Best Things Nearby:
The Terry Peaks Ski Resort is just steps away, across the road from Barefoot. If it’s winter and you ski, you can’t ask for a better place. The town of Deadwood is just a few minutes down the road. They have gaming and a lot of things of an historical nature available there. Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial are easy day trips. Don’t miss the Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold factory tour in Rapid City.
Best Things About the Resort:
The resort’s location is probably its best asset. It is high in the mountains of South Dakota at about 6,000 feet. Depending on the time of year you visit, activities will vary. There is skiing in the winter and hiking the rest of the year on numerous trails in the area. It offers spectacular mountain and valley views. Everything about it is great for the outdoor enthusiast.
Resort Experience:
Barefoot Resort is located about 6 miles southwest of Lead, South Dakota at about 6,000 feet in elevation. The turn off of Highway 85 is a little hard to see sometimes, so be aware of the turn for Terry Peak Ski area.
Barefoot Resort has two distinct building setups, including Vista Peaks and Summit View. The unit we were assigned is in the Vista Peaks building, the newer of the current buildings. We are on the second floor, on the end, with a fabulous view of the ski slopes and the valley looking east down toward Rapid City.
We are in a one-bedroom, which is quite nice. The kitchen is accessed immediately upon entering the unit and is very up-to-date and roomy, with all the equipment needed to prepare a meal. The dining room and living room flow together beyond the kitchen. The bedroom is not large, but is adequate. There is only a queen-size bed, so I was not able to fully stretch out and get comfortable. These units do have a full size washer and dryer, which is different from the others at Summit View. There is a color television in both the bedroom and the living room, but television reception is limited to just a few stations.
The only thing unusual about the unit is the fireplace, which is located in a place that would be perfect for a large window looking out to the ski slopes, trees, and valley below. Instead, there is a half window above the fireplace, and when sitting in the living room, your view is all but blocked by the fireplace. To enjoy the view you need to be on the patio, which is fine in the spring and summer, but could be uncomfortable in fall and winter. A stand-alone air conditioner has been added in the living room as well as a large fan in the bedroom.
Summit View, the other building here at Barefoot Resort, is said to be the highest inhabitable building between the Rockies and the Alps. They do not have the washer and dryer, but do have a personal sauna in the units. Although I was not able to see inside any of these units, they were described as having a "cozy" atmosphere.
Both facilities offer indoor swimming pools and hot tubs, saunas, and an exercise room. There is a court located next to the office for playing basketball or volleyball.
A discount card is available from the office that gives some good discounts on local attractions, dining, and recreation. If you golf, be sure to pick up a temporary membership card for Tomahawk Country Club just outside Deadwood. This card gives you two free rounds of golf per day. The course is only a 9-hole par 36, but can be played twice for a good 18-hole round.
- Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
- Activities: Not Available
- Amenities: Good
- Unit Satisfaction: Good
- Family Friendliness: Very Good
- Service: Excellent