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The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills

Lakefront holiday home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills

Owls Nest from drive way with Pole lights
Sign on Matterhorn drive at Owls Nest driveway. We are 120 Matterhorn
Front door entry
Miscellaneous
Dan & Rae Jean Owners

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 122900 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Rapid City, SD
  • Place, Pactola Pines Marina
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Place, Pactola Point Swim Beach
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Sheridan Lake
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Airport, Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

2nd Main Level Bedroom

2 Single Beds

Downstairs Bedroom

+1
4 Single Beds and 1 Queen Bed

Main Level Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed and 1 Crib

3 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Main Level Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Upstairs Bathroom

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Separate dining area
Dining area

About this property

The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills

The Owls Nest is our Vacation home in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Our family uses the Owls Nest several times every year. We do rent it a few times each year. Our home is located a mile high and has spectacular 30-mile views from the very large deck. We like to have families and their friends at our home, rather than all male groups. Please keep group size to maximum of 12 total people, including children, our property manager will check on number of people at our house The house is located near several ATV trails, you can drive to the trails from the house. We cannot provide trailer parking for very large trailers on Edelweiss Mountain. No trailer parking on our lot on Edelweiss Mountain as there is not enough level space. Trailer parking for small, medium trailers can be on my adjacent vacant lot. No trailer parking of any size on our house lot and no parking of vehicles or trailers on the roads. Contact the Owner about trailer parking.
The Owl's Nest is centrally located in the Black Hills on Edelweiss Mountain near beautiful Lake Pactola Reservoir just off of Hwy 385. The central location puts you within 30 minutes of most of the major attractions in the Black Hills.

This is an often-used personal vacation home; thus is has lots of added comforts to make yours and the owners' stay super comfortable. Wow! One new King bed, Two queen beds, Six twin beds with new Mattresses, a pack & Play crib and a queen sized futon. You and your family can enjoy all those beds, three floors of space, three full bathrooms, an over sized kitchen, living room, lower family room, a bonus room above the garage, and an over sized deck with a view overlooking the Black Hills. The garage is reserved for the owners storage. This home has air-conditioning for the kitchen and dinning area and upper bedroom. We have ceiling fans in 3 of the 4 closed door bedrooms and in the living room and bonus room. The lower level of the house is partially in the ground on 3 sides and is always cool in summer. The house does not have wi-fi but has good mobile phone service. We have two Tv's with service by dish network. We are located a mile high on Edelweiss mountain and our area is usually 10-12 degrees cooler than the reported temp in Rapid City. The summer nights cool off very nicely, bring a jacket.

The Owl's Nest is beautifully decorated, very clean, and completely furnished. The views from the decks of this home provide a sweeping panorama of Black Hills scenery
The Owl's Nest is often used by more than one family
Enjoy the beautiful Black Hills
Dan, Rae Jean Gee - Owners
Brookings SD
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Great for children, we have young grandchildren
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Events

No events allowed
No parties or big gatherings allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
No Pets inside or out No expections
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No Smoking insise or near the house
Guests must Wash, Dry, and fold all towels before checking out
Guests must place all dirty dishes in Dishwasher and Run before checking out
Guests must take all Garbage to Dumpster located near maintenance shop on Alpine Drive

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: No parties or big gatherings allowed
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Rapid City

Located in Rapid City, this holiday home is in the city centre and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Mount Rushmore and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Travelling with kids? Consider Things That Rock and Museum @ Black Hills Institute. Take in the nearby slopes with cross-country skiing and skiing, or try out other outdoor activities such as sledging.
View more Holiday homes in Rapid CityOpens in a new window
Map
Rapid City, SD

What's nearby

  • Pactola Pines Marina - 14 min drive - 8.1 km
  • Pactola Point Swim Beach - 16 min drive - 8.7 km
  • Sheridan Lake - 16 min drive - 14.7 km
  • Sheridan Lake South - 17 min drive - 16.1 km
  • Prairie Berry Winery - 20 min drive - 20.6 km

Getting around

  • Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional) - 61 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Miner Brewing Company - ‬24 min drive
  • ‪Black Forest Inn - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Horse Creek Inn - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪No Bad Days Tap Wagon - ‬19 min drive
  • ‪Annie Lode Coffee Cabin - ‬23 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Owl's Nest, Black Hills Vacation Home located in Central Black Hills located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Pactola Pines Marina, Pactola Point Swim Beach and Sheridan Lake North. Sheridan Lake and Black Hills National Forest are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 60 out of 67 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 67 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 67 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 67 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 67 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Shauna F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay, we took ATVs and the trails were close, minimal traffic, close hiking.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gina H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The Owl’s Nest definitely is worthy of its title- it’s nestled high in the mountains, and has amazing views! Check in was seamless, owners were very easy to work with.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Susan N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Exceeded our expectations! Beautiful, clean cabin, gorgeous views, centrally located near all the parks we visited. Amazing stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Timothy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My family and I had a great stay at the Owl's Nest. It has plenty of extra room. It was very clean and well equipped for our stay. We enjoyed the great views every day from the deck. It was centrally located for us to go to all of the places that we planned to visit. We really appreciated how private and quiet it was. We want to thank Dan for being a great host.
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sherri W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A lot of room to enjoy meals together. We rode our SXS everyday! Thank you for letting us stay!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tim C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay at the Owl's Nest! It was peaceful, quiet, clean, and comfortable. There was plenty of room for everyone to have their own space. We enjoyed mornings having coffee out on the deck, enjoying the view of the mountain. It is a hop, skip, and a jump to Lake Pactola, such a fun place to soak up some sun on the water! We were here on some of the hottest days of the summer and the cabin was still comfortable for us! A lovely home away from home!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

2024 Vacation

The house was great and just what our geoup needed for our vacation.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

David B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful owl’s nest

We had a wonderful time staying in this house. Worked great for our family of Ten, many memories where made during our weeks stay
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Accommodated our extended family very well.

