Great Bear Recreation Park

Great Bear is a 220 acre nature park jointly operated by Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation and Great Bear Recreation Park, Inc.

Great Bear was established in the early 1970’s as a ski area and began expanding into a year round recreation park in the summer of 1998. The renovation of the Chalet at Great Bear was completed December 2001 and offers a wonderful 270 degree panoramic view of the surrounding area. The 2002 completion of the Ralph and Doris Wallin Nature Trail System marked the completion of the Great Bear Expansion Project and officially opened the park to four-season use. Due to the nature of the ski season, the Chalet at Great Bear is not available for private use November 1st through March 31st. Wedding events may be booked at the Chalet from April 1st through October 31st yearly.

GREAT BEAR RECREATION PARK CHALET INFORMATION & RULES

Arrangements for a wedding at the Chalet are handled directly by Great Bear staff, so please call Great Bear at 605-367-7317 for information or to reserve the Chalet for your wedding event. Photos of the Chalet are available at www.greatbearpark.com. 

• Rental of the chalet is as follows:
• $400 per day on Monday through Thursday—if event is finished by 5 p.m. 
• $500 per day on Monday through Thursday—if event goes after 5 p.m. 
• $500 per day on Friday 
• $700 per day on Saturday and Sunday 
• $1,000 per day on Holidays and Holiday weekend days 
• Hourly rates (Monday through Friday) $100 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. 
• Additional food and beverage minimums apply to above rental rates. Please contact Great Bear at 367-7317 for detailed information. 
• All fees must be paid in full the day of the event. 
• While renting the Chalet, you will have exclusive use of the main and banquet levels of the building.
• The nature trail system will remain open to the public. Outdoor restroom facilities are provided for nature trail users.
• Park closing time of 10:00 p.m. must be observed. Events must be over and participants must be out of the park by 10:00 p.m. regardless of starting time. 
• Event hours may be extended to 12:00 midnight on a per event basis with the permission of the Director of Parks and Recreation. 
• If your event uses outside amplified sound, you must contact the Health Department at 367-8760 about a permit, per Noise Control Ordinance Section 25.5-5. 
• Fireworks are prohibited in the park without prior permission and the proper permits from the City Park and Rec. Dept. and Fire Dept. Please contact them for further information. 
• If your event uses outside inflatable (bounce houses, etc.) or portable play structures, you must contact the Park Office at 367-8222 for the appropriate permit. Also you are required to provide your own power for the structure. 
• No vehicles are allowed on the grass. 
• The basement area of the chalet is off limits to event organizers and guests. 
• No smoking is allowed inside the chalet at any time. Receptacles are provided on the deck. 
• Acceptable decorations in the chalet are centerpieces, baskets/vases of flowers, and contained candles. Please check with a Great Bear management if you have questions on acceptable decorating ideas. We are happy to answer any questions. 
• Nothing may be stapled, tacked, nailed or taped to the walls or woodwork. 
• The use of helium balloons, confetti or sprinkles is prohibited. Please ask if you have questions. 
• You may rent our speaker and corded mike for $25—please check with management. 
• Great Bear Recreation Park, Inc. holds a beer/wine license. All alcohol must be purchased from Great Bear and consumed within 300 feet of the chalet. No hard liquor may be purchased or consumed at Great Bear without the appropriate one-day liquor license. Any outside liquor brought into the building will be confiscated and the party may be asked to leave the premises. A $100 fee may be assessed to the original rental agreement for noncompliance. 
• All guests will be “carded”—no exceptions. Any underage drinking will result in the authorities being called, and the event may be shut down. 
• No outside food or beverages may be brought into the chalet. 
• Cake, mints, and nuts may be brought in for events. Great Bear does not provide plates, napkins, or forks for the cake. The staff can provide these items for an additional fee upon request. Please notify the staff prior to the event if you would like us to provide these items. 
• All vehicles must be parked in the designated parking areas. Handicap parking spots are available. 
• Any vehicles left overnight must have a park issued permit on them, or they may be ticketed. Please check with management for the permit to put on your vehicle. Vehicles left overnight will be locked in the park until the next morning. 
• Users are required to clean up all litter and decorations. Trash containers will be provided. 
• All tables and chairs must be wiped off and stacked against the walls. Moving and setting up of the tables and chairs is the responsibility of the renter. 
• All clean up must be done the night of the event. If you choose not to do the clean up, the fee is $100 and must be arranged with the venue in advance. 
• If an additional day is needed to remove your items, a $50 fee will be charged. This must be arranged in advance of the event and paid the day of the event. Great Bear management must approve the time. 
• If the event requires you set up a day early, please make arrangements with management. All set up must be done by 5 p.m. 
• The reserving party will be held responsible for any damages caused by their guests and their activities during the time the party has access to the property. 
• A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the chalet rental fee is due in order to establish a reservation. Once paid it will not be refunded. 
• Great Bear Recreation Park, Inc. is not responsible for the loss or damage of any personal property brought on to the grounds or into the building. 
• Any items left in the building longer than 30 days become the property of Great Bear and may be discarded.