The Alpine Inn Restaurant

OUR HISTORY

The town of Hill City, first known as Hillyo and the second town in the Black Hills, originated in conjunction with the 1876 discovery of placer gold deposits in Spring Creek. In 1883, the discovery of tin attracted enough English capital to organize the “Harney Peak Tin Mining, Milling, and Manufacturing Company”. Even though the mill was a short-lived disappointment, the company spent millions of unseen investor’s dollars boosting the town’s economy for nearly ten years and making sure that management lived in the lap of luxury.

The company built the Harney Peak Hotel for use by its mining executives. The hotel was a favorite spot for Sunday diners and a rendezvous for mining, timbering, and railroad men active in the area. The mining company ceased operations in 1892.  The hotel and restaurant however survived two major fires and remained in operation until 1934.

Waldraut (Wally, pronounced “Volly”) Matush came to the United States from Stuttgart, Germany in 1961, moved to Hill City in 1970 and acquired the Harney Peak Hotel in 1974. Over a ten year period, the Hotel housed a variety of businesses until 1984 when it became the Alpine Inn and remains that today.