OBHC Site

Since 2011, Operation Black Hills Cabin (OBHC), in Custer, South Dakota, has provided a week-long retreat in a therapeutic environment for combat wounded veterans, who served in any of the post-September 11, 2001 military operations, and their immediate family. To date, 139 families from 36 states have spent a week at the 1,200 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, fully handicap accessible cabin. The cabin operates from Memorial Day to the end of September and can host up to 17 families each year

OBHC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which operates entirely from donations and volunteers and whose mission is to provide a comfortable, peaceful, and supportive respite to veterans and their families. It supports their rehabilitation from traumatic and stressful experiences and aids the family in reconnecting with each other. The cabin offers quality time to the families in a quiet, leisurely environment with little or no cost to them because the Custer community has whole-heartedly embraced the mission as a small way to say THANK YOU to the veterans and their families and to show them our country’s gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

There is no cost for staying at the cabin and while it has no television, internet, or telephone, it is fully furnished and families are offered a wide variety of potential activities. They are free to decide what to do all week. They can watch the abundant local wildlife from the deck, play a variety of games, explore the Healing Hike on the property around the cabin, or explore the Black Hills by visiting Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, the Custer State Park, or engage in a wide variety of other recreational activities. The families are provided coupons for free meals and free admission to many popular Black Hills attractions.

Further information and the application are available at the Operation Black Hills Cabin website: http://www.operationblackhillscabin.org. Qualified active duty service members and veterans can apply at any time and can submit the application on-line or print the application and mail it. To qualify, the veteran has to be a minimum of 30% combat injured from any post-September 11, 2001 military operation. These include, but are not limited to: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation New Dawn (OND), Operation Odyssey Dawn (OOD), NATO’s Operation Unified Protector (OUP), Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS), NATO’s Operation Resolute Support (ORS), Operation Enduring Freedom-Trans Sahara (OEF-TS), or Operation Juniper Shield (OJS). The disability rating award letter, DD Form 214, or current PCS orders must be included with the application. Warrior Transition Unit (WTU) members are also eligible. The application must include a copy the WTU assignment orders and a signed statement from the applicant’s primary physician on the physician’s letterhead with the physician’s contact information, and stating the service member is pending a Statement of Disability with an anticipated rating of at least 30% due to combat injuries, along with type of disability.

Operation Black Hills Cabin is a healing place. It offers veterans and their families the opportunity to reconnect, reflect, and have some fun while creating priceless memories of their quality time together.