Unbelievable Mt. Rushmore Views! AmericInn Hill City's BEST Kept Secret!
Unbelievable Mt. Rushmore Views! AmericInn Hill City: My Honest Take – It's a… Well, Let's Unpack That.
Okay, folks, let's be real. Trying to write a hotel review that's actually useful and not just a boring listicle is harder than herding cats (though, considering the kids' menu, maybe that's also relevant here…). So, buckle up, because you're about to get the unfiltered AmericInn experience in Hill City. SEO be damned, we're going deep.
First Impressions: The View, the Myth, the Legend…?
The title promises "Unbelievable Mt. Rushmore Views!" and, honestly, for a hotel, that's a pretty big claim. My initial reaction? Skepticism. But then, stepping out onto the balcony after checking in (which, by the way, was a breeze thanks to the Contactless check-in/out option - bonus points!), and… Whoa. There it was. Not just a glimpse, not just a tease, but a damn good view of the iconic faces. Honestly? Believable. It’s the kind of view that makes you want to grab a cold one (more on that later) and just soak it all in. It’s the kind of view that makes you ignore your phone for a bit, which is a total accomplishment.
The Basics & Beyond (and where this gets, well, kinda chaotic…)
Let's get the practical stuff out of the way.
- Accessibility: The website claims it's good to go for accessibility with Facilities for disabled guests. I didn't personally test this, but it's something to investigate further if you need it.
- Cleanliness and Safety (and the Pandemic Tango): This is where things get interesting. They are clearly trying. Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Hand sanitizer everywhere. It's good to see. They claim to use Anti-viral cleaning products so you can feel at least somewhat at ease. They even offer Room sanitization opt-out available which is thoughtful, but sometimes leaves you wondering how thorough it is.
- Internet and the Digital Divide: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! Internet access, Internet [LAN] for the old school gamers. And Wi-Fi in public areas. It all works. No rage quits from dropped connections!
- Services and Conveniences: 24-hour Front desk, Doorman, Elevator (thank goodness!), Laundry service (lifesaver!), Luggage storage (for all those souvenirs…), Cash withdrawal- all the basics. No complaints here!
The Amenities: Pool, Spa, and the Quest for Relaxation (Or Not?)
Alright, let’s talk relaxation. This is where the AmericInn gets a bit… mixed.
- The Pool (with a View!): Swimming pool [outdoor] with a view! I mean, seeing Mt. Rushmore while you swim? Pretty darn cool. That said, the pool area itself wasn't exactly a tropical paradise, a bit more functional than "luxe."
- Spa/Sauna/Gym – Or the Illusion of Options: Their Spa/sauna seemed more of a simple spa and it wasn't exactly a bustling center, though they do have Sauna and a Gym/fitness area-- which I'm pretty sure I didn't even visit, because mountains are my gym!
- The Body Scrub…: Body scrub and Body wrap. I didn't treat myself to that. Not my speed, but for the people who like these experiences, it's there.
Dining, Drinking, and the Quest for Sustenance
The food situation… this is where my experience veered into the realm of the "interesting."
- Breakfast - The Good, The Bad, and the Waffle: Breakfast [buffet]. Let's just say the Buffet in restaurant was… functional. Think standard hotel breakfast. I loaded up on the waffles, because I needed to carb-load for the hiking. They have Coffee/tea in restaurant which is key. But don't set your expectations too high on the gourmet front.
- On-site Eats and Lounges (potentially): Bar, Poolside bar, Coffee shop, Restaurants. Not all of these were necessarily thriving during my visit, but the options exist. There is a Snack bar if you need the munchies.
- The Vegetarian Experience: They even have Vegetarian restaurant. They did provide Alternative meal arrangement. But, let's be honest: you're probably not coming here for a Michelin-star dining experience.
- Room Service - 24-Hour… or is it?: Room service [24-hour] is listed. I needed a late-night snack. So I tried. And tried. And tried. Let's just say I ended up wandering down to the lobby for a granola bar. (Minor detail, but important to know).
For the Kids (and the Kid in You)
- Family Fun Factor: Family/child friendly is a big check here. They offer Babysitting service! They also have Kids facilities and Kids meal. This is clearly a kid-friendly destination.
The Hotel Room: My Fortress of Solitude?
My room? Okay, here's the really personal part.
- The Good: Non-smoking rooms (thank goodness!), Air conditioning, Daily housekeeping, Free Wi-Fi, Refrigerator. The desk was workable for my laptop. The bed was comfortable. The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver. All the expected comforts.
- The Quirks: Some of the decor felt… dated. Think early 2000s. Bathroom phone? Really? Like, who uses those? The Mirror placement was less than ideal. The Additional toilet was appreciated.
