Paul Nelson Farm

What Paul Nelson Farm does

Paul Nelson Farm is a privately held, third-generation family-owned luxury hunting lodge and resort located in Gettysburg, South Dakota. Founded when Paul Dean Nelson's parents (Lyle and Jessie) established the property in the 1940s, the operation formally pivoted from pure agriculture to hosted hunting in 1992, when a ranch hand's house was converted into guest lodging. Today the business operates 4,200 contiguous acres of Conservation Reserve Program-enhanced pheasant habitat and offers all-inclusive three-day wingshooting packages priced from $7,595 to $12,595 per hunter depending on group size, alongside a separate 2.5-day long-range shooting retreat priced at $6,895 per guest.

Core products are organized around four experience pillars: pheasant hunting with professional guides and trained bird dogs; lodging across three facilities totaling 35 private rooms (Main Lodge with 12 rooms, King Lodge with 14 rooms including a Presidential Suite, and Buffalo Lodge with 8 private suites); gourmet country cuisine with eight fully stocked bars; and The Range, a 2,000-yard long-range shooting facility that opened in 2018. Infrastructure investments include a pro shop, theatre rooms, fireplaces, fire pits, balconies, and complimentary firearms and ammunition use, supporting a fully bundled package model.

The go-to-market is high-touch and direct: bookings are taken via phone (605.765.2469), email ([email protected]), and a website contact form, with a downloadable brochure for pre-purchase research. Acquisition leans on word-of-mouth referrals, organic search, a Tom Brokaw testimonial, and two-time Orvis Lodge of the Year recognition. The company employs 1-10 people and targets three primary segments: affluent corporate groups for executive retreats and client entertainment, wealthy families and friend groups for multi-generational trips, and precision shooting enthusiasts. All revenue flows through direct, one-time, all-inclusive package sales with no intermediated distribution, recurring contracts, or external capital involvement.

Name

Paul Nelson Farm

Legal name

Paul Nelson Farm

Website

https://paulnelsonfarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paul Nelson Farm is a third-generation, family-owned luxury pheasant hunting lodge on 4,200 contiguous acres in Gettysburg, South Dakota, offering all-inclusive three-day wingshooting packages, three lodges totaling 35 private rooms, gourmet dining, and a 2,000-yard long-range shooting facility for affluent individuals, corporate groups, and families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Hunting Lodge and Resort Services

NAICS

Hunting and Trapping (114210)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Hunting & Fishing Lodges (Sporting Lodges) (THAGAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Birding & Wildlife Observation Lodges (THAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Pheasant hunting lodge
• Wingshooting experiences
• Luxury hunting resort
• Long-range shooting
• Guided hunting packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Gettysburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Hunting Package Sales: All-inclusive three-day pheasant hunting packages priced per person with tiered pricing based on group size. Larger groups receive lower per-person rates ($7,595 for 6+ hunters down to $12,595 for solo hunter). Package includes lodging, meals, beverages, guided hunts, ammunition, and bird allocation. Additional revenue from optional extras such as extra birds ($55/bird) and King Lodge upgrades ($1,200/room/stay).
2. Long-Range Shooting Retreats: 2.5-day all-inclusive long-range rifle shooting experiences priced at $6,895 per person. Includes training, custom rifle use, ammunition (6.5 Creedmoor), coaching from world-class instructors, and luxury accommodations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Paul Nelson Farm provides all-inclusive, multi-day pheasant hunting experiences on 4,200 contiguous acres of private South Dakota prairie, supported by luxury lodging across three lodges (35 private rooms), gourmet dining, eight fully stocked bars, and a 2,000-yard long-range shooting facility. Packages bundle guided hunts with trained bird dogs, lodging, meals, beverages, ammunition, sporting clays, and game processing into a single per-person price. A separate Long-Range Shooting Retreat offers 2.5-day precision rifle training with elite instruction.

