CULTURE + ENTERTAINMENT
605 BEST CONCIERGE EXPERIENCE Shortgrass Resort SHORTGRASSRESORT.COM // (605) 340-5797 // 19343 SHORTGRASS LANE, SPEARFISH
No templates. No generic answers. Completely bespoke. Shortgrass Resort’s concierge experience in Spearfish is built around one idea: “ What does this specific guest need to make this stay unforgettable? ” Owners and world travelers Dr. Rachel MK Headley and Jared “Cappie” Capp opened the lodging experience in 2024 on 52 acres with the idea to create a customizable, luxurious retreat. “Because we’re not a huge resort we can say yes to the creative, personal things—and that’s what makes it special,” said Capp. Guests have requested anything from a private hot tub setup under the stars to a last-minute photographer for a proposal. “We’ve arranged sunrise coffee service in a special location, personalized tours, guest-only access to local experiences, personal meditation and yoga sessions, and quietly coordinated celebrations so a guest could pop the question at just the right moment,” said Capp. Headley and Capp have worked on homes and creative projects for years, and say when they found the piece of land outside of Spearfish they couldn’t pass it up. “[The land] invited us to be creative,” said Capp. “The landscape itself was an inspiration—the soul, the wide- open sky, and the kind of stillness that’s getting harder to find.” Nothing on the property is mass produced, and the couple’s hands have touched almost every part of the resort. Headley designed the overall vision—from the layout to the custom art on the walls—and Capp built everything from the ground up. “There’s a soul to the place because it wasn’t created by committee, it was created by two people who care about every detail and want guests to feel taken care of from the second they arrive,” said Capp.
There are eight bungalows on the property with large French doors and a private deck to roast marshmallows and see the stars. Each room includes designer furniture and spa essentials (along with a Japanese Smart Toilet ). Guest experiences include guided nature and history walks on the property, tours of their on-site botanical greenhouse, hammocks tucked into the trees, and access to tubing or “wild swimming” on the Redwater River . There is also a wellness room for group or individual sessions and massage services. “Evenings often center around our fireside, where we host live music, storytelling, and the occasional perfectly- cooked s’more,” said Capp. Curated experiences include cooking classes, mixology workshops, bird-watching outings, native plant tours, and other immersive nature-forward moments designed to help guests slow down, reconnect, and feel inspired by the landscape and wider region. Also on site is Meander —a high-end restaurant built around a slow-food philosophy, which Capp describes as thoughtful, seasonal, intentionally-crafted meals that match the pace of the resort. Dinners are in the style of a multi-course, chef’s tasting menu and typically take around two hours to complete. “We continue to welcome diners who are not staying overnight with us during the resort season, and we’re open much of the winter for Meander reservations only,” said Capp. Reservations are required for security gate access, so they encourage guests to book ahead. Since opening, Shortgrass Resort has been growing, but Headley and Capp are committed to staying intimate. “We’ll never be a massive resort—that’s not who we are,” said Capp. “Every addition we make is designed to enhance the experience, and peacefulness and connection remain at the center of all decisions.”
605 BEST ISSUE december 2025 + january 2026
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