A custom crafted log home offers comfort in every season of the year. Our property consists of thirty-two acres of wildflowers, pine trees, and rocky ridges, surrounded by National Forest providing hiking in the meandering valley of French Creek.
Our home includes two bedrooms on the main floor, two on the lower level (a walk-out basement) and a large loft with five single beds. There is a full bath on each floor. The Great Room, which has a stunning rock fireplace as a focal point, flows into a dining room and kitchen area, A long covered porch covers the full length of the house, and a large open deck looks down a long valley. Beautiful lawn surrounds the cabin, with a path down to French Creek which flows by a gazebo, a quiet place away from cabin life. There is a firepit for evening campfires, a tree-house with swing, and equipment for Ladderball, Cornhole, and other family games. A softball field also serves as an area for Frisbee and other activities.
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All other House Rules covered in the Rental Agreement (available for download on this website).
Important information
You need to know
Property # 2240999vb
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
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Custer
Located in Custer, this holiday home is in the mountains. Crazy Horse Memorial is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Black Hills National Forest and The Black Hills. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with mountain biking and hiking/biking trails.
Four Mile Old West Town Museum - 14 min drive - 13.4 km
Jewel Cave National Monument - 15 min drive - 14.4 km
Rocky Knolls Golf Course - 18 min drive - 20.0 km
1881 Courthouse Museum - 20 min drive - 22.1 km
Custer State Park - 29 min drive - 33.7 km
Getting around
Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional) - 72 min drive
Restaurants
Purple Pie Place - 19 min drive
Feel Good Cafe - 23 min drive
The Barrel Room - 20 min drive
Espresso and More - 20 min drive
Laughing Water Restaurant - 28 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Log Home, secluded on a creek pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Log Home, secluded on a creek?
As of 17 May, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Log Home, secluded on a creek on 27 May, 2026 start from S$691, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Log Home, secluded on a creek?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Log Home, secluded on a creek?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Log Home, secluded on a creek?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Log Home, secluded on a creek located?
Located in the mountains, this family-friendly holiday home is within 9 mi (15 km) of Four Mile Old West Town Museum, Jewel Cave National Monument and Gates Park. Black Hills National Forest and Crazy Horse Memorial are also within 12 miles (20 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Dan and his friends were again great guests. Left the place in good shape. Good communication and kept all the House Rules. Would definitely rent to hem again.
Plenty of space for our family of 4 to be comfortable together or separately when we needed a break. Walkable to town or the bus stop. Great experience!
Katie S.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 Jun, 2025
Nice to get five stars but I don't think this is a review of JRL Retreat. It's a ten mile walk to the nearest town, and it doesn't have a bus stop.
This place was amazing! Off the beaten path without being in too far away. The cabin was almost our favorite part of our Black Hills trip. The kitchen was well stocked, and the WiFi handled everything we needed it for. Jeff was super communicative and helpful and anticipated anything we could have needed. We will definitely be coming back to stay again.
Thank you for sharing your special cabin with us! We loved our stay, your property is a dream, and the cabin had everything we needed. 2 famiilies, total of 9 of us were all very comfortable. Location was perfect for Black Hills adventures. Thank you!
Everything about this cabin was just as we expected. Maybe better! A bit out of town but close enough to not be inconvenient. The cabin has everything you could ever need. Was clean and very well maintained. We would stay there again for sure!
We loved the private, beautiful location. The cabin was well-appointed, comfortable and clean. The owner was very communicative and helpful. Definitely would recommend.
Perfect log cabin in a beautiful, serene setting. We had 6 adults in our group and had room to spare. Everything we needed was in the cabin ready to go. From campfire wood and kindling to the fully stocked kitchen, there was not one detail missed. Lots of wildlife, wide open sky for star gazing, close to all the area attractions. I can't say enough good things about this special little place.
