Behind the Design: Greystone

There isn’t a Black Hills cabin rental that rivals Greystone in occupancy, custom finishes, or sheer, colossal size. We get asked a lot of questions about this unique, one-of-a-kind cabin so we want to unpack what we’ve learned!

It’s a completely custom cabin.

Greystone is a study in detail, without an inch of plain ol’ sheetrock visible on any wall. (If you’re curious, here are the photos.) It features 20′ ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, infinity floors, 2 wood-burning fireplaces, three living rooms, two full-size kitchens, a wet bar, several spacious balconies, and a hot tub to watch the stars or enjoy the incredible private views of the canyon. It’s all custom and hand-built, sitting on 10 acres of privately-owned land which guests are welcome to explore and enjoy.

The estate sleeps 25 guests comfortably, between the main lodge and the guest house, and it takes a minimum of 12 hours to clean the full cabin between guests, roughly double our next largest cabin. (Yes, we’ve done it ourselves but we’re grateful for the regular cleaner, Sara!)

Cross the mine shaft tunnel to access the guest house.

Beneath the Great Room, an underground passageway connects the main cabin to the HideOut, a complete second home. The tunnel design is something reminiscent of the old mining shafts the Black Hills was once known for with cement floors, exposed wood, and rock fill. You have to see it to believe it.

The HideOut sleeps 7 guests comfortably with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (including a half bath in the garage), its own garage with a parking space, a cozy living room with a fireplace, full kitchen, dining area, and a daybed with a view of the canyon. The daybed is the owners’ favorite feature of Greystone and probably ours too. Contact us upon booking if you’re interested in adding the HideOut, as it stays locked otherwise.

Unexpected features are everywhere.

From South Dakota themselves, the owners decorate and furnish their homes playing to the nuances of the area. Greystone is designed to feel modern with a nod to Wild West charm. The front door is made of hand-hewn logs, custom-built for a bold introduction. The fireplaces and stove hood are hand-match to match each other, made from hot rolled steel, the edges welded and then rough ground. Hand-welded vents behind the sink prevent condensation, preserving the view from the colossal 12×6′ kitchen window. In the bunk room, each bed has its own light and charging station, giving the kids a taste of the lux life, too. When we first visited, we had an “aha, that’s clever” moment around every turn.

They incorporated restored materials.

Century-old salvaged wood graces the common areas of the main cabin. It was rescued from old barns in Missouri – look closely and you’ll see the original nails and character. Antique building hardware was salvaged from a winch house and was used for both structural support and a unique style. The primary metal throughout the home is reclaimed galvanized steel. Lastly, the birch poles throughout the basement were actually sourced from the property itself when building the cabin.

The inspiration came from the “Grey Stone”.

When scouting the location back in 2016, the owners walked the land, looked out into the canyon, and were taken with a particular landmark that stood out: the monumental boulder they endearingly named the “Grey Stone”. They designed the home so that the first thing you see when you enter the front door is the Grey Stone.

The location is everything.

Step back about 150 years when the Black Hills was mostly untouched and growing wildly. That’s the view you can expect from Greystone. There isn’t a neighbor in sight or, really, any signs of civilization, making it easy to unwind, connect with nature, and get back to your roots. Actually, the canyon the cabin overlooks eventually ends up at Bridal Veil Falls! The area often has deer, elk, wild turkeys, deer, birds, chipmunks, coyotes, mountain goats, and other wildlife around. There’s even been a few mountain lion sightings, although rare! Greystone is located about 5 minutes from Terry Peak or 15 minutes from historic Deadwood.

Come stay with us!