Family-Friendly Venue in The Black Hills | Craft beer, Best Food & Games

Most casual dining today accidentally trains people to stare at screens. You wait for a table, wait for a server, wait for drinks, wait for food, and by the time anything shows up, everyone at the table has retreated into their phones. At The Prairie Dog Taproom, we built the entire experience to kill those “8 waits” so families spend their time actually talking, playing, and relaxing together instead of scrolling.

Our self‑pour beer wall, QR-code ordering, and no‑assigned‑seating layout are all there for one reason: less friction, more face‑to‑face time. Guests wander, play, grab a drink when they’re ready, and let the night unfold at their own pace—not the restaurant’s.

Old-School Games, New-School Benefits

Recent commentary from mental health professionals and researchers has started to call out a big difference between most phone games and classic video games. Modern mobile titles are often built around “junk‑food dopamine”—constant notifications, micro‑rewards, and endless loops designed to keep players stuck rather than thinking deeply. Older games, by contrast, were designed around pattern recognition, problem‑solving, and completion—longer arcs, clear goals, and the satisfaction of actually finishing something.

That’s exactly why The Prairie Dog Taproom is packed with:

• Retro arcade cabinets like Pong, Pac‑Man, and other classics.

• Over 1,300 old‑school video games that reward focus and persistence more than mindless tapping.

• Board games for kids and adults that require patience, strategy, turn‑taking, and eye contact.

Experts are starting to argue that these older, challenge‑driven games may be more nourishing for kids’ brains than many of the reward‑driven apps on their phones, especially for attention, problem‑solving, and social skills. While the science is still emerging, the basic idea lines up with what parents tell us every week: their kids light up when they are playing together—not when they’re hunched over separate screens.

A Night Out That Actually Feels Good for Families

On a typical night at The Prairie Dog Taproom, you’ll see:

• Kids teaching their parents how to beat a level on an old cabinet game.

• Parents and grandparents around a board game while pizzas hit the table.

• Friends wandering between the self‑pour taps and the arcade wall, then heading outside to the creekside patio to keep the conversation going.

Our average guest spends over two hours here because we give them a lot more to do than sit and wait at a table with their heads down in their phones. No hostess stand, no buzzer, no “8 waits”—just freedom to roam, pour, play, and connect.

Changing the Face of Casual Dining

The typical casual restaurant has been built around control: assign a table, control the flow, push checks, turn the room. The result is long waits, rushed conversations, and a lot of bored kids reaching for screens. The Prairie Dog Taproom flips that script.

We designed everything—from our creekside “backyard” to our self‑pour wall and Taproom Tales “8 waits” philosophy—to give families their time back and make real‑world play the default. Whether you come for craft beer, scratch‑made pizza with organic 00 flour, artisan hot dogs, bison burgers, or live music, you stay because it feels good to be together without needing a phone to fill the gaps.

If you’re looking for a place where your kids can run on curiosity instead of Wi‑Fi—and where your own brain gets a break from the endless scroll—The Prairie Dog Taproom is built for you. Come Gather. Savor. Celebrate! ©

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is The Prairie Dog Taproom and how is it different from other casual restaurants?

The Prairie Dog Taproom is a family‑friendly taproom and eatery designed to reduce waiting and screen time. Instead of waiting for hosts and servers, guests can move freely, pour their own drinks, play games, and order food without the usual “8 waits” of casual dining.

2. How does the self‑pour beer wall and QR‑code ordering work?

Adults receive thier "freedom" band to use at the self‑pour beer wall, where they can sample and pour drinks at their own pace. Food is ordered by scanning a QR code or by one of Guest Ambassadors so you can order when you’re ready without someone asking you "are you ready to order, are you ready to order? so they can turn their table.

3. What games and activities are available for kids and families?

The Prairie Dog Taproom offers retro arcade cabinets like Pong and Pac‑Man, access to over 1,300 classic video games, and a large selection of board games. These games encourage problem‑solving, turn‑taking, and playing together instead of everyone being on separate phones.

4. Is The Prairie Dog Taproom good for kids and multi‑generational families?

Yes, it is designed for families with kids and multiple generations. It’s common to see kids teaching parents old arcade games, grandparents playing board games, and families moving between the arcade, tables, and the creekside patio.

5. Do we need a reservation or assigned table at The Prairie Dog Taproom?

No, you do not need a specific assigned table. There is no hostess stand or buzzer system, so you can choose where to sit, move around between games and seating, and use the creekside “backyard” area throughout your visit.

7. How long do people usually stay at The Prairie Dog Taproom?

Most guests and families stay for around two hours or more. They tend to linger because there are plenty of games, good food, and a relaxed “backyard” atmosphere that makes it easy to talk, play, and unwind without screens.

6. What kind of food and drinks does The Prairie Dog Taproom serve?

The Prairie Dog Taproom serves a rotating selection of craft beer on the self‑pour wall along with scratch‑made pizza using organic 00 flour, artisan hot dogs, bison burgers, and other casual favorites. It’s a place to enjoy good food and drinks while staying mostly off your phone.