- The View (again!): The balcony, the thing that sold me, was incredible. Sitting there, glass of wine in hand (courtesy of the on-site convenience store), watching the sun dip behind those majestic stone faces… pure magic. That's the core of what keeps coming to mind.
The Verdict: Worth It? …Maybe. It Depends.
So, is AmericInn Hill City a perfect hotel? Hell no. Is it a life-altering experience? Probably not. But, if you're in Hill City to see Mt. Rushmore (and let's face it, that's why you're here), it's a solid basecamp, especially with those Unbelievable Mt. Rushmore Views!
The Biggest Pro: The view, which is genuinely special. The location is excellent, with Check-in/out [express] allowing you to hit the road quickly. The Biggest Con: The overall experience is a bit… inconsistent. Some amenities feel a bit under utilized and things are a little dated. The staff are trying their best.
Final Thoughts:
Despite the quirks, the AmericInn offers a great spot to watch the famous monument from some of the Best Kept Secrets. It's a reliable choice with a memorable view, perfect for creating some great memories.
Here’s my (Messy, Unfiltered) Offer: Book Now & Get A Free Mountain Picture Postcard!
Tired of hotels with generic views? Book your stay at AmericInn Hill City using the promo code "RUSHMOREMAGIC" and get a FREE postcard of Mt. Rushmore to show off upon your return! (Okay, it's small, but it's something, right? Besides, how many other hotels are giving away free postcards?!). This is a limited-time offer, so book now before the view disappears behind the clouds!
Haukeli Hotel Norway: Unbelievable Views, Unforgettable Stay!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we’re diving headfirst into my VERY unofficial, probably-won't-stick-to-it-at-all, but hopefully-fun, AmericInn by Wyndham in Hill City, South Dakota, Mt Rushmore adventure. This isn't your glossy travel brochure, folks. This is real life. This is me.
Day 1: Arriving and the "Welcome to the Black Hills" Surprise
- 1:00 PM: Land in Rapid City. Okay, so the flight was a total snooze-fest. Sat next to a guy who snored like a lumberjack sawing through a sequoia. Found myself strangely mesmerized. Weird.
- 1:45 PM: Pick up the rental car. (Pray for me, it's a minivan. My life choices, I tell ya.) Seriously, I’m going to get lost. I have no sense of direction. Pray for Maps.
- 2:30 PM: Drive to AmericInn, Hill City. The Black Hills are suddenly there. Like, BAM. Trees galore. And the air? Oh, the air is a sigh of pure pine. I'm immediately calmer. Though, for the record, the GPS did try to send me down a dirt road. Red flag, I tell ya!
- 3:30 PM: Check-in. The AmericInn lobby is… well, it’s an AmericInn. Clean, slightly generic, but the staff is overly friendly. The welcome coffee is truly awful, and I almost choke laughing.
- 4:00 PM: Unpack, but honestly, I'm more of a "dump all the clothes in a corner" kind of gal. This is going to be a week of living out of a suitcase.
- 4:30 PM: Explore Hill City. Okay, it's a tiny town but charming. The gold rush vibe is strong. I could totally see myself living here. I’ll probably be broke, but pine trees. Pine trees are worth it!
- 5:30 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. (This is where things could go very wrong, I'm a picky eater.) Okay, the burger was bland. But the fries? The fries were heavenly. Obsessed.
- 7:00 PM: Wander the town, enjoy the evening. Realize I desperately need a book, and maybe a local coffee shop.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel. (I have a book!!!) Get into bed, and then realize I’m afraid of the dark. This is going to be a problem.
Day 2: Mount Rushmore… and Existential Dread
Okay, so Mount Rushmore. I mean, it's gotta be done, right?
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Struggle with the coffee machine. Fail spectacularly.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast. The hotel's free breakfast is… well, it's free, okay? Scrambled eggs that look suspiciously yellow. I'm going for the carbs.
- 9:30 AM: Head to Mount Rushmore. The drive is stunning. Seriously, these hills, these trees, it's like nature just decided to put on a show.
- 10:30 AM: Holy Mother of Presidents! Mount Rushmore. It’s imposing, those carvings, the scale is crazy. And I found myself strangely emotional. It’s a testament to human ambition. And human arrogance, probably. I can't help but think about how long it must take to make.
- 11:30 AM: Stroll along the Presidential Trail. Get winded. So many stairs. Okay. Maybe I'm less fit than I thought. Plus, the views? The views are breathtaking. The faces, though… they kinda stare back. It's unnerving.
- 12:30 PM: Grab lunch. (Overpriced, but you pay for the view, right?)
