Fort Meade Recreation Area is a 6,693 acre area of black forest and prairie in the Black Hills of South Dakota, two miles from Sturgis. Fort Meade was established in 1878 as a military fort to protect the Black Hills area from Sioux Indians. The threat of attack was especially strong in Deadwood, which was a gold mining hot spot at the time. Fort Meade is still used today as a training base for the South Dakota National Guard. The Fort Meade Museum is also located on the base, as is a VA hospital. The city of Sturgis offers a variety of accommodations for tourists visiting the Fort Meade area. Both Fort Meade and Sturgis are less than an hour's drive from Mt. Rushmore.
The Holiday Inn Express in Sturgis features an indoor pool and water slide and a health and fitness center, which includes two treadmills, a recumbent bike and an elliptical trainer. The hotel also offers a free shuttle bus that takes visitors right into downtown Sturgis to the nearby historic town of Deadwood, and the Rapid City Regional Airport. The rooms at the Holiday Inn express feature color TV's with DVD players and fee high speed Internet access. Morning newspapers are also delivered to the rooms free of charge. Bullets Bar, adjacent to the hotel, features a big screen TV and private outdoor patio. Complimentary peanuts and chips and salsa are served during happy hour, 5 to 8 p.m. every evening.
The Days Inn Sturgis is about three miles from Fort Meade and less than a mile from both Loud American Roadhouse and One-Eyed Jack's Saloon. The Mexican eatery Si Senor is located a mile and a half away. The Days Inn Sturgis features cable/satellite TV, free on-site parking, and a microwave in each room. The 53 rooms of the Days Inn Sturgis underwent renovations in 2004. The motel is pet-friendly.
The Super 8 Sturgis is less than three miles from Fort Meade and less than a half a mile away from the Days Inn Sturgis. A swimming pool, health club and fitness room are among its amenities. There is no on-site restaurant, but several eateries are nearby. Si Senor Mexican restaurant is about two miles away, and Pizza ranch is about one-quarter mile away. Loud American Roadhouse and One-Eyed Jack's Saloon are both only a little over a mile from the motel.
Less than two miles from Fort Meade, the Best Western Sturgis Inn features live music, and both the Si Senor Mexican restaurant and Phil-Town Steakhouse & Lounge are located on the property. Guests can enjoy the indoor swimming pool, and children can visit the game room. Free parking is available on the premises as is a golf course. Loud American Roadhouse and On-Eyed Jack's Saloon are both about a mile away.