Great secluded location.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Cathy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay at the Owls Nest

Our family had a lovely stay at the Owls Nest. The views are breathtaking and the home is very comfortable. Would highly recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Deana C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Secluded

If you want peace and quiet this is the place for you. Great house with beautiful scenery
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mountain cabin

The property was very nice, clean & comfortable. The view was beautiful.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Brian U.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just fun

Had a great trip to Mount Rusmore and area attractions. The Owls Nest provides just what we needed in comfort and layout. Nice view, rustic feel and relaxed stay. Everything worked out great…
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gladys H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great rest and peaceful

Great
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Krystal H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

The house was centrally located. The kitchen was fully stocked with dishes so made it easy to have home cooked meals. Lots of rooms/beds for family or friends.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Matt B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing cabin

Enjoyed the peace and quiet. Clean property in the black hills. Would recommend it.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Mark R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Outstanding choice for Black Hills visit

The Owl's Nest is an ideal location for any visit to the Black Hills! The home is beautiful and spacious and offers seclusion, tremendous views from a wrap-around deck, and an ideal location in the central Black Hills region. It is close to Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park and not far from other destinations. Great for families. We will be returning!
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

sam s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Time

The owls nest was exactly as described. Plenty of room for every one to have their space. It was located in the middle of everything the black hills offer. Favorite part was the deck with grill. We would stay their again and definitely recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Tyler R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Vacation Spot

We had two families that needed a place to stay that was central to the touring locations. This house was a little remote, but perfect for our home base. Kids had plenty of space to spread out on the lower level, and the main floor was set up perfect for the adults to play cards and not disturb the kids. The view from the deck was incredible - perfect with a cup of coffee in the morning. Thank you!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Matt Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Annual Black Hills Vacation

Very private and quiet property. Had great times in the evenings playing cornhole and socializing. Not as close to the attractions as we normally stay but didn’t end up being an issue, just had to allow more time to get back and forth. Was very warm for the hills while we were there. Central air would have been a plus, but did cool at night. Overall was a great stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tony w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Owls Nest

It was good. We didnt see the whirlpool which was a big selling point. However it was nice. We barely used the whole place
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Suzy F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

First Time Visitors to South Dakota

This was my first time using VRBO, and these hosts were incredibly patient. They replied quickly to questions and offered clear instructions. The cottage itself is lovely and was clean and ready for us. My only comment would be regarding utensils, a large flipper or longer tongs would have been nice for bbqing, and just some other basic kitchen utensils would have been appreciated. The cottage came with dish soap, laundry detergent. The views were great and the hosts, knowing we were on motorcycles, were very accommodating. I did not realize until we got checked in that we were required to wash the towels before leaving. Since the pricing included a cleaning fee, I wasn't expecting that and it was inconvenient trying to ensure the morning shower towels were washed and dried before we left. I would also like to note the road in. I did ask about gravel and the hosts did say there was a gravel road, but it wasn't bad. With 4 motorcycles, the gravel combined with the washboard and some extreme inclines made some areas of the road challenging despite having over 25yrs riding experience. It was doable but it would have been nice to have more information about the road in. Overall we had a great time and the property is beautiful.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

William J., Moss Point

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice Location

We stayed at the Owl's nest for 3 nights. We used the cabin while we visited Mount Rushmore, Keystone, Custer State Park, The Badlands, and Deadwood. Everything was relatively close. Cabin had everything needed to cook meals. Beds were comfortable. Amazing views. Everyone in our group enjoyed the cabin. One thing to be aware of, the road to the cabin and the driveway is VERY steep. We had rented a 12 passenger transit van, and the van struggled to get up the road/ driveway.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Larry H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful time in Wonderful Blackhills

The host and property manager were very attentive and responded to all questions promptly. The hosts provided a book containing information on local attractions, emergency facilities, places to dine, sightseeing tips, etc. that was extremely helpful. Our children and grandchildren had a fantastic time. This home and the location gave everyone the true Black Hills experience. Sitting on the deck in the evening listening to the wind blow through the pine trees is something that has to be experienced, it can not be described. We would definitely recommend this property to anyone wishing to truly experience the Black Hills!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Last minute trip to the Hills

With the current situation in the world booking months in advance seemed ill sighted. So on a whim we decided to make a last minute summer trip. Found the "Owl's nest" luckily it was available due to a last minute cancellation. It worked out perfectly, beautiful views, plenty of room for kids, no busy roads to worry about. Daily routine; get up, enjoy coffee and the view from the deck, go for a hike around the house, go out and explore the hills, come back grill, enjoy a cold beverage and call it a day. You can tell the Dan and his family take great care of their hideaway in the Hills.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Dan Gee or Rae Jean Gee

Host profile image
We are retired and live in Brookings SD. Call us with any questions 605.651.0873

Why they chose this property

The Owls Nest has 3 levels with 4 closed door bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms, one bathroom on each level. This is a big house.
Very good fishing in several local lakes, streams
The large deck with grill and 4 tables, chairs and umbrella's are a focal point and most meals are eaten on the deck.
Owls Nest has a new great room above the garage, which is a fantastic game room, with futon for extra sleeping.

What makes this property unique

Enough space for 2 families.
Fantastic 25 mile view from very large deck
No bugs at this mile high elevation

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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