We stayed here since it was close to trails to ride our side by sides. The place was secluded from others, and we had lots of room to play games and hang out. The house had everything we needed for our group of 9. Would stay here again!
The property is fantastic and well maintained. As long as they'll have us, we'll keep coming back.
Daniel H.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Jan, 2024
We would love to host you again next year. I will be opening up dates for 2024 in a few weeks. Since you have become a "regular" I will keep your week blocked until you are ready to book it. Just give me a range of dates and I will keep them blocked until you get back to me when you are ready, then I will open those dates to be rented. (I think this is what we did last year)
This is our 4th time staying at this beautiful cabin. Our family enjoys all the beauty it has to offer. Such a relaxing place to be out in nature. We have made many great memories there and hope to be able to make more in the future. Thanks for letting us enjoy your beautiful area.
Great cabin for the family. Very secluded and private. My family loved the place! We enjoyed setting around the fireplace and the beautiful views in the valley. This place exceeded our expectations! Thanks to Jeff we had everything we needed and more.
Caleb M.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Nov, 2023
Thanks for the positive review Caleb. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but I just now saw this. Glad it worked out well for you. Hope to see you again.
Jeff
Fantastic location with amazing views of the Black Hills. The owners are extremely responsive and helpful. You couldn’t ask for more in rental property. We had a fantastic time and hope to come back again.
Daniel H.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Dec, 2022
Dan -
As I said, we will keep the end of November dates blacked for you if you want them. Should you decide you aren't coming back in 2023 just let me know and we will release them for others who might want them. You won't be able to actually book the cabin on VRBO until I release the block. I will do that as soon as I hear whether you want them or not. No rush at this time, but sometime in the spring it would be nice to know.
Have a good winter,
Jeff
Loved our stay. The cabin was just what we needed. Plenty of space for everyone. The area is just beautiful. The cabin was fully stocked with everything you could possibly need. Jeff was wonderful and answered all my questions timely. Would definitely stay again.
Nancy D.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Jun, 2023
Thank you, and so happy you had a good stay. We appreciate the positive review.
Jeff
JLR retreat did not disappoint! From the moment we arrived we had everything we needed. Cabin was beautiful, peaceful setting, and close to all attractions. This may have been the best rental we have ever had and suited our lifestyle perfectly! Thank you Jeff, it was a wonderful stay!
Melissa W.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Aug, 2022
We are so happy you enjoyed your stay. You left the cabin in great shape. We look forward to your next visit. Thanks so much for sharing your feedback.
This cabin was incredible! We stayed with another couple and their 2 kids and had plenty of room. The cabin had everything we could ever need. The views are beautiful and they are close to most attractions. I would highly recommend it. Jeff was the best as well. Book it!
Beautiful log home in picturesque setting in the heart of the Black Hills. A short drive to many attractions and restaurants. Or enjoy hiking, star gazing or reading a good book at the cabin. Many amenities. Owner is nearby and attentive to any needs. We would definitely come again!
Jeanette G.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Sept, 2022
Thank you for you complimentary review. So glad you enjoyed your stay. And thank you so much for leaving the cabin in such wonderful shape. It was immaculate, and will make it so much easier to get it ready for our next guests.
We had a wonderful time exploring & relaxing at a most peaceful valley of enchantment. The stars! There is plenty of room for people to gather AND be by themselves! So good!
Nestled up the hills, the property is peaceful and beautiful! We came to go side-by-siding and there was plenty of parking for our three trucks and trailers (and room for another one or two) with easy and quick access to the trails. 4 bedrooms plus loft, plenty of sleeping space for large groups. Jeff responded to messages in a timely manner, was accomodating, and just down right wonderful to work with! Our group is hopeful to stay here again!
Beautiful cabin in the hills, perfect for families or groups.
A beautiful property tucked away in the hills out of town. Very secluded and private, with a ton of games and things to do on-site for families. Close to all of the fire roads and trails for those who want to ride off-road vehicles in the black hills. Has everything you need to cook, clean & just sit back and relax (But no TVs!) Hosts were very good with communication and my entire group was very happy with the property. Thank you again!!
