Turtle Town in Hill City, South Dakota
Turtle Town sits at 205 Main Street in Hill City, South Dakota, in the middle of the block on the town’s main street. This is our year-round shop — the one that is open in February when the Hills are under snow and the one that is open in July when Main Street is full. We have been making candy in the Black Hills since 1977, by hand, in small batches.
Where to find us in Hill City
Hill City calls itself the Heart of the Hills, and Main Street is the middle of it. We are on the main stretch, walking distance from the 1880 Train depot, the galleries, and the Mickelson Trail trailhead. Highway 385 runs right through town, so if you are driving between Deadwood and Custer State Park you will pass the front door.
Street parking runs the length of Main. Once you are out of the car, everything in Hill City is a short walk, including us.
What we make here
Everything is handmade, in small batches, in this building or at our Keystone shop.
- Fudge — worked on the marble slab out front. Chocolate, penuche, maple, and a rotating cast.
- Bear paws — a Black Hills staple and a regular’s first ask.
- Caramels, truffles, toffee, and taffy — sea salt caramels included, plus a full sugar-free selection.
- Coffee and tea — a European-style coffee bar, which matters more here than most places, because Hill City mornings in October are cold.
- Gift boxes and wholesale chocolate — for taking home, mailing, or stocking a shop.
Open all year
This is the shop that does not close. Our Keystone location runs spring through October, but Hill City stays open through the winter — which means holiday gift boxes in December, something warm on a January afternoon, and a place to stop when most of the Hills has gone quiet.
Hours change with the season. Call (605) 787-2925 if you are making a special trip, or check our Google listing for today’s hours.
A good stop on the Mickelson Trail
The George S. Mickelson Trail runs 109 miles down the spine of the Black Hills, and Hill City is one of its best trailheads. If you are riding the Trail Trek in September or just doing an afternoon out and back, we are a few blocks from the trail — and fudge is a defensible recovery food.
The 1880 Train runs from the depot just down the street, which makes for an easy pairing: ride to Keystone, walk to our other shop, ride back.
What else is nearby
- Crazy Horse Memorial — about ten minutes south on Highway 385.
- Mount Rushmore — roughly twenty-five minutes east.
- Custer State Park — twenty minutes south, and worth a whole day.
- Sheridan Lake and Pactola — both a short drive, both good in the evening.
- Hill City galleries and tasting rooms — all within a few blocks of the shop.
Common questions
Are you open year-round?
Yes. The Hill City shop is our year-round location. Keystone runs spring through October.
How far is Hill City from Mount Rushmore?
About twenty-five minutes by car, east on Highway 244.
Is the shop near the Mickelson Trail?
Yes, a few blocks from the Hill City trailhead, and an easy walk from the 1880 Train depot.
Do you ship chocolate?
We do, across the country, through our online store. In warm months we pack for the weather.
Do you sell wholesale?
Yes. Get in touch and we will talk through what you need.
Do you have sugar-free candy?
We keep a full sugar-free selection, made the same way as everything else on the counter.
Stop in
Turtle Town Hill City
205 Main Street, Hill City, SD 57745
(605) 787-2925
Open year-round. There is usually something still warm.
Find us on the map