In the year 2003, a group of curling enthusiasts (most of whom had never seen a game in person, let alone played) had a meeting and formed Rushmore Curling Club in Rapid City, SD. Five members attended the meeting, those five became the initial board of directors. Articles of Incorporation were written and the club registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization.
Using tax-deductible donations, curling rocks and equipment were purchased. Most of these items were used, purchased from other curling clubs. The stones were purchased from a club in Michigan. The rocks had once been owned by a now defunct club in Omaha Nebraska. Club members rented a truck and trailer to drive to Michigan to transport them to Rapid City.
The club arranged with the city-owned Roosevelt Park Ice Arena to rent ice time for play. Initially, curling was scheduled for two hours on Saturday mornings. The club had eight to ten teams for the first few seasons. In 2007 there were thirteen teams. Due to this increase, a group of member-investors approached the board of directors with a proposal to build a dedicated curling ice arena. The offer was accepted and work began. Unfortunately, the project failed and was abandoned.
At the 2008 membership meeting, the club was broke, in debt, and had no place to play. All board members except one resigned from the board and ceased their club membership. It was suggested that the club declare bankruptcy, surrender all club assets, and cease operation. The lone remaining board member objected, and was then elected as board president.
The new president obtained donations to pay off all outstanding bills and put money in the bank account. He met with the city ice arena management who agreed to allow the club to return. The only 2-hour time block available was Sunday morning. With only four dues-paying members (the president and three relatives) the Sunday morning open house was spread mostly by word-of-mouth. The first Sunday was paid for by a donation. Several people came. Some new people wishing to learn the game, some former members.
After this event, the president (literally) passed-the-hat advising that if enough donated money were collected, the ice would be rented the following Sunday. It was. This continued for weeks until the money collected in the final week was insufficient to rent the next week. That concluded the 2008 season.
The 2009 season reverted to normal in January and is still going. As of 2025, the Rushmore Curling Club is one of the longest (if not THE longest) continuously operated arena clubs in the U.S. 23 years.
The club has sponsored five bonspiels (2004-08).