One of the positive outcomes of reintroducing legal gambling into historic Deadwood, South Dakota is the amount of money put into the restoration of this Victorian-era town. Among those buildings restored along the historic Main Street are some magnificent hotels, highly recommended for an authentic Deadwood experience.
The Historic Franklin hotel is part of a trio of establishments collectively known as the Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel and Gaming Complex, including a restaurant, the hotel and the gaming floor. The Franklin's expansive and newly-renovated lobby and sweeping staircase lead to sleeping and meeting rooms on the upper floors. Much of its charm comes from rooms that have had little updating since the Victorian era, with misfitting doors, large claw-footed baths and creaky wooden floors. If you have a chance, explore the meeting rooms filled with antique furniture bought over from Europe by ship at the turn of the century and painstakingly delivered to the Midwest by wagon train.
The Franklin was first opened in 1903 and includes 75 rooms.
Silverado Franklin Historic Hotel & Gaming Complex
700 Main Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
605-578-3670
silveradofranklin.com
Although smaller than the Franklin, the Bullock Hotel is no less impressive. Restoration has been more intensive at the Bullock, so sleeping rooms are comparatively more updated. The atmosphere, however, is still genuine to its ancestry; legend has it that Seth Bullock, Deadwood's first sheriff and the first owner of the hotel, still haunts its hallways. All of the Bullock's 36 rooms are uniquely decorated, and the luxury Jacuzzi suites overlook Main Street. The complex also includes a restaurant and gaming facilities.
The Bullock Express is also on Main Street, and offers more affordable rates.
The Historic Bullock Hotel
633 Main Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
605-578-1745
historicbullock.com
The Mineral Palace Hotel sits on the site of one of historic Deadwood's most profitable businesses, a house of prostitution called The Gem Theatre. Construction of the Mineral Palace Hotel began in 1992, however the establishment still pays homage to its history with its Gem Steakhouse and Saloon, boasting the largest variety of steaks in the Black Hills, from aged beef sirloins to home-grown buffalo.
The Mineral Palace Hotel has 75 rooms, ranging from the VIP suites, with balconies, fireplaces and private elevators, to standard double rooms. Recent renovations also equipped all rooms with new beds and granite bathroom facilities.
Mineral Palace Hotel & Gaming
601 Main Street
Deadwood, SD 57732
605-578-2036
mineralpalace.com
