The Garden Shed at Lemke’s Spotted Mule Ranch

****PLEASE NOTE: Our cabins are unavailable from September 15 to May 15 due to weather concerns. They are unheated and uninsulated, AND given that our first snowfall can be late September and the last, mid-May, we don’t want anyone getting in to our remote location and, well, stuck until the snow is gone. See you in the spring!!!
We are a sort-of retired couple in our 70s living our dream on the edge of the middle of nowhere between Custer, South Dakota and Newcastle, Wyoming. Horses, mules, goats, a miniature donkey, dogs, cats, and a small flock of chickens and ducks share our small ranch. Many, or rather, most—–of these critters are rescues. We have three grown sons and 8 grandchildren.

Lloyd retired from full-time ministry in June 2012, but he is still serving a small congregation in nearby Custer, South Dakota. I am a long-retired social worker and former (19 years) 4H leader. I play organ at the church, take care of the church’s livestream and Facebook page, and look after the herds, flocks and a vegetable garden. We enjoy meeting and hosting people and are happy to provide a hearty breakfast, an evening campfire and good conversation or to completely leave you alone if that’s what you want!

If you book, we will give you directions to our place. PLEASE pay careful attention to our directions for getting here; don’t rely on GPS or online map programs.
Our rustic “Garden Shed” cabin features a king size bed, an 8 ft sofa that will accommodate a third adult or two kids, a chemical toilet with hand washing station, microwave and mini-fridge. Guests have bathroom/shower/kitchen access in our (separate) house.
This rustic cabin has air conditioning, and we also provide fans. At this elevation, (4800 ft) air conditioning is seldom needed at night.
We are just an hour from Mt. Rushmore and many other Black Hills attractions!

RE: PRICE—we charge $0.00 through LutheranBnB. As I mentioned above, we have taken in rescues —-since 1992. Tongue-in-cheek, we refer to this as our “Genesis 1:26 Ministry, ie, ‘Take Care of the Animals.’ ” We are NOT a 501c3 rescue; any gratuities for your stay with us will go toward their care.
There is limited cell service at our home–you have to have an AT&T or AT&T affiliate cell provider, but we do have fiber optic Internet and excellent WiFi
No smoking.

We love animals of all kinds. However, pets must be leashed for their own safety due to our livestock.

CHURCH: We are WELS. If WELS is not your Lutheran cup of tea (or coffee) there are also two other Lutheran churches in Custer (28 miles away), an LCMS and an ELCA. In addition, an NALC church is in Newcastle, Wyoming, 16 miles away.

ADDITIONAL SPACE: We also list “The Shipping Container” This smaller cabin is “up the hill” from the Garden Shed and will accommodate an additional 2 people. The last four photos in this listing are of the smaller cabin