Custer Camp 1874 is located on 40 pristine acres in the heart of beautiful Vanocker Canyon, just 12.5 miles south of Sturgis, midway between Wonderland Cave and Dalton Lake. It is home to The Pasta Corral and Custer Camp 1874 Vacation Rental. Just 30 minutes from Deadwood/Lead and 45 minutes from Mount Rushmore, it is the ideal ‘home base’ for your Black Hills vacation. Surrounded by National Forest, there are over 1.2 million acres of public land and thousands of miles of ATV and snowmobile trails available. ATV rentals can be delivered right to your door. Hiking trails abound, including the 109 mile George S. Mickelson Trail. Nearby lakes offer fishing, swimming and boating. Countless outdoor opportunities provide adventure for you and your group! Let us make your next vacation the memory of a lifetime! General George Armstrong Custer led a massive reconnaissance expedition through the Black Hills in 1874. It was described as, “A journey to the last unknown place.” There were more than 1000 men, and one woman, a black cook named Sarah Campbell. Custer Camp 1874 is the location where General Custer and his men camped August 9-10, 1874, on this Black Hills Expedition. In his journal, Private Forsyth described the spring-fed pond near current Vanocker Canyon Road as, “…a beautiful stream fed by an immense spring of the coldest water, save ice-water, I ever drank.” This is the headwater for Little Elk Creek.
FROM STURGIS: Take Vanocker Canyon Road (I-90 exit 32) south 12.5 miles. Custer Camp 1874 is 0.6 mile past the turn off for Wonderland Cave on the west (right) side of the road. FROM RAPID CITY: Take West Chicago St. to the west. It will turn into South Canyon Road and will then turn into Nemo Road. Drive ~ 17 miles to the town of Nemo and continue 0.2 miles past Nemo to Vanocker Canyon Road and turn right (north). Go 4.2 miles and Custer Camp 1874 is on the west (left) side of the road. If you reach Wonderland Cave you have gone 0.6 mile too far. FROM DEADWOOD/LEAD: Take Highway 385 south 7.8 miles to the Boondocks and turn left (east) on Nemo Road. Continue 12.9 miles and turn left (north) on Vanocker Canyon Road. Go 4.2 miles and Custer Camp 1874 is on the west (left) side of the road. If you reach Wonderland Cave you have gone 0.6 mile too far.