Savoy (canyon hamlet)

This unincorporated speck of a resort hamlet began as a sawmill town supplying the Black Hills timber trade, and survives today as the tourist heart of Spearfish Canyon — home to its only lodge and restaurant.

📍 Savoy, SD 📅 1892–Present 🏛️ Historic Hamlet ⚖️ Still Here

The Story

Savoy sits near where Little Spearfish Canyon meets the main canyon, about 14-15 miles from Spearfish. It began around a sawmill run by the McLaughlin Tie and Timber company, which closed in 1906; a post office existed here as early as 1892, coinciding with the 1893 railroad. After the mill closed, the old mill-office cabin became the canyon's first lodge (the Glendoris Inn, 1909). Today Savoy is the access point for Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls, and Savoy Pond, and home to the Spearfish Canyon Lodge and Latchstring Restaurant.

Surprising Facts

→ Savoy began as a sawmill town, not a resort — the mill closed in 1906, the same year its inn era began.

→ No verified source explains the origin of the name "Savoy."

→ A post office operated here as early as 1892, before the railroad even reached the canyon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Savoy (canyon hamlet)?
Savoy (canyon hamlet) is at Jct US-14A & Roughlock Falls Rd, Savoy, SD. Explore it on the When It Was interactive map.
How old is Savoy (canyon hamlet)?
Savoy (canyon hamlet) dates to 1892, making it more than 134 years old.
Can you still visit Savoy (canyon hamlet)?
Yes — the site at Jct US-14A & Roughlock Falls Rd, Savoy, SD still stands and remains in use today.

More Black Hills History

Sources

https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/sd/savoy.html