Entire home

Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views!

Photo gallery for Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views!

Your vacation destination!
"The Shire"--as past guests referred to this idyllic spot.
Beautiful, private cottage on 5 acres bordering Forest Service land.
Plenty of space in 17x32' great room with open beam ceiling--Lakota made Quilt!
Persian Rugs and log construction make this a very unique place to stay.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4111.5 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Nemo, SD
  • Wonderland Caves
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Deadwood Mountain Grand
    ‪42 min drive‬
  • Cadillac Jacks Casino
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • Spearfish, SD (SPF-Black Hills)
    ‪43 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views!

As you can see from the photos, this beautiful cottage is a great spot to spend a few days! Our cottage sleeps a maximum of 4 people and our rates begin at $245/night for 1-2 guests. Any additional guests after the first two are charged $25/person/night. Charging more for extra guests is done to cover the additional costs associated with accommodating more people. These costs include extra linens, towels, toiletries and increased wear and tear on the property. In the event of an unplanned cancellation, you will receive a refund if we re-rent the days you have reserved. We recommend travel insurance thru the VRBO check-out process, especially for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.


At Little Elk Cottage Near Nemo, we offer you a memorable place to stay during your visit to the Black Hills. *****Check out the video here.***** This peaceful and sophisticated cottage is a one-of-a-kind oasis in the heart of Vanocker Canyon. Our cottage is an ideal destination for your vacation, honeymoon, anniversary, long weekend, or any time you want to get away from it all. We are conveniently located near the small, picturesque town of Nemo with dining at the historic Brandin' Iron Cafe and horseback riding. Wonderland Cave and Dalton Lake (great fishing!) are 15 minutes away. We are within 30 minutes of both Deadwood and Rapid City, centrally located to all Black Hills attractions, both north and south, including Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Devil's Tower, Hill City, Custer State Park, Sturgis, Spearfish Canyon, Crazy Horse, and the Badlands. We are approximately 35-40 minutes from Hill City and Mt. Rushmore via the cut across #208 south of Nemo connecting to Hwy. #385, which is the main artery through the Black Hills.


Amenities include the following:
...Fully paved asphalt driveway with Private Entrance
...Fenced and gated 5-acre property that borders Forest Service land
...2 Bedrooms on main floor - Pillowtop Queen Beds
...Leather couch and Loveseat; Persian Rugs
...New 50" LG Television with many satellite channels
...Cell coverage at the top of the hill, less than one mile away. If your carrier is AT&T or T-Mobile, you should get cell phone coverage thru the Wi-Fi. No Land Phone.
...Complimentary Wi-Fi in the Cottage but no streaming
...See 3-minute video here of the cottage interior, as well as the 5 private acres where our cottage is located. You can also find this video on UTube.
...Air conditioned for warmer days
...Fully equipped kitchen with Whirlpool appliances (dishwasher and microwave)
...All paper products and linens provided
...Washer and Dryer in Cottage for your convenience
...Picnic Table and Gas Grill on outside Patio
...Property is not suitable for weddings, parties or family reunions.
...Fine dining 30 minutes away (Rapid City, Deadwood or Spearfish) as well as several places to eat within about a 15-minute drive. Cafe in Nemo as well.
...Cancellation Policy: If you are within our 60-day cancellation policy, you will receive a refund if we re-rent the days you have reserved. We recommend travel insurance to all of our guests, especially during the Sturgis Rally.
...Please check out our 5-star reviews below.
...Belle Joli' Winery (grapes grown in South Dakota) has a tasting room in Vanocker Canyon about 15 minutes north. Their Sparkling House has an outside patio where you can enjoy appetizers with their red, white and sparkling wine selections, as well as Sunday Brunch.


Our private cottage, sitting on five acres, offers all of the comforts of home, with a small stream meandering through the property and surrounded by beautiful hills, trees and wildlife. After spending your days sightseeing, you will enjoy returning to this tranquil setting and relaxing on the patio or the front porch. Our property was once chosen as part of an Arctic Cat promotional DVD and brochure.


We have a lodging license through the State of South Dakota #3569 and have been listed in the 'Insider's Guide' since 1997.


The scenic ride thru Vanocker Canyon is one of the most beautiful areas in the Black Hills.


