They came, they rode, they shopped

Area businesses are seeing mixed preliminary numbers this year for Motorcycle Rally Week.

City community development director Rex Harris said the number of visitors appears to be higher this year than last.

“I’ve heard it from all over the Hills that numbers appear to be up,”â��Harris said, “but spending hasn’t necessarily gone up that much, yet.”

Beaver Lake Campground reported very solid numbers, though owner Max Hammer said it is not only because of the rally. The campground has been booked solid since June 10, two weeks sooner than the campground reached 100 percent capacity last summer. 

During Rally Week, motorcyclists account for about half of the bookings, which Hammer said is normal.

“It’s been better,” Hammer said. “We’ve always been booked Rally Week, but we’ve had more requests this year. We have more overflow, any kind of place we can fit someone, it’s taken.”

Hammer also said he has heard similar stories from other area campgrounds.

“It’s the biggest rally I’ve seen, as far this (camping) industry goes,” he said.

Custer merchants are seeing solid, though not spectacular, numbers. Diana Carson of Carson Drug said the store saw a slow start at the beginning of last weekend, but starting Sunday business picked up.

“Usually the weekend leading up to the Rally is a bit busier,” Carson said, “but I think it’s gearing up now.”

Ron Flora of Flora’s First Gold Nugget said although he has not gone through any numbers in his books yet, business appears to be similar to past years.

Out-of-town vendors are also reporting mixed numbers. Joan Genovese of Mr. G’s Tattoos from Daytona, Fla., has been doing business in Custer for several years during the rally. She said overall numbers are a bit down from last year.

Gary Theodoro of Air Rider Equipment said early business is up this year. Theodoro and his wife, Linda, came from Chattanooga, Tenn., to sell motorcycle equipment and accessories and have done so for the past few years.

“There seems to be more people around this year than last,” Theodoro said. 

Baker’s Cafe also reported that so far they have seen more people than usual during this year’s rally.

The lodging industry is doing decently, according to John Fejfar, manager of the Holiday Inn Express, Econolodge, Best Western, Super 8 and Comfort Inn hotels.

“I’d say we’re doing a little bit better than the last few years for the rally,”â��Fejfar said, “We’re booked up for the first part of the week, but it looks like we might slow down on Thursday and the end of the week.”