Arts & Crafts
Newton Fork Ranch is located 1/2 mile from historic Hill City. Main Street in the late 1800s attracted area miners to its 15 saloons and soon became known as "a town with a church on each end and a mile of Hell in between." That reputation has long-since passed and Hill City now is known as the artistic epicenter of the Black Hills boasting numerous galleries, craft shops that highlight various styles of sculpture in bronze and stone, watercolors, painting, Native American artwork, jewelry, and artistic framing. Hill City is also home to the annual Black Hills Film Festival; Fine Arts in the Hills Show & Sale; and the Hill City Area Quilt Show & Sale events.
Fishing
The Newton Fork Creek meanders under an old railroad bridge and through the ranch. Weather permitting, the creek is alive with pan-size rainbow trout. For fishing farther afield, Sheridan Lake, which is also wonderful for ice fishing in the winter, is 10 miles away and offers up trout, yellow perch, and northern pike. Pactola Reservoir, 15 miles away, features the opportunity for rainbow, a few cutthroat trout, and some wild brown trout. Deerfield Lake, a mere 16 miles from the ranch holds rainbow trout, naturally reproducing brookies, and is stocked every three years with splake (a char-brook trout hybrid).
Mickelson Hiking & Biking Trail
We are conveniently located adjacent to the George S. Mickelson Trail. More than a century ago, the old Cheyenne-to-Deadwood stage route passed through Newton Fork Ranch. Later, the Burlington Northern Railroad replaced the stage line, carrying passengers and supplies to Deadwood and the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead. Today, those abandoned railroad tracks have been transformed into a beloved 109-mile recreational trail stretching from Deadwood in the north to Edgemont in the south. Along the way, visitors can experience the beauty and history of the Black Hills while crossing more than 100 bridges and traveling through 4 historic tunnels. The trail can be explored on foot, by bicycle, horseback, and in winter, on cross-country skis or snowshoes. A private gate on the property, installed exclusively for our guests, provides direct access to the Mickelson Trail.
Photography
The Black Hills are home to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park, countless forests and recreation areas so there's no shortage of breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife to photograph year-round. Scenic byways and wildlife loops offer panoramic vistas that are sure to capture the imagination of both professional and amateur photographers alike.
Reading by the Fire
The most underrated activity. Bring a book you've been meaning to finish. The fireplace is waiting.
Relaxation
Imagine your life without stress and distractions: no deadlines, no traffic, no television, no texting. Now, envision relaxing with a cup of morning coffee, taking long walks exploring life's natural beauty, laughing and playing games with loved ones in the evening. Welcome to a gentler by-gone time when "we speak of things that matter" and are awed by nature. If you are looking to spend a few days in the slow lane in the company of deer, elk, turkeys, and stars, you will fall in love with Newton Fork Ranch.
Snowshoeing & Skiing
When winter blankets the Hills, the trail becomes a hushed cathedral. Terry Peak and Deer Mountain are within easy reach.
Stargazing
With minimal light pollution and the absence of TV glow, our skies are extraordinary. Bring a blanket and watch the Milky Way emerge.
Wildlife Viewing
Whitetail deer in the meadow at dawn. Bison and pronghorn at Custer State Park. Wild burros that walk right up to your car.
Wine Tasting & Breweries
If sitting on the deck sipping a soulful glass of wine is your idea of relaxation, you are in for a treat! Hill City, a former mining town, has now become a destination for wine and beer enthusiasts. Our little hamlet boasts several establishments for imbibing: With the Wind Winery, Naughti Wines, Cohort Craft Brewery, and Prairie Dog Taproom. And Lost Cabin Brewery, a Rapid City favorite, opened an outpost just south of the 1880 Train in a uniquely lovely and delightful beer garden. Cheers!
Locals Reveal Unknown Sites Worth Seeing
Introduction by Linda Flounders
Linda Flounders, the third generation owner of Newton Fork Ranch, shares with visitors the locals' takes on hidden treasures, those hard-to-find special places, of the Black Hills area.
Kristin Donnan
Kristin Donnan is a lecturer, arts advocate, and noted freelance writer. She has written five books—including "Rex Appeal," the source material for Todd Douglas Miller's Emmy®-winning 2014 documentary, "Dinosaur 13." She also appeared on screen in "Dinosaur 13" and supported the production. Her print projects have won national book and press awards, including a Silver Medal in the Independent Publishers Book Awards. Kristin holds an MFA in screenwriting (American Film Institute).
Waldtraut (Wally) Matush
Waldtraut (Wally) Matush was an early visionary of Hill City's renaissance. Having purchased the historic 1880s Harney Peak Hotel in the early 1970s, she created a restaurant that best embodied her passion: cooking. The Alpine Inn is legendary for its lunch and dinner cuisine; the long lines that form before the doors open evidence this. Her next vision produced the nearby Old World Plaza, a charming collection of colorful galleries, shops, and services.
Rachel Jepsen Taylor
Rachel Jepsen Taylor and her late husband Vic created Jewel of the West, a popular Hill City gift shop, in 1999. Jewels of the West features unique jewelry designs, home décor products, and apparel that would rival products found in the tony resort towns of Jackson, Santa Fe, and Aspen.
Moni Matush
Moni Matush is the current owner of the renowned Alpine Inn Restaurant. With the purchase of the historic building and restaurant in 1996, she is dedicated to preserving the family tradition of providing European-style lunches and acclaimed desserts, plus true western-style steak and potato dinners. She spearheaded an expansion to the popular restaurant that continues to have packed, happy crowds year round.
Tim Gregson
Tim Gregson is an area rancher and Hill City native. His family ties reach back to the 1800s when this gold mining town was founded. Whether tending to his stable of horses or working the area timber for the US Forest Service, Tim is a treasure-trove of information on the local environs. In his rare downtime, Tim is the former team captain of the Rushmore Polo & Social Club that staged its annual end-of-season game for 25 years at Newton Fork Ranch.
Janna Emmel and Randy Berger
Janna Emmel and Randy Berger are a husband and wife team that created Warrior's Work Studio Gallery and Ben West Contemporary Art in 1997. Randy began his career specializing in the creation of leather-designed frames that are sought-after art pieces in their own right. Janna, whose background includes 30-plus years in production work for IMAX films, has also masterminded many community outreach art programs such as the commissioning of the buffalo statue, the "Patriarch" by Peggy Detmers, seen at the entrance to Main Street; the annual "Sculpture in the Hills" art show; and was one of the founders of the well-received "Black Hills Film Festival."
Susan Scheirbeck
Susan Scheirbeck is a woman of considerable talents. A dedicated rock climber, she founded Sylvan Rocks Climbing School and Guide Service (accredited by the AMGA) in 1989. In 1991, her entrepreneurial spirit drove her to create Granite Sports followed, over subsequent years, by Studio 207, a stained glass studio, and finally InsideOut Gardening Center. Although she eventually sold each business, she remains an ardent fan of the outdoors and a fervent conservationist.
Lori Nonnast
Lori Nonnast is the current owner of the Jon Crane Gallery and Custom Frame Shop. Jon's watercolors are treasures; his specialty is scenes of the Black Hills. Lori purchased the gallery several years ago; it currently features Jon's paintings plus numerous other popular local artists. She is tireless in her dedication to Hill City's continued growth as an arts community and visitor destination.
Pat Wiederhold
Pat Wiederhold is not only a Hill City native but also a committed outdoor enthusiast. He is the current owner of Granite Sports on Main Street, the oldest outdoor specialty store in the Black Hills. The ever-popular and well-respected outdoor gear and clothing store caters to discerning rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, and camping clientele.