Keywords: Cottage, Black Hills, Cabin

Here is a link to a video of our property. You can also search "Little Elk Cottage, Nemo SD" under you tube to see our video. Or, copy and paste this link so that you can see more inside and outside details of our cottage.
(https://youtube.com/watch?v=k0JMLibaFeE)

Property manager

Wolfgang & Kathleen Schmidt
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 3–17
Children are welcome over the age of seven.
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
Smoking is fine on outside porch or patio.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
Property Registration Number State of South Dakota Lodging License #3569

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Nemo

Located in Nemo, this cottage is in a rural area. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Black Hills National Forest and Wonderland Caves, while Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame and Adams House Museum are cultural highlights. Homestake Gold Mine and Storybook Island are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Nemo, SD

What's nearby

  • Wonderland Caves - 8 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Black Hills National Forest - 34 min drive - 24.0 km
  • Deadwood Mountain Grand - 42 min drive - 41.7 km
  • Cadillac Jacks Casino - 43 min drive - 42.4 km
  • Mount Rushmore - 71 min drive - 60.6 km

Getting around

  • Rapid City, SD (RAP-Rapid City Regional) - 59 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Pasta Corral - ‬19 min walk
  • ‪Claim Jumpers Restaurant - ‬42 min drive
  • ‪Big Mamas - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Burgers - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪Custer Camp 1874 - Home of The Pasta Corral - ‬19 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views!?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views!?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Little Elk Cottage in Scenic Vanocker Canyon with Gorgeous Meadow Views! located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is 3.8 mi (6.1 km) from Wonderland Caves and within 16 miles (25 km) of Black Hills National Forest and Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame and Sturgis City Park are also within 16 miles (25 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 104 out of 107 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 107 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 107 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 107 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 107 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Corinna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mother Nature

I title this Mother Nature because of all the wild life we saw. First morning we experienced elk in the back yard and turkey crossing in the front plus several deer and chipmunk. The host was wonderful to communicate with as we had several questions about driving our utv’s on trails in the Nemo area. I would highly recommend this cottage is amazing.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Tabitha B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Little Elk Cottage

Our family recently booked The Little Elk Cottage. The location was beautiful and convenient for our family. Wonderful wildlife to watch. The week long stay would have been much more enjoyable without receiving text messages daily from the host. Our family follows the rules and is very clean… While communication is important, the multitude of what to do/what not to do notes around the cabin, including clipped on the curtains, in the silverware drawer, etc…)was over the top. We have rented many vacation rentals and host our own, with great ratings always; we have never had a host request our home address to send a packet to prior. VRBO’s policy suggests to always communicate through the app. While the cabin is nice and location very convenient, the experience with the host was irritating.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dean C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great little cottage

Beautiful location and a great ride into Sturgis and Rapid city!!! Totaly enjoyed our stay! Coffee on the front porch in the morning watching the deer and turkeys
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Trip to Black Hills

Great location, well designed cabin, backs up to national forest
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Herb M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Black Hills Getaway

This was our first trip to the Black Hills, and the Little Elk Cottage was the perfect setting for our trip. The cottage is adorable, very private and within reasonable driving times to the area’s attractions. The cottage was well equipped and well furnished. We had a very relaxing getaway, and would recommend the cottage to anyone visiting the Black Hills area. Herb M.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sandi D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Get Away!

Our stay at the cottage was magical! From the quiet, to the trees, the chipmunks and the bees…it was the perfect place to unplug and soak up the beauty of the Black Hills. The location made it easy to visit Mt Rushmore, Deadwood, and Spearfish Canyon. Kathleen was wonderful to work with too!
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jess A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful setting

We had a wonderful week at the cottage. The setting is beautiful with a large property, privacy, peace and quiet, and dark skies for stargazing. We had evening wildlife watching with deer and turkeys in the front yard. The cabin is well-cared for and the posted photos and descriptions are accurate.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Judith M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything and more

absolutely beautiful. Amazing wildlife. We could not ask for a more beautiful cabin, well maintained and complete with everything we needed. Can't wait to go back.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great experience!

Close to everything, but far enough away to enjoy peace and quiet. Deer and turkey in the yard every morning and evening.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful

Cottage was everything it was supposed to be and more. Had a excellent stay. Perfect!!!!
Stayed 11 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Linda C., JEFFERSON

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fall 2022

Never disappoints. Beautiful area had a great time again. We'll be back Kathleen
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lowell F., Austin MN

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

4 day late summer getaway

Wolfgang and Kathleen‘s cottage is in a picturesque and very quiet setting. Extremely well-kept property and very clean, cozy and comfortable inside. We would strongly recommend this property to anyone who prefers to have a place to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the busier tourist areas, yet conveniently located within a short drive to many popular parts of the Black Hills. Kathleen was very prompt in communicating with us during the reservation process all the way through to checkout. We definitely would consider staying here the next time we are visiting the area.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Frank S., Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Property I very clean very quiet just what we were needing totally thumbs up

Kathleen and Wolfgang have a very nice and appealing cottage the description is spot on, we had few questions and Kathleen was quick to answer very helpful looking forward to a return trip
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Shirley H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect cottage in a beautiful area.