Product overview

Paul Nelson Farm is a luxury hunting resort offering a unified hospitality experience centered around world-class pheasant hunting. The portfolio includes the core Pheasant Hunting Experience on 4,200 acres, three distinct lodging options (Main Lodge with 12 rooms, King Lodge with 14 luxury rooms featuring the Presidential Suite, and Buffalo Lodge with 8 private suites), Gourmet Dining services, and Long-Range Shooting at The Range (up to 2,000 yards). Package offerings bundle the hunting experience with accommodations and dining, while the Long Range Shooting Retreat provides specialized rifle training. All offerings share common amenities including eight fully stocked bars, high-speed WiFi, theatre rooms, fireplaces, and outdoor gathering spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pheasant Hunting Experience World-class pheasant hunting on 4,200 contiguous acres of South Dakota prairie with professional guides, trained bird dogs, and exclusive group-only hunting for paying guests.
• Main Lodge Lodging Primary lodging facility offering 12 rooms with central common areas including a Library and multiple gathering spaces for hunting guests.
• King Lodge Lodging Standalone luxury facility with 14 rooms featuring lavish décor and the Presidential Suite, designed for executive hunts or private family groups seeking full buyout privacy.
• Buffalo Lodge (Buffalo Suites) Eight private suites with heated bathroom floors, plush bedding, central lounge and bar area, and an upper deck with scenic views of the property.
• Gourmet Dining Curated country cuisine featuring hearty home-style dishes and pheasant preparations served across all breakfast, lunch, and dinner services for lodging guests.
• Long-Range Shooting (The Range) State-of-the-art shooting facility offering long-range rifle training up to 2,000 yards with custom rifles, 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition, and elite instructor coaching for experienced marksmen.
• Three-Day Hunting Package All-inclusive three-day wingshooting package covering 5 pheasants per day (15 total), unlimited sporting clays, all ammunition, professional guides, trained dogs, private rooms, gourmet meals, beverages, and complimentary shotgun use; priced per person on a tiered group-size basis.
• Long-Range Shooting Retreat 2.5-day extreme long-range training retreat including custom rifle use, all 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition supplied, elite world-class instructor coaching, and private accommodations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 pheasants per day (15 total for 3-day package) included with unlimited sporting clays
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bass Pro Shops: A major outdoor sporting goods retailer that operates hunting lodges, resorts, and guided experience brands (e.g., Big Cedar). Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same affluent hunting customer base with both retail and hospitality offerings.
• Orvis (The Orvis Company): A long-established outdoor lifestyle brand offering hunting apparel, gear, and endorsed travel experiences including endorsed lodges. Paul Nelson Farm is itself a two-time Orvis Lodge of the Year; Orvis connects similar luxury hunting customers and validates comparable destinations.

Direct peers

• High Plains Wingshooting: A South Dakota wingshooting operation offering guided pheasant hunts with lodging. Competes in the same regional market for premium group hunting experiences comparable to Paul Nelson Farm's model.
• Shady Lane Pheasant Hunt: A South Dakota pheasant hunting outfitter offering guided hunts with lodging on private land, competing for the same group-hunting and family-trip customer base as Paul Nelson Farm.
• Rooster Ridge Lodge & Hunting Preserve: A South Dakota pheasant hunting lodge offering guided pheasant hunts on private land with lodging and meals, directly comparable to Paul Nelson Farm's all-inclusive wingshooting model in the same regional market.
• Dakota's Best Pheasant Hunting: A South Dakota pheasant hunting outfitter offering guided hunts, lodging, and bird-cleaning services, directly comparable in product offering and customer base to Paul Nelson Farm.
• Wild Wings of South Dakota: A South Dakota pheasant hunting operation offering guided hunts, lodging, and dog-handler services on private land in the SD prairie region, directly comparable in offering mix to Paul Nelson Farm's wingshooting experience.
• Broken Wing Hunts & Lodge: A South Dakota hunting lodge specializing in pheasant and upland bird hunting with lodging and guide services, directly comparable to Paul Nelson Farm's guided wingshooting offering in the same geographic market.
• Cottonwood Cove Lodge: A South Dakota pheasant hunting lodge offering all-inclusive guided hunts and lodging, directly comparable in product structure (lodging + meals + guided hunts) to Paul Nelson Farm.
• Thunderstik Lodge: South Dakota pheasant hunting lodge offering guided hunts, lodging, and full-package experiences. Competes directly with Paul Nelson Farm for the same affluent group-hunting and corporate retreat clientele in the SD pheasant belt.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/paulnelsonfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paul-nelson-farms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paul Nelson Farm