Xanterra Parks & Resorts has opened a $1.9 million renovation of its foodservice facilities at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

FM Staff

Xanterra Parks & Resorts has opened a $1.9 million renovation of its foodservice facilities at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. The onsite restaurant, formerly called the Buffalo Dining Room, has been reconfigured into an upscale food court style café with an exposed kitchen that allows guests to watch the preparation of made-to-order, fresh food. Now called the "Carvers Café," the 300-seat restaurant includes stations for prepared-to-order grilled foods, bakery items, gourmet coffee, ice cream, pasta dishes and salads as well as more traditional fare. The second phase of the renovation involves a major upgrade to the ice cream counter, the Memorial Team Ice Cream station. Named after the baseball team formed by Mount Rushmore carvers, the baseball-themed station features life-size pictures of the carvers in their baseball uniforms and baseball "Green" wainscoting. It will sell grab and go foods, fountain drinks, snacks, fudge and ice cream, including Mount Rushmore's popular "Monumental Scoops" of ice cream available in eight flavors. The station is slated to be completed before Memorial Day.