This place was amazing. Very clean and cozy with plenty of space. Decorated very tastefully and includes everything you need. Kathleen and Wolfgang gave us info and directions to help plan our days. Nice people, great host. Loved it.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jenny M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So Beautiful

We were in town for the Sturgis rally and were fortunate enough to come across this listing. The pictures are amazing but when you see it in person you won’t believe it. The cottage had everything we needed and Kathleen was a wonderful host checking on us and making sure we were comfortable. We enjoyed our stay here so much, it was close to everything and so beautiful. Highly recommend you stay here!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

William M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Household

Everything was great! The cabin was perfect for our family!! Two suggestions is to have better pillows and better toilet paper! Over all we really enjoyed our stay at the cabin! It was close enough to ride our rigs to the lake for an evening of fishing and swimming for the kids!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bruce C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful!

Beautiful cabin in a very peaceful setting. Loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great

Neat property. Beautiful setting.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Bobbi C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heaven

This was the perfect place to get away from it all!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful cabin, it is a beautiful setting ❤️ 😊
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Megan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just as described

Kathleen is a wonderful host and the property is just as described. The home is in a very beautiful setting and extreamly clean and organized. I have stayed in numerous vacation rentals and this is hands down one of the best.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Chris S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cabin rental

Our stay was great and the owner made sure we had all necessary items. Really enjoyed the stay.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

robin p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dream vacation

From the moment we entered the property, to the cleanliness and details to information and design of cabin we were in awe. The owners left detailed notes so you didn’t have to wonder about anything. Then came a snow storm for 2 days and we literally felt as if we were in a beautiful snow globe. It was wonderful. The owners even braved the weather to walk over and check on us. Wolfgang and Kathleen are the ideal host, attentive and caring. Wolfgang even cleared the drive for us to get out. This is a wonderful location to everything and we already plan to return next year.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Marilyn O., Adams, MN USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Secluded Get-Away

We loved the quiet and solitude of this cabin location. Rustic in appearance, yet modern comforts. Wolfgang and Kathleen have provided a truly authentic Black Hills experience for their guests!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Tracy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Anniversary vacation

Loved loved this property. So peaceful and relaxing. Pictures don't do it justice. It's a beautiful area we rented an ATV which was a first for us and would definately do it again. The rental place in Nemo is easy to work with. There is alot of wildlife. Deer, coyote, turkeys alot of different species of birds. Overall we would stay here again and again. A great property and Kathleen was wonderful to work with.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely spot

Our stay here was wonderful. The cottage and surroundings were just as described, and the owners were very kind and responsive if we needed to relay a message to them. The location was a very good spot to take off and see what the Black Hills had to offer, and very nice to come back to for its beautiful, serene location. Thank you, Wolfgang and Kathleen, for the use of your delightful cottage.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2021

About the host

Hosted by Wolfgang & Kathleen Schmidt

Host profile image
We have lived and worked in the Black Hills for over 35 years, where we have built our own home as well as two vacation homes--a Log Cabin and our Charming Cottage. Each place sits on its own five acre parcel. Wolfgang has constructed many trails and bridges in the Black Hills (eight on the Mickelson Trail) while he contracted with the State of South Dakota and the U.S. Forest Service. .

Why they chose this property

We chose the beautiful Nemo area after spending many hours looking for an ideal place to live in the Black Hills--it reminds Wolfgang of the Black Forest in Germany. We love the privacy in Vanocker Canyon as well as the convenience to everything in the Black Hills.

What makes this property unique

Our properties are centrally located to all attractions--northern and southern hills as well as the major cities. You will enjoy the solitude of being bordered by National Forest land as well as all of the wildlife that lives on and around our property. Vanocker Canyon area was also chosen by Game, Fish & Parks to bring in elk to this area. The unique benefit of choosing either our log cabin or new cottage is the privacy--each place sits on its own five acres and there are no other cabins around; we are not within a development.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests