Our goal at Wyss Associates, Inc. is to provide innovative design solutions while being sensitive to the environment, the problem at hand, and the needs of our clients. We provide the following design services: landscape architecture, golf course architecture, parks and recreation design, land planning, resort development and historic preservation.
Number of Principals, Landscape Architects, and Employees: 1 Principal Landscape Architect, 1 Landscape Architect, 1 Office Manager (3 total employees)
Software Used: Civil3D, AutoCAD, AutoCAD Vehicle Tracking, SketchUP, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign

Mt. Rushmore Visitor Services, Black Hills, SD

Wyss Associates, Inc. in association with a muti-disciplinary team, redesigned all visitor services facilities at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. The $57 million project spanned seven years with overlapping multiple construction contracts and was completed 100% with donated funds. Wyss Associates was primarily involved with the design of the Presidential Trail, all landscape rehabilitation, the parking facilities and promenade lighting.

 

Dignity of Earth and Sky Sculpture, Chamberlain, SD

Placed high on a bluff above the Missouri River with only the earth, sky and water surrounding her, Dignity is meant to honor all people by celebrating the native cultures of this land. She was given as a gift to the State of South Dakota by a local philanthropist. The circle on the site plan is a universal symbol representing the notions of wholeness, the infinite, timelessness, and all cyclic movement. The plaza surrounding Dignity connects her towering height to the earth we walk on. The plaza is to be a place to gather and to contemplate Dignity's meaning. The concrete pattern of the plaza represents a buffalo hide, with depth of meaning to indigenous peoples of the northern plains.


Tatanka - Story of the Bison, Deadwood, SD

In the owner's (actor Kevin Costner) own words, "I hope people who visit this place will come away with an appreciation of the legendary bison and the incredible culture that reigned over the Great Plains. The site encompasses approximately 85 acres located at the convergence of the northern Great Plains and the Black Hills. This prairie-edge region is abundant with wildlife and serves as an authentic setting for the bison sculptures. Site and cultural research included literature search, interviews, oral histories, field research and visual quality studies.


Elkhorn Ridge Resort, Spearfish, SD

Wyss Associates, Inc. coordinated the planning and design efforts for this historic 4500-acre National Historic Landmark working ranch over the past 20 years, including master planning, preservation planning, governmental permitting, consultant team selection and coordination, design, construction coordination and client relations. All new commercial structures on the ranch are designed to reflect on the western agrarian architecture of the ranch's historic buildings. The intent is not to "copy" but rather to be "inspired" by the historic structures. Wyss Associates Inc. and consultants have master planned and orchestrated the design of all built elements of the property including:
The Award winning Elkhorn Ridge RV Resort, 18-hole championship golf course (rated by Golf Digest in top five courses in SD), clubhouse facilities, residential golf community, trail network, travel center, open space coordination, utility infrastructure, preservation of the waterways within the ranch, directed all permitting and legal challenges.

Custer State Park, Multiple Projects, Custer, SD

Custer State Park has made great efforts in developing trail amenities within the park. Wyss Associates, Inc. has assisted in this effort by designing a hiking/biking trail connecting the Game Lodge Campground with the Coolidge Campground, a connector trail linking the park with the 108-mile George S. Mickelson Trail and a study for an eight-mile trail connecting the Stockade Lake recreation area with the Coolidge Inn. Custer Stockade Reconstruction: Initially, Wyss Associates, Inc. was retained to work with the public on how to best address the dilapidated Custer Stockade. In the process of public engagement, park staff were reminded of the local and regional significance of the historic structure. Game Lodge Area Expansion and Redevelopment: Wyss Associates, Inc. worked with a team of designers in the planning for and implementation of major expansion and redevelopment of this popular and historic visitor destination within the park. Our services included site planning and design for the new Creekside Lodge and the site features around the historic game lodge structure

As seen in LASN magazine, November 2023.