Nestled along the banks of the Missouri River, Lewis & Clark Resort is a scenic getaway for those visiting the Yankton area, or locals looking for a staycation close to home.
The resort was originally built in 1988 by the Ramkota Agency. Since then it has gone under multiple expansions in 1994, 2004, 2012, and most recently in 2018.
Owner Mike Grave says he has been working there since 2004 as a maintenance worker, then as a manager, and in 2018 Grave decided to purchase the location.
“Any outdoor activity you have in mind, you can do here.”
“I love the lake. I love the memories that are made camping and boating by the lake,” said Grave. “I also wanted to work from home. Before I purchased the resort, I was building machines and traveling the country.”
The space and the layout of the resort makes it an ideal vacation spot for families and friends who are social distancing due to COVID-19.
“The resort in itself is the perfect place for social distancing. It is over 12 acres, and we sleep almost 300 people,” said Grave. “But each cabin is 40 feet apart from each other.”
In addition to all the space, Grave says the hotel rooms are open to the outdoors so there is no hallway or common areas that guests gather in.
Lewis & Clark Resort has the largest marina in the state, and Grave says the shoreline is also the most vast of any state park in the area.
Resort Amenities
2 beaches
400 dock slips and a public ramp
Basketball courts
Horseshoe pits
Playground
Pool
Restaurant bar and grill
Sand volleyball pits
The resort works to promote a sense of outdoors for their guests.
“We have hiking trails, mountain biking trails, horse trails, Go Karts, and three golf courses within an eight-mile radius,” said Grave. “Basically, any outdoor activity you have in mind you can do here.”
Typically the resort is booked almost a year in advance, but due to recommendations about avoiding large group gatherings some guests have cancelled their reservations.
Grave says this has allowed for more nearby families and friends to book their vacation.
“This has actually allowed for a lot of small families and close-knit groups who are already social distancing with each other to come to the resort,” he said.
Despite having more openings than usual, Grave still recommends that people reserve their cabin as early as possible to ensure they have an available booking.
