South Dakota may not be at the top of your wellness bucket list. But it should be, especially now that you can stay at Shortgrass, one of just a handful of luxury accommodations in the entire state. Shortgrass Resort opened last year on 53 acres of rolling grassland outside Spearfish, a tiny town in South Dakota’s Black Hills. A river winds through the property, where guests can fish, swim, go tubing, sun themselves, and maybe watch a random cow stroll by—in the (short) grass.
The all-inclusive adults-only property brings a taste of Europe to the rustic corner, with eight free-standing Danish “bungalows,” which aren’t really bungalows at all—more like comfortably kitted-out glamping tents, perfect for a multigenerational family vacation or friends gathering. They are made by Dennard, a Netherlands-based company that specializes in design-forward luxe structures made to last. Shortgrass co-owner Jared “Cappie” Capp, an off-grid builder who specializes in sustainable design and is co-host of Building Outside the Lines, the Emmy-nominated show on the Magnolia Network with his stepdaughter, Alex Headley, added the finishing touches.
For those who don’t want to venture far, the nearby town of Spearfish is a fun place to stroll, with plenty of indie-owned shops and cozy coffee houses to visit. Nearby Spearfish Canyon is a natural treasure, perfect for hiking, biking, and picnicking by one of many beautiful waterfalls, especially in the fall foliage.
But if you want to experience what draws most visitors to the state, the famous South Dakota national monuments are less than 1.5 hours away, which, by South Dakota standards, is a short drive. The talented Shortgrass chef is happy to send you packing with a delicious, boxed lunch, so that you can enjoy a day at Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore, or the Badlands and return in time for dinner.
Time your visit to the 61st Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in South Dakota’s Black HIlls, scheduled for Sept 25, 2026, where visitors can channel the Old Wild West and watch 1,300 thundering bison being herded into pens across a plain by 60 skillful cowboys and cowgirls on horseback. An accompanying Arts Festival takes place from September 24–26, 2026, offering food, vendors, and entertainment, with a western flair. The rollicking event also takes place at Custer State Park in South Dakota’s picturesque Black Hills.
Meander, the elegant 16-seat restaurant at Shortgrass, features a full bar helmed by a passionate mixologist who creates a seasonal menu of craft cocktails (try his Palomita!), made with homemade simple syrups and bitters and flavored with herbs grown in the greenhouse on property. Enjoy cocktails on the spacious patio with panoramic views of the wide-open landscape, the Black Hills, and fields of wildflowers. There is one seating, and you have your table all night. “We don’t want to rush anyone,” says co-owner Rachel Headley. “We have a passion for sustainable lifestyle and local food.”
In creating the family-owned and -operated resort, the idea was to focus on using locally raised food and buying from local businesses. “We’ve been in hospitality a long time,” says Capp. “We wanted to help Spearfish evolve into a place we wanted to stay and provide a place with concierge-level service where people could enjoy privacy.”
They work with a local mushroom forager, growing an abundance of herbs in a lush greenhouse. Guests can book yoga instructors, sit around the campfire, explore fossil beds or swimming holes, and enjoy a beautiful outdoor pool and spa treatments in the rooms (booked in advance). “We have a local ornithologist to talk about bird migration, but if you just want to sit in the hammock, that’s fine, too,” says Rachel Headley.
“Ultimately, it comes down to the experience,” says Capp. “We have 53 acres. We could build more bungalows. But we don’t want to.”
