Don’t just tour South Dakota, Experience South Dakota

Every Beatrice Bradley trip is crafted to maximize the experiences had during the trip.
The itineraries are specially made to allow time for engaging in conversation and having belly laughs with a new friend. We hope that the activities and experiences may allow you to come out of your comfort zone and to try new or unique things.
These trips are made to replicate a ‘friends get-away trip’. 

This is a Back-to-Back Experience
Join is in The Black Hills / Mount Rushmore / and Crazy Horse for a $200 off! Transportation and Meals included!

Past Trip Reviews

The lodge was wonderful! Very charming and the staff was wonderful. They were very attentive to everyone’s needs. It was very clean, and the food was very good. The view was magnificent!! The rooms were very nice. The food was very good, and there was a lot of it. It would be nice though if there was a choice between 2 dinners though. This trip made me feel great! I met wonderful women, and I even met someone that lives 25 minutes from me. It was so nice to talk to like minded people without the fear of possibly offending someone. We all shared the same values. I already recommended this group. Going on a trip by yourself can be intimidating, but just after a few minutes, it’s like everyone has known each other and have been friends for years. It was instant bonding. –Patty

Day One: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 or Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Arrival Day

You will want to land in Sioux Falls, SD (FSD) by 3:00 pm and we will head to the Historic Thunderstik Lodge to check in.  We will have a fun Welcome Happy Hour to get to know each other and then will have a dinner made by the fabulous Thunderstik chef.  After dinner, we will have a bonfire and will enjoy the beautiful sunset over the Missouri River.

Thunderstik Lodge:  Come and experience the breathtaking view of the Missouri River from Thunderstik’s front porch after an exciting day of South Dakota pheasant hunting. Scan the hills rolling down to the river for mule deer and other wildlife. The views are amazing!  Nestled within the vast South Dakota grasslands, overlooking the majestic Missouri River, Thunderstik Lodge is South Dakota’s premier pheasant hunt. Thunderstik Lodge offers 7,000 acres of private land with a diverse array of native habitat, bringing in and holding bountiful amounts of birds throughout the year.

 Highlights

• Arriving in Sioux Falls – the “Heart of America”
• Arriving at Historic Thunderstik Lodge and having a Welcome Happy Hour to get to know each other
• Dinner at the lodge by the fabulous Thunderstik chef
• Enjoying a bonfire and the beautiful sunset over the Missouri River

Day Two: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 or Thursday, August 11, 2023 

Shooting Instruction Day (Early AM Walleye Fishing)

We will have breakfast alfresco overlooking the majestic Missouri river and Thunderstik’s private buffalo herd.  If it’s chilly outside, we will have a roaring breakfast fire to eat fireside.   After breakfast, we will have a few hours of free time after breakfast to walk the property (group walk) to enjoy the scenery, taking photos of the buffalo or to simply relax and enjoy new friendships.   For the dog lovers, you can join in by walking our 24 pheasant dogs which is done each morning and afternoon.   We will have a casual lunch and will hit the shooting ranges for a shooting instruction/safety lessons along with some fun games (guns and $120 ammo credit is included – additional ammo can be purchased).  We will have dinner and the balance of the evening will be fun getting to know each other, playing card games and having a bonfire.

Thunderstik Shooting Ranges:

Skeet & Trap Range:  When Thunderstik designed their skeet range, they were very careful to make sure the layout follows official skeet range guidelines. The skeet range is great for avid shooters and it’s a great way to incorporate some competition into your shooting activites. The skeet range is designed to incorperate all shots hunters will encounter in the fields leaving few, if any, possible field shots unpracticed.  As you enjoy all of your shooting facilities you will be treated to some of South Dakota’s most breathtaking views. You can see miles of rolling hills, cedar trees, mule deer and a spectacular view of the Missouri River.

Games Clays  Shooting Tower: The games clays are perfect for a warm up before the hunt or a practice session in the afternoon. Similar to an enclosed 5 stand, this location has 6 shooting stations and 5 automated clay target throwers. We have the ability to throw a variety of different target trajectories and speeds all from one static locations. The games clays are fun and a challenge for the best of shooters!

 Long Range: Historic Thunderstik’s Long Range complex is a marksman’s dream. They have designed a mile long (1500 yard) dedicated range with the help of industry experts. The field has incremental metal target stands every 100 yards and is anchored with a sunken shooting deck housing over 6 different shooting lanes. The goal was to make a facility perfect for shooters of all levels, but challenging enough for an expert marksman to hone his craft.