Zach R.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 24 Jul, 2024
Zach and his friends were good renters. Very responsive and left the place in good shape. They expressed their love for the cabin and property multiple times, and Zach took some nice drone photos. See our VRBO homepage. Would welcome him back anytime.
Jeff and family were such wonderful hosts! The cabin was more than what we thought, more than enough room for 7, gorgeous views from the porch, every amenity you can think of, French Creek right by the cabin, activities for the kids.... it was great! Can't wait to come back again! Jeff has been a great communicator thru the whole process and it made our stay even better! Cheers from Colorado!!
Renee B.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Jun, 2023
So glad you had a good time and enjoyed the beautiful setting. Hope your husband can come back with you next time. Knowing he is a fly fisherman I can give you better advice next time.
Jeff
Great property. It was clean and plenty to do off the grid. There is WiFi, but no TVs as it is designed to be more of a way to reconnect with your family. We had a great time playing board games and enjoying the outdoors. The creek is close by but we thought it would have been easier to access and maybe a bit bigger than it really was. Host was very attentive as well.
Donald S.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Jul, 2024
Donald -
So glad you enjoyed your stay. It is primarily a family cabin and we intentionally don't have a TV as we desire it to be a place in interact inside with others in conversation and board games, or outside enjoying the creek, walking trails and National Forest that surrounds the property on all side. I wish the creek were a little bigger but it flows year round and ebbs and flows with the amount of rain. Thanks for leaving the place in good shape.
Jeff
We are traveling with Young adult Children, but this cabin is equipped to handle varying family sizes and ages. We found everything we needed and it felt very welcoming, like you were home. The kitchen was stocked with everything you could need to prepare meals with plenty of dishes and silverware. We were away from the cabin most of the time we were in town, but there was so much to do on site, if you plan some down time while visiting, you will be glad you did. Everything was great and we would definitley recommend or stay again.
The property and cabin are a great location for a retreat or to use as a home base for exploration in the Black Hills. We had a great time and everything was as expected. The host was an excellent communicator.
During our stay, we didn't get to spend as much time about the property as we planned because of great weather and all the cool things to do in the Black Hills. We wished we had more time!
Jacob G.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Sept, 2023
Jacob -
So glad you enjoyed your stay at the cabin and in the beautiful Black Hills. We appreciated how well you left the cabin. Made it easy for us to clean and get ready for our next guests.
And thanks for the positive review.
Jeff
About the host
Hosted by JRL Retreat
We are three couples—two sisters, a brother, and our spouses—who enjoy the bond of family and friendship. Some of us grew up in the Black Hills; it has been a special area for all of us. As “the changes and chances of life” took us to various parts of the country over the years, we all thought of the Black Hills as “coming home,” so in 1986 we agreed to turn a dream into reality, and purchased what we have come to call JRL Retreat. It has worked well to share it among (now) three generations of our families—and we love sharing it with others.
Why they chose this property
Once you turn off the road, the surrounding National Forest offers complete seclusion. From the cabin deck, the view is valley in one direction, valley in the other, the creek down below, and “Rubble Rock Mountain” behind. The North Fork and the South Fork of historic French Creek come together on this land, forming a junction that opens onto beautiful hikes up the valley of either fork. Rising above the creek valley are pine-covered hillsides and rugged rock ridges.
What makes this property unique
The Southern Black Hills has a climate sometimes described as the “Banana Belt,” and JRL Retreat, at 6,000 feet elevation, is usually ten degrees cooler in the summer, and ten degrees warmer in the winter, than the nearby South Dakota plains. There are wonderful attractions less than an hour in any direction from the cabin, but—with a creek, a mountain, and a modern log cabin—you don’t have to go anywhere!
In the summer the days are warm; nights are cool. And there is very low humidity.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
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