Mount Rushmore Resort and Lodge at Palmer Gulch
Mount Rushmore Resort and Lodge at Palmer Gulch
Currently recruiting for the season from May 1st, 2026 to September 30th, 2026.
The Mount Rushmore Resort at Palmer Gulch is located in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. Our vacation resort is just minutes from Mount Rushmore National Memorial & Crazy Horse Monument. Hiking & exploring opportunities are abundant. Our family resort caters to vacations built on family fun and memories with outdoor activities and exciting amenities for travelers of all ages.
Nestled at the foot of Black Elk (Harney) Peak in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota near Mount Rushmore National Memorial and only a short distance away from Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, and the lakes and trails of the Black Hills National Forest.
- Location
- South Dakota
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 100-125
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Dormitory housing available
- Family housing available
- Yes
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- None
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Good
About Mount Rushmore Resort and Lodge at Palmer Gulch
Work as part of the best team in the business!
Explore and Play in the Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, while working at the Mount Rushmore KOA Resort and Lodge at Palmer Gulch. The Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, Black Elk Wilderness and Black Hills National Forest surround Palmer Gulch. The Resort is in proximity to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Monument. Experience an abundance of natural beauty, wildlife and adventure during your season at the Resort.
Join our dynamic team providing Entertainment and Recreation to our Guests while building long lasting Friendships and Memories for Ourselves. ONE hundred years ago Palmer Gulch was founded on a reputation of hospitality and warmth, which still spreads throughout this peaceful valley today. We need your help to continue this heritage.
Our Employees
We hire from all over the world. In recent years, staff members have hailed from places like: Columbia, Ecuador, Lithuania, Taiwan, Thailand, Mexico and all over the United States.
We are committed to a fun work place that is dedicated to excellence. Come join us, it's a blast!
The Employee Experience
Living and working in the heart of the Black Hills is an experience like none other. Hiking, Biking, Rock Climbing, Fishing, Cave exploration and our beautiful Hills are easily accessible. Wildlife play in our hills and valleys. And the Nights are peaceful with a brilliant night sky. Magnificent Stars. We are surrounded by Black Hills National Forest which we are free to use for recreation and inspiration. We recommend that you put down your phone, take a deep breath and immerse yourself in all the area has to offer.
Ideal Candidate
We are looking for people that can be committed to hospitality, have integrity, enjoy people and it really helps if you love the great outdoors. The resort business in very diverse and complex, so flexibility and a desire to learn new things will assist with you having a great experience.
Room and Board
The Palmer Gulch Resort offers dormitory housing for a nominal weekly fee of $30. Rooms are dormitory style with 2 people per room. Each dorm includes a full kitchen stocked with basic cooking and eating utensils, a living room and restrooms/showers.
Rooms can include twin beds or bunks, dressers, and basic bed linens. WiFi is available on the property as well as a employee computer that is hooked to high-speed internet. A landline telephone and basic cable is provided.
We also have 50 amp sites available for a nominal fee for employees that have their own campers.
Employee Perks
Bi-weekly pay schedule, available housing, store and restaurant discounts, a the Black Hills Badlands VIP pass for free or discounted admissions throughout the Black Hills and full use of resort facilities as well as discounted family camping and lodging is available. A staff shuttle is operated to shopping, banking or to see the sites of the Black Hills. We also have nightly entertainment and church services on Sunday morning.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The employee is responsible for getting themselves to and from their work obligation, a brief walk up to a half mile through the Resort. A car is recommended but not imperative. The Resort offers a staff van for running to town for groceries and supplies.
Travel to Rapid City for Initial transportation to South Dakota via airplane or bus. The Resort will assist with passage to Palmer Gulch.
For Fun
Along with being centrally located to major area attractions, the Black Hills offer blue ribbon trout fishing in numerous streams as well as other game fish in the many lakes within the hills. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the abundance of whitetail and mule deer, elk, turkey antelope and bison, as well as a variety of birds, which call the Black Hills home. The Mickelson Trail offers a scenic but not too strenuous opportunity for cyclists of all skill levels. If you are looking for some single track, there is plenty for all skill levels.
Our staff enjoys easy access to the 50 of miles of trails within the Black Elk Wilderness including a trail to the top of Black Elk (Harney) Peak. The Centennial Trail, a continuous 111-mile trail which winds its way through the hills from Hot Springs in the south to Bear Butte State Park in the north. If you like to climb, our granite is second to none.
Employees receive the Black Hills and Badlands VIP pass, which entitles them to free admission or discounts to over 80 attractions in the Black Hills, Badlands and throughout South Dakota.
The Black Hills is home to dozens of wineries, craft breweries, art galleries, great restaurants and even a town to do a little gambling. There are also numerous celebrations and festivals throughout the season including the independence celebration in Custer and the Hills Alive Christian music festival in Rapid City. One guarantee is that if you desire you can always be busy. At Palmer Gulch you can do as much or as little as you please.
Current Job Openings
Ability to handle cash and credit card transactions
Pours wine
Operates Espresso machine
Keeps equipment, prep area and store clean
Stocks and inventories supplies
Able to receive, complete and implement training for alcohol sales
Other duties as assigned
Proficient in handling cash and credit cards
Operates office equipment, cleans and stocks
Efficiently answers phones, emails and text with guest making accurate reservations
Becomes familiar with accommodations, able to describe to Guests
Answers Guest questions regarding Resort's policies, activities and amenities
Other duties as assigned
Accurately handles cash and credit card transactions
Upsells or offers impulse items to guests
Cleans, faces shelves and stocks
Becomes familiar with product & directs guests to location of items.