- 1:30 PM: More exploring. Take way too many pictures. Realize I’m just another tourist with a camera.
- 2:30 PM: Head back to Hill City. Drive. Drive. Drive.
- 3:30 PM: I get emotional again. My thoughts are racing. I feel like a giant blip, not at all ready for this reality.
- 4:00 PM: I’ll drown my sorrows in a local shop while picking up some souvenir crap that I’ll regret later.
- 5:00 PM: Take a nap. This adventure is tiring!
- 6:00 PM: I get hungry and go out for dinner. My choice is a local cafe. I'll think about the past, ponder the future, and drink too much coffee.
- 8:00 PM: Hotel. Watch TV. Fall asleep before the credits.
Day 3: Custer State Park and the Bison of Doom
- 9:00 AM: Actually get out of bed at a vaguely reasonable hour. The sun is shining. Maybe, just maybe, this day will be good.
- 10:00 AM: Custer State Park. OMG. The Needles Highway. Don't get me wrong, it's gorgeous scenery. Every curve, every rock formation is breathtaking. And then, the tunnels. They're narrower than I thought. Slightly terrifying, intensely beautiful.
- 11:00 AM: Wildlife Loop Road. Bison! So many bison! Magnificent, hulking creatures. I was terrified of the bison, they are so big, so… imposing. I also wanted to find out if the bison’s fur is soft and fluffy. (Did not attempt contact.). This. This is what makes it all worth it.
- 12:00 PM: Stop at a park picnic area. Prepare a sandwich, and then get attacked by a squirrel. I scream. I run. The squirrel wins.
- 1:00 PM: Drive around some more. See more bison. See… deer? Is that a prairie dog? Nature is so chaotic and wonderful.
- 2:00 PM: The wildlife loop brings up… more feelings. I think about life and death. So many animals in the wild.
- 3:00 PM: Drive back to the hotel. Maybe go to bed early. I'm mentally exhausted.
- 4:00 PM: I find a local bookstore. The author of my read is there. I'm starstruck. And now, I'm even more tired.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. Local Cafe.
- 8:00 PM: Hotel. I go to bed early, and my book.
Day 4: Crazy Horse and the Battle of My Own Brain
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Pancakes. More carbs. Fuel for the existential crisis.
- 10:00 AM: Crazy Horse Memorial. It’s… big. Really big. Still under construction. I find myself drawn to the story.
- 11:00 AM: Talk to a Native American craftsman. It’s powerful. It’s more complex than I expected. My internal debate rages: Should I, a white woman, be here? Am I worthy?
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. (Again, overpriced, but supporting local, right?)
- 1:00 PM: Souvenir shop. Buy another t-shirt I probably don't need.
- 2:00 PM: Drive the scenic route around. Get lost. See something beautiful and then, start the existential crisis again.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the hotel to decompress.
- 4:00 PM: I go for a walk.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner. I order pizza. I eat the entire pie alone in my room.
- 7:00 PM: Sleep
Day 5: The Unexpected and the End
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast… and then decide to skip breakfast. I’m too busy.
- 10:00 AM: Head off the beaten track. My little car brings me into the middle of nowhere.
- 11:00 AM: I meet a cool guy, we hang out and I take a tour around the city.
- 1:00 PM: I go to a local cafe. And then, back to my hotel.
- 3:00 PM: Pack up the minivan. I’m going home tomorrow. The Black Hills? The Black Hills just… happened. And I'm changed.
- 4:00 PM: One last wander through Hill City.
- 5:00 PM: One more dinner. Then I eat one last apple fry. I can't.
- 7:00 PM: I look out the window and weep. Not at my troubles, but that my short adventure is at an end.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep
Day 6: Farewell (and Please, Let Me Sleep on the Plane)
Angeles Suites & Hotel Mexico: Your Dream Vacation Awaits!
Unbelievable Mt. Rushmore Views! AmericInn Hill City's BEST Kept Secret! - (Okay, Let's Get Real...)
Okay, So... Is the AmericInn *Really* Hiding Some Amazing Mt. Rushmore Views or Is This Just Marketing Hype?
