REASON 01
Every rental, one dock
BluMana party boat (captain), family pontoon. Book ahead — the dock is small and the fleet is smaller. No driving between marinas.
★ Reviews on Google · Open year-roundWentworth, SD · 45 mi from Sioux Falls
← The Hillside Resort
Marina + Watercraft Rentals
Pull up. Fuel up. Run the lake.
Saturday at 11 — you pull up to the marina with the family in the back of the truck. Pontoon fueled and waiting, captain ready if you want the BluMana. By noon you're on Lake Madison. By 6, eating walleye on the patio with the boats coming and going below.
Why Hillside
The marina the lake-day-trippers come back to.
REASON 02
Fuel + ice + bait + lunch all on the property
Gas dock right at the marina — no hauling cans. Sea Store across the street for the ice-and-beer run. Steakhouse upstairs for the walleye dinner when the boat goes back.
REASON 03
Captain on the BluMana so you don't worry
The BluMana runs with a Coast-Guard-licensed captain + a bartender at a cash bar — no outside alcohol on this one. Plug your phone into the party speakers and DJ it. Captain handles the lake, fuel, and the dock-in.
REASON 04
Two lakes, your pick
Lake Madison (2,642 acres) for skiing, jet skis, the BluMana. Long Lake (no-wake) for the family swim, sunset float, BYO paddle. Same property, golf-cart between them.
What's on the property
Pick the boat. Show up by 11.
Every boat runs on request — send us the boat and the date, and we confirm it before anything is charged. The BluMana and holiday weekends fill first, so ask early.
BluMana Party Boat (Captain)
Up to 38 guests. Captain runs the boat, bartender on board (cash bar — no outside alcohol). Massive sound system you can DJ off. Private charters — half-day or full-day. Sunset charters all season — call the marina for open dates.
Learn more →
Family Pontoon
Family pontoon ($400 / 4 hr · $700 / 8 hr). Self-drive, beer-friendly (21+) — cooler packages on request.
Learn more →Jet Ski Fleet
Jet skis are out of service for the rest of the 2026 season and return for 2027. The Classic Pontoon is on the water now.
Learn more →Request a boat
Pick the boat. Pick the day. We confirm it.
Send a request with the boat, the date, and the block you want — no card and no deposit until we say yes. Approved requests get a payment link. BluMana charters route to the captain's calendar.
Questions
The things people ask first.
- Can I walk in or do I need to book?
- Book ahead — the fleet is small and a boat is often out for the day. BluMana ALWAYS needs a booking. Weekday walk-ups are sometimes possible, but call first rather than driving out on the chance.
- Do I need boating experience?
- For the BluMana — no, a captain runs it. For the self-drive pontoon — yes, basic boater's safety. Hillside checks your license at the dock and walks you through the controls before you launch. South Dakota requires a boater education card for operators born after 1985 — bring it.
- What about fuel + tax + extras?
- Fuel is included — no fuel surcharge when you return. Life jackets are available based on inventory — we recommend bringing your own, especially for children. South Dakota sales tax applies. Self-drive rentals: cancel 7+ days out for a full refund, 50% between 48 hours and 7 days — inside 48 hours is non-refundable. BluMana charters run 14 days for a full refund, 50% from 7 to 14, none inside 7.
- Can we bring our own coolers / food / drinks?
- The BluMana has a full bar with a bartender on board (cash bar) — no outside alcohol on the BluMana itself. For the Pontoon, let us pack the cooler — beer, seltzers, or water + ice. Ask for it in your request, or email info@hillsideresort.com, and it's ready when you arrive. The Sea Store across the street covers snacks + sunscreen before you board.
- Holiday weekend rates?
- Rental rates are the same every day of the season — no holiday surcharge. Holiday weekends do book out first, though: reserve early, and the BluMana goes 4-6 weeks out.
- What's the cancellation policy if the weather turns?
- Captain's discretion on the BluMana — if he scrubs the cruise for weather, you reschedule or get a full refund. Self-drive rentals follow the standard policy — full refund 7+ days out, 50% between 48 hours and 7 days, no refund inside 48 hours. Same-day weather cancels we credit you for another visit.
Marina + Watercraft Rentals
Book the boat before someone else does.
Send us the boat and the date you want — no card, no deposit. We confirm it, then you pay. Call (605) 838-7953 to start planning.