Other duties as assigned
Works in a team or independently
Cleans and Sanitizes bathrooms
Sweeps & Mops floors
Removes trash
Wash windows
Cleans Guest's accommodations
Other duties as assigned
Work in a team or Independently
Vacuums, dusts, sweeps, mops
Washes dishes
Removes and disposes of trash
Washes windows
Makes beds
Cleans and sanitize bathrooms
Wash, fold and store linens and terry
Other duties as assigned
Cleans grounds and removes litter & debris
Cleans firepits & gas grills
Delivers firewood to stores
Plants flowers, waters, & deadheads
Trims and edges walks & Prunes shrubs & tree branches
Must have driver's license and control kabota with trailer
Ability to operate lawn care equipment and tools
Able to lift, carry, weed whack and mow for long periods
Works well independently
Pumps propane
Maintains work vehicle & tools
Ability to change out toilets & fix broken water pipes
Minor carpentry
Understanding of Electrical and Plumbing systems
Ability to lift
Operate log splitter, weed whacker and mower
Works with other departments to maintain smooth operations of facilities.
- Knowledge of swimming pools and chemicals
- Safe usage of pool chemicals
- Responsible for tools maintenance and chemical inventory
- Able to work independently
- Pumps propane
- Works in general Maintenance as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Escorts guests to site on a golf cart
Able to get in and out of golf cart numerous times
Answers Guest question regarding Resort's policies, activities & amenities
Pumps propane
Works with registration handling site conflict
Other duties as assigned
Operates Point of sale cashiering
Bike repair and rental
Accurately handles credit cards and cash
Participates in activities with Guests
Works in a team or independently
Other duties as assigned
Barista
Greets guests in Grapes and Grinds, our Coffee/Wine shop. Requires a high energy, bright, and friendly personality. Efficiently prepares guests' beverages, lattes, cappuccinos, coffees, wine slushes, etc., processes purchases while engaging guests, pours wine. Maintains a clean food prep area. Stocks inventory. Must be at least 18 years to serve wine in South Dakota.
Registration/Front Desk
First line of contact, provides a WELCOMING atmosphere. Strong dedication to guest service, high attention to detail, friendly, helpful and willing to answer questions, resolve issues & communicates guests' needs to other departments. Duties include Reservations/registration, engaging with Guests and all other front of house duties.
Retail/Store
Greets all Guests. Friendly, cheerful, and positive attitude. Must have the ability to efficiently process guest purchases, handle money accurately while engaging guest, answering questions and upselling. Has an eye for detail and presentation ensuring a fully stocked and clean store. Additional duties will include cleaning, facing shelves and stocking inventory.
Cleaners
Cleans resort common areas, facilities, shower houses, restrooms & laundries. High energy, positive mind-set that creates a pleasant working environment while surpassing guests expectations. Duties include all aspects of cleaning while adhering to safe use of appropriate cleaning chemicals & equipment.
Housekeeping and Laundry
Cleans Guests accommodations, common areas & laundry. Must have an eye for detail to ensure highest standard of cleanliness exceeding guests expectations. Pleasant attitude, high energy, able to complete repetitive tasks, detect & report maintenance issues. Safe practice of chemicals and equipment.
Landscaping
Guest Experience Presentation. Comfortable working outside, doing minor repairs, planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding, maintaining flowers, shrubs & vegetation, mowing, weed whacking and focus on the presentation of resort facility. Flexible and willing to help out where needed, have an eye for detail and ensure the highest standard of cleanliness & beauty.
Maintenance
Mechanically inclined, flexible, maintains an upbeat attitude & has a willingness to help out wherever needed. Committed to guest service. Performs repairs, upkeep & preventative maintenance of buildings & grounds. This requires some skills in plumbing, carpentry, painting, & electrical repair and will include physical labor, removal of trash & debris. A driver's license is required.
Pool Maintenance
Mechanically Inclined. Tasks include, taking water samples of pools, hot-tubs, & waterslide, adjusting chemical levels, clean, change & back-wash filters, vacuum & brush pool to remove debris, repairs pumps and cleans pool areas. Takes pride in maintaining sparkling clean water features. Experience required.
Ambassador
Welcomes our guests. Outgoing, have a positive attitude, friendly, and focus on surpassing guests' expectations. Effectively communicates with guests & other departments. Escorts guests to accommodations, pumps propane, polices micro trash, delivers firewood, messages and informs guests of happenings at the resort. This is a fun job for someone who wants to be in the thick of the action.
Recreation
You get to play!! Staff in our FUN ZONE must be enthusiastic & animated. FUN! is the key to the recreation department. Extensive Involvement with our guests implementing best safety practices. Set up/tear down inflatables & a climbing wall, supervise the water slide & jumping pillow. Participates and directs tie-dye, bingo, dance parties and much more. Maintains a clean and safe space for our Guests to play.
How to Apply
Please complete and submit our online application via the link below.
We hire International students who have a J1 Work & Travel visa, please contact the sponsoring agency we use: Janus International, or Spirit Cultural Exchange.
Contact Info
- Billie Getman
- bgetman@racpack.com
- (605) 574-3426
- www.palmergulch.com
