CSP Open House Weekend May 17-19

This weekend marks Custer’s annual Open House and Free Fishing Weekend, in conjunction with the statewide event at parks across the state.
The weekend begins at Custer State Park at 8 a.m.  Friday, and runs into Saturday, starting with the annual pancake feed with park staff at Legion Lake Lodge. The feed, which runs until 10 a.m., is a freewill donation to benefit Custer County Search and Rescue.
From 9 a.m. to noon there will be a fishing derby at Legion Lake, with fishing from 9:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Outdoor Fair at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, where attendees can join park staff for hands-on activites that include Custer County Search and Rescue, fire truck demonstration and water works fun, Black Hills U.S. Forest Service, Black Hills Central Railroad - 1880 Train, Sylvan Rocks Climbing School, Jewel Cave National Monument, Black Hills Raptor Center, Black Hills Backcountry Horsemen and U.S. National Grasslands.
From 11 a.m. to noon the hayrack rides will take off from Blue Bell Lodge, and then again from 2-3 p.m.
There is an ice cream social at Coolidge General Store from 2-4 p.m., as well as a Bison Patio Talk at the Bison Center.
From 4-5 p.m. there will be a station talk at the Wildlife Station Visitor Center, and an evening program from 7-8 p.m. will wrap up the day at the Game Lodge Campground.
Sunday will see the pancake feed again from 8-10 a.m., as well as another fishing derby at Legion Lake from 9 a.m. to noon, hayrack rides from 11 a.m. to noon at Blue Bell Lodge and a junior naturalist program from noon to 1 p.m. at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
Hayrack rides will resume from 2-3 p.m. at Blue Bell Lodge, and the weekend will wrap up with the Buffalo Chip Flip from 3-5 p.m. at the Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center.
For more information visit the parks website at custerstatepark.com.