Oscar Micheaux Film Festival Writers' Workshop

Group Retreats

The Herrick Elevator Retreat Center offers your group a one-of-a-kind lodging experience. 
Email us for more information.

Things you can experience:
Beading, quilts, old photos, historic presentations, Burke Lake, Missouri River, picnics.  Visit Milk's Camp Community, Yankton Sioux Tribe headquarters, Rosebud Reservation, site of Whetstone Agency, site of Ponca Agency, Treaty of 1858 boundary, 99th Meridian, and a cattle ranch.  (Some sites are not available in inclement weather.) Each day, we'll provide experiences that will help you truly understand our history, our people, our lives.  The rest of the day is yours...for family visits, service projects, quiet time, me time.  You can see a sample itinerary.

For Youth Groups:
We recommend that you bring 1 adult (21 years or more) for every 6 youth (18 years or younger). If the group consists of male and female youth, the group leaders should include each gender.

Service Opportunities exist with nearby communities of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe.  Contact us and we'll help you connect.

For Writer, Artist, and Birder Groups:
You've discovered the perfect spot ... peaceful calm, great views, natural beauty, inspirational sunrises and sunsets. 
We're near the Karl E Mundt Eagle Refuge (30miles), Burke Lake Birding site (7miles) and Ponca Creek (5miles).  Just twenty minutes away, on the Nebraska border, we've got a pretty little creek running through 350 acres of rolling pastureland and meadows.  You can fish on the pond and watch for deer, red-winged blackbirds, meadowlarks, hawks, and other small wildlife.  Come with us and spend some time.  We think you'll like it as much as we do. 

Get more information on local birding at the SD Birdwatching page, including the Great Lakes Birding Brochure, a request form for SD Backyard Birding Booklet, and a birders checklist.

For Hunters:
Please email us with your request for dates. 
We do not provide a guide or a hunt, just lodging. 
We are located 13 miles west of Bonesteel, 7 miles east of Burke, 15 miles east of Gregory, 19 miles east of Dallas.  Find information about hunting seasons at the SD Game Fish and Parks website.

Accommodations:
The Herrick Elevator has 5 bedrooms and a home-style setting. Two of the bedrooms have 2 twin beds, one room has 1 twin, one room has 1 queen and one room has 2 bunk beds (4 beds).  There's also a hide-a-bed and lots of comfy couches in the TV areas.  Rollaway beds are available.  
There's a full kitchen with everything you need (dishwasher, frig, stove, microwave, plates, glasses, pans, etc), 3 full bathrooms (toilet, shower, sink), and 2 TV lounge areas (one in the loft and one at the end of the drive-through). 
We also have a gift shop in the old Scale House, so you can buy souvenirs of your trip if you like.

Cost of Stay:
$250 per night for up to 10 people.  Additional people up to a total of 15, add $15 per person per night.   Price does not include transportation to and from our site or meals.  
Closest grocery stores are 7 miles west in Burke and 15 miles west in Gregory.

Add a tour for $75 per day.  We've got several to choose from.