, see where your favorite ice cream is being made, grab a scoop straight from the source in the Ice Cream Parlor, and shop in the Country Store. Kids even get to take home an old-fashioned paper hat! You can see all the info on the Blue Bell Creameries website .

Most people have a go-to flavor, and Blue Bell has plenty to choose from. If you haven’t tried their popular flavors like Cookies ‘n Cream, Cookie Two-Step, or Buttered Pecan, what better place than the creamery? There, you’ll also find some flavors that you can only get at the on-site Ice Cream Parlor.

Beyond getting to see a scoop of history (get it?), you'll be able to show support for a Southern brand that's over 110 years old and see the prettiest parts of Texas Hill Country while you're at it. Plan a road trip , and don't miss a thing! While you’re in Brenham, visit the historic downtown and drive the scenic wildflower loop. And when the craving strikes, you can always get a scoop of Blue Bell again.

Not in Texas? You can also head to the company's facility located in Sylacauga, Alabama, to visit the Ice Cream Parlor and shop at the Country Store.

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About Blue Bell Creamery Tour

Blue Bell Creamery Tour and Visitor Center welcomes families for a peek behind the scenes.

Treat the kids to a tour of the ice cream production plant and see the processes and equipment behind the finished favourites.

Tours last 45 minutes and include a serving of ice cream.

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Children $4

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1101 S Blue Bell Rd, Brenham, TX 77833, USA

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The Scoop On The Blue Bell Creameries Factory Tour

Article By: Kyle McCarthy

When driving the Texas Hill Country, plan a stop at the Blue Bell factory tour. Citizens of the Lone Star State claim they make the best ice cream in the country. This creamery, however, is not like most factory tours which take you behind the scenes.

Instead, Blue Bell’s tour is more hands-off. No dipping fingers into the production flavors as you stroll by.

The New Blue Bell Creameries

Much of that standoffish attitude comes from the devastating listeria outbreak linked to certain Blue Bell ice cream products back in 2015. The company’s three ice cream manufacturing plants: Brenham, Texas ; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma ; and Sylacauga, Alabama closed down and were sanitized.

Blue Bell recalled all their products. Dairy freezers were empty for months.

Texans around the world wept.

Since 2021, all Blue Bell production facilities are B RCGS certified with an A (or above) rating in the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). Totally modernized plants have strict sanitation rules. They admit visitors only if they’re behind glass windows, looking down at the action.

So, is the B lue Bell Creamery factory tour worth the stop? Read on.

The Original Blue Bell Creamery Tour In Brenham, Texas

Long, long ago in 1907, the Brenham Creamery butter company opened in a small Texas town. By popular demand, they grew into hand crafting ice cream in 1911. Legend has it that in 1930, executives named the ice cream company “Blue Bell” after a Texas wildflower, but that makes no sense since the flower’s name is written as one word. Nonetheless, adman Lyle Metzdorf made Blue Bell a household name with roadside billboards that proclaimed, “We’re cranky about flavor!” and “We eat all we can and sell the rest!”

Today, any genuine Texan stops for the facts at the mother ship — the original Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham, Texas.

The cute small town of Brenham, which had its own Relais & Chateau Inn at Dos Brisas for years, is about 70 miles northwest of Houston. Houston and Austin metro area families crowd town parking lots on weekends. In the summer, this ice cream factory tour makes a great stop on a Texas road trip.

The bad news is that, in Brenham, the factory tour is only open weekdays from 8am to 2pm.

Remember, if you’re going all the way to Brenham, you really want to see the plant’s Observation Deck . It’s the closest look the public gets on a so-called Blue Bell factory tour.

What Makes The Visitor Center Fun (Besides Ice Cream)

There is a small but interesting Blue Bell Factory Tour Visitor Center (open 8am to 5pm and also closed weekends.) Take your selfies, look at the small museum of memorabilia and see an introductory video to ice cream making. Ask the kids to take notes. They’ll want to understand what’s happening through the Observation Deck’s windows later on.

Our favorite image from the museum is of a smiling Blue Bell worker in lab coat. She is crushing bags of Oreo cookies to make the mixings for the new flavor, Cookies ‘n Cream . Another cool display is a poster of the Beatles, who did some cross-promotional marketing with Blue Bell.

Blue Bell Factory Sells Ice Cream, Too, And It’s Only $1!

Afterwards, head to the Ice Cream Parlor building. It has a few more displays of memorabilia, a country store and, upstairs, a “self-guided tour.” That’s just a fancy way of saying ‘buy a scoop of ice cream and go look through the Observation Deck window.’

