SD GF&P Says Fire At Sylvan Lake Lodge Limited To 1991 Wing; 12 Of 35 Rooms Severely Damaged

      South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks has released information about the extent of damage from Saturday night’s at the Sylvan Lake Lodge in Custer State Park.

     Park Superintendent Matt Snyder says the damage was limited to the 1991 motel-style addition with 12 of the 35 total rooms severely damaged from fire, smoke, and water.

     The historic 85-year old original portion of the lodge escaped fire damage, but did suffer some damage from smoke and water. 

      Snyder says the damage would have been much worse if not for the quick response and dedicated work of the Custer VFD and some 2 dozen other agencies who kept the fire from spreading. 

     He expects the immediate impact to be very low since Sylvan Lake Lodge was already closed for the winter and is optimistic the long-term effects are limited since the building was insured and the damaged portions will be rebuilt.      

      Snyder thinks contracts should be awarded and work underway in the spring. The cause of Saturday’s fire remains under investigation.