Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, Black Hills, SD, circa 1930

Subjects: Lakes & Ponds Mountains & Hills National & State Parks
Card type: Linen
Date: c. 1930 (White Border)

Back of Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, Black Hills, SD, circa 1930, c. 1930 linen postcard — Back

About this postcard

The view looks across Sylvan Lake to a granite shoreline and pine-covered slopes, with a small wooden dock or boat launch at the lower right. The water is deep blue and reflects the sky and clouds. The caption records a Native name for the lake, Karanip, translated as "Tear of the Mountains," and describes it lying more than a mile above sea level among towering granite ramparts. It also notes a state-built hotel on the cliffs above the lake and the cold spring-fed water that drew visitors for fishing, boating, and swimming.

Postcard Details

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PublisherBlack Hills Novelty and Mfg. Co.

102: SYLVAN LAKE, CUSTER STATE PARK, BLACK HILLS SOUTH DAKOTA Sylvan Lake - the Indians Karanip (Tear of the Mountains) - lies over a mile above sea level, and is girt with ramparts and battlements of towering granite, which open here and there to pleasant wooded shores. Blue as the skies above, this clear lake is awe-inspiring. Here you can enjoy fishing, boating and swimming in bracing waters that flow clear and cold from the moun- tain springs. On the cliffs above the lake the State of South Dakota has built a hotel, modern in every re- spect, but with unique Western touches in decorations and furnishings, that will make you long remember it.

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Postcard record

Publisher	Black Hills Novelty and Mfg. Co.
Series	46125
Condition	Very good
Place depicted	Sylvan Lake, Black Hills, SD
Place mentioned	Custer State Park, SD
Place mentioned	South Dakota, SD
Publisher	Black Hills Novelty and Mfg. Co., Rapid City, SD
Notes	Linen texture; no white border; printed caption at top. No postmark. Divided-back linen card, full-bleed front (no white border); tape residue and pencil dealer marks (112, 2.00) on back.

Cite this card

Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park, Black Hills, SD, circa 1930, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/sylvan-lake-custer-state-park-black-hills-sd-circa-1930. Accessed November 2, 2026.