There are three good things to note about this building. First, the Blue Bell Factory Tour Ice Cream Parlor (open weekdays 9am to 4:30pm, open weekends during certain seasons) sells some flavors that are very tough to find in supermarkets. Second, the large cups packed with a single scoop of ice cream cost only $1. Third and not least, Blue Bell factory tours are free of charge.

What You’ll See On The Blue Bell Factory Tour

It is interesting to look through the Observation Deck windows (around the smudgy finger marks.) Below you, Blue Bell’s engrossing mechanical system for production and delivery appears almost old-fashioned.

Try to decipher the Rube Goldberg-like tangle of colorful tubes and slides that hang from the ceiling. We learned that the ice cream is kept warm (soft) so it can be forced through these tubes into a container. However, a lot of hygienic protection material obscures this view.

Full containers are then sealed and go to the freezing room. They will be quick frozen at -40°F (-40°C) until ready for shipping. (Blue Bell staff handle their own products and shepherd ice cream from refrigerator trucks to outlets in 23 of the southern US states.)

Bring binoculars if you want to watch the workers in lab coats and hairnets adding mix-ins, swirls and sealing the packs. At our visit, they packed Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in half gallon tubs — 30,000 each day — four into one box. Some workers were wearing yellow noise canceling headsets. Others sorted through big blue plastic bags for the mix-ins or hosed the floors.

Conveyor belts swirl around the factory at several heights. The young staff on duty at the Observation Deck said there are three other plants in Brenham closed to the public. They explained that unseen sections of this plant were working with Dixie cup or quart size containers of the same flavor ice cream.

Be On The Lookout In The Frozen Aisle

There’s always something new at Blue Bell. The most recent hit is Dr Pepper Float introduced in May 2023. Texan friends raved about it but many still prefer traditional flavors such as Pecans, Pralines ‘n Cream .

Blue Bell Creameries now makes 40 flavors. Look on your store shelves for Blue Bell’s No Sugar Added Vanilla , varieties of sherbet and frozen snacks.

And if you can’t make it to Brenham, Texas, stop by the Blue Bell Factory Tour in S ylacauga, Alabama . The new factory draped in plantation style décor welcomes guests Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm to a few historical displays about the creation of ice cream. The most fun is visiting the retro style ice cream parlor for scoops of beloved and new flavors, each $1.

Will you be driving through Broken Arrow, Oklahoma? Sorry, while this Blue Bell Creamery plant is busy producing frozen treats, the facilities are not open to the public.

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Visit Brenham Texas

Blue Bell Creameries & Ice Cream Parlor

Come visit the “little creamery” in Brenham and learn all about how Texas’ favorite sweet treat is made! Visitors have the opportunity to browse the Visitor Center which is filled with pictures, videos and history of the “best ice cream in the country.” No visit to Blue Bell is complete without a generous scoop of ice cream from the Parlor and a trip to the Country Store for a unique gift or souvenir.

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Blue Bell Creameries

• 1101 South Blue Bell Rd Brenham, TX 77833
• (479) 839-7977
• (800) 327-8135

East Alabama Travel Destinations

The foothills of the appalachian mountains: off the beaten path in alabama's scenic paradise, blue bell creameries.

Blue Bell opened its Sylacauga manufacturing facility in 1996. Sylacauga is located about 45 miles southeast of Birmingham off of Highway 280 in central Alabama. Tours are available by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Tours last 45 minutes and include a serving of ice cream.

Enjoy watching ice cream being made–and then enjoy eating some!

Phone:  256-249-6100

Website:  www.bluebell.com

Hours of Operation:  by appointment only Monday- Friday 9am to 1pm.

Admission Fee: 3 dollars per person

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Free samples are available, plus shopping in Country Store after tour.

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• 423 North Norton Avenue
• Sylacauga, AL 35150

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Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory Tour and Tasting

Located about half way between Houston and Austin sits the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory. On our recent spring break trip we thought it would be the perfect pit stop as we made our way across the state.

The Blue Bell Creamery factory in Brenham is a little off the beaten path, so I wouldn’t consider it necessarily a “road side attraction”. However, it’s worth the 15-ish minute detour if you’re looking for a place to stretch your legs and get some ice cream. The creamery has a visitor center, observation deck for the factory, country store and scoop shop. Hours vary, so be sure to check their website before you plan your trip.