Alright, let's cut the bull. I'm going to be brutally honest here – and trust me, I've seen some questionable "views" in my time. The AmericInn in Hill City... well, it's not like you're waking up next to a giant carving of the presidents. BUT! Hear me out... it *does* have a certain something. The "view" is from a slightly elevated position, which helps. Also, let's be honest, it also DEPENDS on the ROOM, I am not getting the same view from room 101 as I did from room 305. Some rooms have a better shot than others. You might see some of the mountain... especially if you're willing to squint a little and maybe stand on your tiptoes (I totally did). But mostly, you get a feeling, a hint. It's not a panoramic, jaw-dropping vista. It's more like… *anticipation*. Like, "Hey, I *could* see it if I wasn't lazy and didn't have a big bag of chips to inhale." Which leads me to a story... I stayed there once, the first time, and thought I scored the jackpot – a room on the third floor, promising all the glory. The minute I got into the room, I knew it was gonna be great! Then, as I opened the curtains and looked out – a freakin' tree. A big, leafy, glorious freakin' tree. And the tree... *blocked* most of the view. Yep. My own personal leafy middle finger. I sulked for a good hour, munching on my leftover pizza, until I realized... I was still in the Black Hills, and that's kinda cool in itself. So, yes and no. Manage expectations. Don't go expecting perfection. Go expecting... *something*. And maybe pack some binoculars.
Is the Breakfast Worth Crawling Out of Bed For? (And Can I Get More Coffee?)
Breakfast... the eternal hotel breakfast question. Here's the truth: it's FREE. Free is good. It’s usually the standard fare: waffles (wahoo!), some kind of eggs (mysterious yellow things), cereal, pastries that look like they’ve been sitting there since the Jurassic period, and fruit that’s seen better days. The coffee, however… that's the true test of will. The AmericInn coffee is usually... drinkable. Sometimes even… decent. I'm a coffee addict, a full-blown caffeine fiend with a serious problem. When I say "decent," I mean it doesn't make you want to run screaming into the Black Hills. You can usually get multiple cups, which is essential. Once, I ran out of my room in my pyjamas, eyes still crusted over, absolutely desperate for a hit of caffeine before the world collapsed. I probably scared the poor breakfast attendant half to death, but hey, I got my coffee. Survival of the fittest, people. Survival of the caffeine-fueled. My advice? Lower your expectations, load up on coffee, and maybe – just maybe – sneak a waffle for the road.
Okay, Fine, Tell Me About Hill City Itself. Is It Just a Tourist Trap or Is There Anything Cool?
Hill City… it's charming. In a slightly chaotic, Wild West-y, "we're all trying to sell you something" kind of way. It's definitely touristy, no doubt about it. You got your fudge shops (and *so* many fudge shops!), your souvenir stores selling plastic geegaws, and restaurants promising the "best burgers this side of the Mississippi." But there's more to it than that. The shops are a bit kitsch, the people are lovely. I really do mean lovely. I talked to a bartender one evening who told me all of his hopes and dreams, and it was honestly quite beautiful. You can take the 1880 Train (which is a bit cheesy, but fun for the kids and okay for some people!), explore the shops, and take a walk and just... *be*. Hill City gives you a sense of space, and of history. It's not the same as big city. There’s a certain… *authenticity* buried beneath the surface. You can't deny the beauty of the Black Hills – the pine trees, the open skies, the feeling of being utterly away from it all. Honestly, the town is a better bet than just staying in your hotel room.
What About the Rooms? Are They Actually Clean? Any Quirks I Should Know About?
Cleanliness... the holy grail of hotel stays. Let's be real: I'm not expecting the Ritz. The AmericInn is usually... *acceptable*. I've never found anything truly horrifying, like… you know… *things* that crawl. They do the job pretty well. They have those little shampoo bottles that I find utterly useless (I usually have my own travel kit). The beds are comfortable enough - not like sleeping on a cloud but you won't be in pain for days afterwards. The hot water works, the Wi-Fi usually functions... all the basics covered. Quirks? Oh, there are usually a few. The elevators are SLOW. Prepare for a wait. This is not a place known for its speedy service. Sometimes the air conditioning is a bit of a beast – either freezing you to death or blasting out stale air. The walls are thin - you'll hear your neighbors. But at the end of the day, you're just there to crash. It's a place to reset after you've been tramping around like a goofball all day. But if cleanliness is your utmost priority, maybe pack some Lysol wipes just in case you are a bit of a clean freak like me (you never know).
Should I Stay at AmericInn in Hill City? Give Me the Rundown Already!
Alright, the final verdict. Look, is the AmericInn the *perfect* hotel? Absolutely not. But is it a decent, reasonably priced basecamp for exploring the Black Hills and seeing Mount Rushmore? Yeah, probably. If you're looking for luxury, skip it. If you're looking for a quiet, peaceful retreat away from the throngs of tourists... also skip it. But if you want a clean-ish room, free breakfast (and coffee!), and a *chance* to glimpse the sculpted faces of presidents in the distance, it's not a bad choice. Just go in with the right mindset. Manage your expectations. Know that the view is *subjective*. And for God's sake, bring your own shampoo.
