Turtle Town in Keystone, South Dakota
Turtle Town sits at 117 Winter Street in Keystone, South Dakota — about three miles down the hill from Mount Rushmore, on the main walking street through town. We have been making candy here since 1977. The copper kettles are in the back, the marble slab is up front, and most days you can smell the caramel before you reach the door.
Where to find us in Keystone
Winter Street is the heart of old Keystone, the boardwalk stretch of shops along the creek. We are on the corner, in the building with the green awning. If you are coming down from Mount Rushmore on Highway 16A, you will pass us on the way into town. Public parking sits within a block in either direction, and everything on Winter Street is walkable once you have left the car.
Most people find us on their way back from the monument, somewhere in that stretch of the afternoon when you have taken the photos and walked the Presidential Trail and are ready to sit down with something cold. That is the right time to come.
What we make here
Everything on the counter is made by hand, in small batches, in this building or at our Hill City shop.
- Fudge — poured and worked on the marble slab. Chocolate, penuche, maple, and whatever the kitchen is in the mood for.
- Bear paws — a Black Hills tradition, and one of the first things regulars ask for.
- Caramels, truffles, toffee, and taffy — including sea salt caramels and a sugar-free selection.
- Ice cream — scooped all season, and the reason half of Winter Street ends up on our steps in July.
- Coffee and tea — a European-style coffee bar for the mornings that start early and the evenings that turn cool.
If you are shopping for someone at home, we do gift boxes, and we ship. There is also a shelf of t-shirts, cookbooks, and treats for the dog waiting in the car.
When we are open
The Keystone shop is seasonal. We open in the spring as the Black Hills come back to life and stay open through October, closing for the winter when Keystone quiets down. Our Hill City shop at 205 Main Street stays open year-round, so there is always somewhere to find us.
Hours shift with the season — long days in July, shorter ones in May and October. Call ahead at (605) 666-4675 if you are making a special trip, or check our Google listing for today’s hours.
Making a day of it
Keystone is a good base for the eastern Black Hills, and most of the best things are inside twenty minutes:
- Mount Rushmore — three miles up Highway 244. Go early or go at dusk.
- Iron Mountain Road — the pigtail bridges and tunnels that frame the monument. Slow down; that is the point of it.
- Custer State Park — the Wildlife Loop and the bison herd, half an hour south.
- The Keystone boardwalk — shops, the old mining history, and the 1880 Train depot down the road in Hill City.
Common questions
How far is Turtle Town from Mount Rushmore?
About three miles. It is a five to ten minute drive down Highway 16A into Keystone, depending on summer traffic.
Do you have parking?
There is public parking within a block of the shop on Winter Street. In peak season it is easier to park once and walk the street than to look for a spot at the door.
Are you open in the winter?
The Keystone shop closes for the winter and reopens in the spring. Our Hill City shop at 205 Main Street is open year-round, and we ship from our online store all year.
Do you ship chocolate?
Yes. You can order from our online store, and we ship across the country. In warm months we pack accordingly.
Do you have sugar-free options?
We do — a full sugar-free selection of chocolates and other candy, made the same way as everything else.
Stop in
Turtle Town Keystone
117 Winter Street, Keystone, SD 57751
(605) 666-4675
Open spring through October. If something is cooling on the slab when you walk in, ask about it.
Find us on the map