Our two favorite parts of our visit were the visitor center, where you can learn about the history of Blue Bell, and the scoop shop. HUGE ice cream scoops are only $1 here so you can load up the whole family with their favorite flavor.

The scoop shop accepts cash or credit and if you need a dairy free option, they’ll give you a popsicle at no charge. They don’t mix flavors in a cup, but you can buy 2 cups (for $2) and it’s totally worth it.

Our stop at Blue Bell Ice Cream was fun, a little educational, and delicious! If you’re traveling between Houston and Austin, I highly recommend you give yourself and extra hour and plan a stop at the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory!

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why has the milk chocolate ice cream been taken off the market? my favorite cream ever!

Not sure! 🙁

Its not milk chocolate Its MINT chocolate chip

How long did you spend there? And did you go to the observation deck?

We spent about an hour there.

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Blue Bell Tours & Country Store

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Review Highlights

“ We got there too late to visit the observation deck , but we are able to do a kind of mini self-tour in the visitor center. ” in 4 reviews

“ I truly enjoyed how we were able to see the assembly line, and all the machines at the factory working in real time. ” in 5 reviews

“ It ends in the ice cream parlor where you get unlimited samples of the 16 flavors and a full scoop of your choice. ” in 2 reviews

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1101 S Blue Bell Rd

Brenham, TX 77833

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What a fun adventure ! We love Blue Bell, so when we heard it was a short drive to one of their factories we hopped in the car. The drive out of Houston is peaceful, and full of beautiful countryside. The blue bell factory viewing deck where you get to watch a little bit of the magic happening does close before the actual country store and little self guided tour, so make sure you call and check what time that is before you head out. They have lots of free parking, and the whole tour is free as well! Then you can check out the cute country store. The best part is their huge old time scoop counter where you can buy a scoop of ice cream for only a dollar with tax !!!! They have flavors exclusive to the ice cream counter that isn't sold in stores. When we went they had two magnolia (Joanna Gaines) flavors that were awesome. The flavors do rotate so if you decide to visit more than once there will be something new to try most likely. It's a great trip to take, with kids, family, and out of town visitors ! We've been more than once and definitely will come again.

There were several larger groups while we were there but it was all very organized. We loved learning the history, shopping the gift shop and of course ordering 4 flavors to share. So delicious and refreshing. Really fun seeing the production room too. Very clean.

See all photos from Jean C. for Blue Bell Tours & Country Store

If you manage your expectations that this is a quick self-guided tour you will enjoy the nostalgia. Don't forget the dollar ice cream at the end. They do have a retail store, but it's more of a Country store than Blue Bell merch.

See all photos from Jennifer G. for Blue Bell Tours & Country Store

Missing the days where you could go on a full tour, but I am glad they still have the observation deck for your viewing pleasure - watching the factory in real time is quite fascinating. Best part by far is the $1 overly generous scoops from the ice cream counter - they have some fan-favorite flavors as well as some you won't find in stores - how special! No ice cream from Blue Bell is ever bad, so you can't really go wrong, but I certainly say try some of the unique/seasonal flavors on offer...when in Rome, as they say.

See all photos from Cynthia V. for Blue Bell Tours & Country Store

We brought out of town guests here for the tour. Everyone loved the self guided tour and endless tastes of ice cream. Picked my favorite and was only $1.00 a full scoop! Delicious.

Love my new Christmas ornament!

Bluebell Ice Cream is a super popular brand even if not as present on the west coast. We decided to take the self guided tour. The place opens at 8 am so you can beat the crowds and have easy access to parking. The visitor center is where most of the history and vintage advertising is displayed and a separate building is where you can go to the observation floor and watch them make the ice cream from above. Sadly you arent allowed to photograph or record the floor the gift store is not as impressive so we didn't buy anything. There is an ice cream bar where you can get $1 ice cream which is a steal since the museum and tour is free.

See all photos from Rain W. for Blue Bell Tours & Country Store

It's been 34 years since touring Blue Bell last. Back then you could visit the manufacturing floor but now you can't. No worries though because the observation deck gives you a great vantage point to observe what's going on in "the little creamery in Brenham. Our tour guide gave a us great information about the process and some secrets about Blue Bell. After the tour visit the ice cream bar for your favorite selection of Blue Bell at a $1 a scoop. My favorite was there of course Banana Pudding! Space is plentiful to enjoy your scoop or scoops! You can also visit their gift shop for take home memorabilia. And finally if you dare head on over to HEB in Brenham to select your favorite 1/2 gallon to take home because they carry all 50 flavors there! So don't forget to bring your ice chest to bring that precious package home! We'll always love Blue Bell no matter what!

