“I thought I lived in a small town until I met Troy,” said Stacy Hadrick, AgrotourismSD program coordinator at South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension.
The Sturgis native moved to Faulkton—her husband Troy’s hometown—in 2010 to start Hadrick Ranch and raise their family.
The small town has made headlines in the past few years, doing what Troy and Stacy call “punching above their weight.” So this April, 605 took a road trip to visit the Carousel City.
Upon our arrival, 605’s designer Cailyn Patterson and I were warmly greeted by the couple, who have made an Airbnb out of a suite attached to their garage.
“IN A SMALL TOWN YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THAT PERSON WHO CAN HELP YOU, AND THEY WANT TO HELP YOU, AND EVERYBODY DOES THAT IN THEIR OWN WAY.”
-Stacy Hadrick
The Bunkhouse on the Prairie—as they’ve named it—has become an unexpected blessing.
“We always wanted a space like this on our garage. People come to visit, and my parents live in Sturgis and they come to stay,” explained Stacy.
The Hadricks did all of the remodeling themselves before listing the unit on the vacation rental website.
“I remember saying to Troy, ‘If it doesn’t work, we can take it down,’” shared Stacy.
One hundred reviews, a 45% occupancy rate, and three years later, the Hadricks are full of gratitude for all the travelers whose stories they’ve been able to be a part of.
“We’ve met the most amazing people through it,” said Stacy.
Patterson and I got up close and personal with the cows as we received a tour of the ranch in the family’s UTV.
Troy shared with us that because of his partnership with Vanguard Hospitality, his Angus beef ends up in Morrie’s Steakhouse, Minervas, and Grille 26 in Sioux Falls.
“You may have eaten some Hadrick Ranch beef,” he laughed.
Stacy and the family’s dutiful Australian Shepherd, Cali, joined us on a hunt for wild Pasque flowers. After finding the South Dakota state flower and snapping some pictures, we headed into town for lunch at Blondie’s Tables & Taps.
WHERE’S THE BEEF?
THE MINERVAS ROOT BEER FLOAT BURGER FROM THE 11TH ANNUAL DOWNTOWN BURGER BATTLE IN SIOUX FALLS WAS MADE WITH HADRICK RANCH BEEF.
Operating inside what used to be an old Masonic temple, the bar and restaurant was opened in 2023 by Avery Deiter.
“Ever since I was little, I’ve loved to bake and cook. I started working at the deli when I was 14, so I grew up in the food service industry,” said Deiter.
After briefly studying hospitality management at South Dakota State University, Deiter came back home to Faulkton when the building was up for sale.
Aided by family, friends, and the support of the town, Deiter transformed the old building into Blondie’s, named after a nickname her uncle gave her regarding her signature blonde hair.
Deiter says she was intentional with the remodel, incorporating pieces like doors from an old bank in Pipestone, a bowling-lane bar from Hayti, and a church pew from Onaka.
“I GREW UP IN FAULKTON, AND I REALLY LIKE THE SMALL TOWN FEEL.”
-Avery Deiter
“We wanted a rustic, hometown-ish feel,” said Deiter, who credits her mom Carrie with interior design, cousin Sarah Pitts with the logo, and friend Alyssa Meyers with the logo mural on the inside of the restaurant.
Deiter made us three dishes: the Melty Patty, Cheesy Fried Pickles, and her Burger of the Week, which happened to be a Brisket and Bacon Sandwich.
“It’s been a lot,” said Deiter, regarding being a first-time owner at such a young age. “But it’s also been rewarding to see, and to have my staff be so welcoming. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Deiter says she couldn’t have done it without Ann Marie Naber, her bar manager and assistant manager since the beginning.
After lunch, Troy and Stacy took us on a tour of the seven murals in town, ending with the famous grain elevator mural–the largest mural in South Dakota–spray-painted in 2018 by Australian artist Guito van Helten.
Troy says the city’s initiative regarding the mural and other projects illustrates his favorite quality about his hometown: the progressive mindset.
“No one wants to see Faulkton stand still. Everyone is always pushing forward with bigger and better things,” he said.
Stacy agrees: “Our motto is, ‘We believe in possible,’ and it just rings true every time this community wants to tackle something,” she said.
Our next stop was the Happy Times Carousel in the center of town. Built in 1925, the carousel was purchased by Faulkton resident Bob Ketterling in 1981. Bill Becker has been giving rides for the last seven years, telling us that his favorite part of the job is that “the kids have a good time.”
Among a crowd of elementary schoolers, Patterson and I gleefully chose our favorite ponies and enjoyed the Faulkton tradition.
The next morning, Stacy accompanied us to the famous Pickler Mansion.
Built in 1882, the pink mansion housed John Pickler, South Dakota’s first congressman and Civil War veteran, and his wife, Alice.
The house was inhabited until 1954 and served as the polling place for the township for many years. It also hosted visiting dignitaries such as Susan B. Anthony and Teddy Roosevelt.
In 1987, the mansion was deeded to Faulk County Historical Society. Tours are now available in the summer, and the interior has been restored to appear as it would have looked in the 1890s.
A FAULKTON OF FUN
TAKE FAULKTON FOR A SPIN! GET TRAVEL ITINERARIES AND SIGN UP FOR A FREE STICKER AT FAULKTONSD.COM/SPIN.
Before hitting the road, we stopped at Buttercup Coffee for a pick-me-up. Owner JoDee Bryant greeted us with May Day baskets, and made us the shop’s specialty Snickers drink.
Along with coffee and non-caffeinated beverages, the boutique sells baked goods, décor, gifts, gift bundles, and Bryant’s passion: essential oils.
She originally opened the business as a place to sell oils after retiring in 2017, but expanded her offerings upon noticing the community’s desire for a place to get coffee. Bryant shares she will often prepare bulk orders and that the shop is a meeting place for many, as well as a hub for the kids after school.
“My husband and I both grew up near here, and it’s a very close community. The businesses are great about supporting one another and doing events together,” said Bryant. “There’s lots to do in Faulkton.”
Indeed, there was.
