04/29/2026
The story of the Draper Roadhouse...
We love sharing the fascinating and rich history of the nearly 5,000 acre Frawley Ranch that Elkhorn Ridge is located on today. The very special Draper Roadhouse can still be rented for events, like family reunions.
A former stage stop between Spearfish and Deadwood, called the Centennial Park Hotel and Post Office, was a major stop for travelers, as it was located on a route for many stagecoaches and freight companies. Destroyed in a prairie fire in 1883, Anna and Marion Draper replaced the hotel with another to the north, building a 12-room structure known as the Draper Roadhouse in 1888, far larger and more ornate than most rural structures at the time. The Drapers built a pump and separator room as well, which allowed them to pump water into the house, providing enough pressure for an indoor bathroom, an innovation ahead of its time in the area. They also had facilities to house visitors' horses and livestock.
Henry Frawley bought the acreage in 1912, and the house was later used to board his ranch hands. In 1977 the house was restored and served as the Frawley's home all the way up until Hank Frawley's passing in April of 2017.
Use this link to take a 3D tour of what the house looks like today: https://elkhornridgeresort.com/historic-house-rentals