My daughter's concoction of cotton candy and flavored ice !

We have driven by the factory for many years and finally took the time to stop in for tour. If I was just reviewing the ice cream, I would give it five stars. How can you not appreciate one dollar scoops of like 50 varieties? The museum and tour on the other hand were just OK. I'm glad we stopped to visit and see it at least once, but it's not a place I would go back to, with exception of the ice cream!

Visit the observation deck for sure, very interesting. The country store has a nice variety of items but don't buy Lil' Juicy blueberry scented pencils, there is no scent. You can get a generous scoop of ice cream for $1! Overall a fun day and several places for great pictures.

Last time we were here in the 1990s you got a tour and a free small container of either vanilla or chocolate Blue Bell. In 2017 the tours are discontinued, but you get one free scoop of ANY Blue Bell flavor, and unlimited samples of the others. They have also expanded their country store offerings, along with the ice cream parlour. There are 3 cases, was he with the same flavours to reduce the lines and wait for service. What a fun place to stop in after a busy day geocaching!! 5 creamy stars

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3 Hour Scenic evening wildlife tour with live entertainment & a steak dinner!

Blue Bell Lodge Hayride & Chuck Wagon Cookout

Be part of a Blue Bell tradition. This old-fashioned hayride takes you on a 45-minute scenic wildlife tour on the park's beautiful backroad to a mountain meadow canyon for a chuck wagon feast. Live entertainment! On the way, you can sing along with your live folk music entertainer, and the full folk band joins up at the canyon for the dinner show. Each paying guest gets a souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna to help you play the part.

Hayride & Chuck Wagon Cookout Details

Evening departures 7 days/week all season long. The activity takes about 3 hours, including the 45-minute wagon ride/wildlife tour with live entertainment, and the dinner show. Check-in at Blue Bell Lodge. Fun for all ages!

My husband and I went on the cookout wagon ride early October 2022. This was an amazing experience. The ride was fun, the guitar player who got everyone involved in sing alongside was professional, silly, really really great. The cookout location was in a beautiful valley. Plenty of picnic tables. The cookout staff were helpful, efficient and they cooked an excellent meal. Worth every penny. So much fun. – Julie A, CSPR Fan

At a Glance

• Pre-dinner wildlife tour
• 8 oz. Choice Sirloin Steak, 1/3 lb. Burger, or Black Bean Burger
• Cowboy beans
• Cornbread and honey
• Potato salad
• Chuck wagon coffee
• Live entertainment all night!

01 Departure Times

Nightly departures from Blue Bell Lodge according to the following schedule:

• May 1 5:30pm
• September 15 5:00pm
• October 1 4:30pm

Must arrive 30 minutes prior to departure time for check-in, meal ticket & hat distribution, and loading the wagons (steps required).

Anticipate 3 - 3.5 hours for the activity.

• Adults: $74
• Children 11 & under: $64
• Under 3 years: Free if sitting on a lap and eating from an adult plate

Menu includes your choice of an 8 oz. choice sirloin steak or a 1/3 lb. hamburger with all the fixin’s, including cowboy beans, cornbread and honey, potato salad, coleslaw, watermelon, cookies, chuck wagon coffee and lemonade. A vegetarian option is also available. Please select your option when you make your reservation.

04 Reservations

• Advanced reservations are recommended.
• Please place your reservation online .
• Day-of reservations close after 2pm.
• For questions, please call 605-255-4531 May 1 through mid-October
• 48-hour cancellation policy

05 Policies & Requirements

Dress accordingly. It cools down in the evenings! No pets. No bar available at the canyon for the dinner show; stop at Blue Bell Lounge for a pre-departure cocktail.

Activities Nearby

Wildlife Loop Road

A wildlife hotspot. Travel through 18 miles of open grasslands and pine-speckled hills. Plan for photo ops!

Guided Trail Rides

One of the most peaceful ways to explore the park's prettiest spots.

Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour

Take an unforgettable safari through the park in search of pronghorns, elk, and the noble buffalo.

Watersport Rentals

Available at Sylvan Lake Lodge and at Legion Lake Lodge.

No matter which lodge you find yourself drawn to exploring, our Custer State Park Resort stores have you covered.

There are several delicious dining options spread throughout the park, all open seasonally from the beginning of May through mid-October. Come hungry and ready to explore more them all.

Lodging at Custer State Park Resort

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