Highlights

• Breakfast as a group alfresco overlooking the majestic Missouri River and Thunderstik’s private buffalo herd
• AM fisherwomen will take coffee and breakfast to go and head out when the fishing are biting.
• Taking a group walk around the Thunderstik Lodge property to enjoy the scenery
• You will have the opportunity to walk the pheasant dogs
• A casual lunch will be served at the lodge
• A shooting instruction/safety lesson will be given at the shooting ranges
• Dinner will be at the lodge by Thunderstik’s fabulous chef
• After dinner we will relax, get to know each other and play cards or sit by the bonfire

Day Three: Thursday, June 1, 2023 or Saturday, August 12, 2023 – Badlands Tour Day

Breakfast will be served at 8 am buffet style.  By 9 am we will load up and head to The Badlands National Park for a private tour and will have a box lunch picnic.  On the way back to the lodge, we will stop by the iconic city of Wall, SD to explore and shop.  We will have dinner back at the lodge and have a bonfire to finish off the evening!

Badlands National Park:  Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. Its dramatic landscapes span layered rock formations, steep canyons and towering spires. Bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs inhabit its sprawling grasslands. The Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) winds past scenic lookouts. Several trails begin near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a boardwalk with displays on fossils uncovered in the park.

 Highlights

• Breakfast together with the group at the lodge
• A tour of the Badlands National Park
• Picnic box lunch with the group
• Stopping at Wall Drug
• Dinner at the lodge
• Nightcap at the bar at Thunderstik Lodge and enjoying the sunset

Day Four: Friday, June 2, 2023 or Sunday, August 13 

Breakfast will be served at 9am and the first half of the day will be either walking the rolling hills or additional gun/shooting range time. Lunch will be served and then we will load up to take a scenic pontoon ride down the Majestic Missouri River heading back to the lodge in time for a Goodbye Dinner and a bonfire.

Highlights

• Early AM Walleye fishing.
• Breakfast & lunch together with the group at the lodge
• Free time where you can walk the rolling hills or additional gun/shooting range time
• Scenic pontoon ride on the Majestic Missouri River
• Goodbye Dinner with the group at the lodge
• Bonfire after dinner and recapping the trip with your new friends

Day Five: Saturday June 3, 2023 or Monday, August 14 – Departure Day

Breakfast will be served and we will load up to head out to the airport in Sioux Falls with a stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.

Corn Palace:  Eight years before the turn of the 20th century -1892- when Mitchell, South Dakota was a small, 12-year-old city of 3,000 inhabitants – the WORLD’S ONLY CORN PALACE was established on the city’s Main Street.  The Corn Palace was built as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate.  During its over 100 years of existence, it has become known worldwide and now attracts more than a half a million visitors annually to see the uniquely designed corn murals. 

Highlights

• Breakfast with the group at the lodge
• Heading to the airport with a stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD
• Box lunches for lunch during our drive to the airport

*Itinerary Subject to Change

Gallery

Pricing

Flexible pay-as-you-go payment plan

How it Works:

Activity Level – Moderate

Standing and walking during tours and getting in and out of vans.

It is your responsibly to fully read and understand the physical abilities that correlate to this Beatrice Bradley Experience. Difficulty level of activity is subject to individual interpretation so it is extremely important that you read the itinerary and reach out if you have concerns or questions.

If you have questions about the specifics of the physical activity during this trip, please give us a call at 763-784-8291

Role of a Beatrice bradley hostess

Beatrice Bradley is an Experience Company not a Tour Company.  The role of a Beatrice Bradley Host is to be warm and welcoming. To relate and connect. To have attention to details. And to manage the behind-the-scenes magic so your experience is one-of-a-kind. They are not local experts nor are they tour guides. We hire local experts, guides, and historians as each location warrants. They are expert hosts and manage the camaraderie and logistics of the experience. Our goal is that your hostess will make you feel welcomed, comfortable, and that you will walk away with new & lasting friendships made during an unforgettable experience.

Flight Details

Airport Pick Up is included when arriving at the designated airport within the specified pick up window.

Departure Airport: Sioux Falls, SD (FSD)
Departure Date:  June 3, 2023
Drop off Times: 3:00pm

Important information

As a solo-traveler, we need you to provide self-awareness and an understanding that you are fully responsible for yourself. This includes: your possessions, your physical abilities or fitness, your attitude, and all other aspects that relate to traveling solo in a group. 

• Connect with our Members on our Private Facebook Group – Beatrice Bradley Member’s Only
• You must be able to manage your own luggage and all of your personal belongings on this trip
• This is not a handicap accessible able trip – you must be able to get in and out of a Large Passenger Transit Vehicle
• All Ground transportation is included on this trip
• Group Airport transfers are included in this trip
• This trip will have have a maximum of 14 women
• This trip will have 2 Beatrice Bradley Hostesses
• If you need a roommate, we will happily pair you with another Beatrice Bradley traveler
• Travel insurance is not included. Beatrice Bradley is not a licensed travel insurance operator nor is our staff trained to in travel insurance. You can choose to purchase travel insurance through any licensed provider you choose. We will ask you upon booking if you would like us to send you some suggested licensed insurance companies.