We were in Medora North Dakota 4-18 August 2023. We had learned about Red Trail Campground watching Traveling Robert Moralas on YouTube. The campground turned out to be a short walk into the historic town of Medora, nestled among badland hills on four sides. Medora is somewhat touristy, so well maintained. We were also less than 2 miles from the South Unit entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We had had a long drive (about 410 miles) to get to Medora from Great Falls, MT, so we walked into the town to check it out the first Saturday we were there. After arriving and setting up in quite a downpour, we needed a beautiful sunny day and some walking. We walked around the whole town and went in to Ticket Junction to get tickets for the Medora Musical. We already had plans for August 8th, so we opted for August 15th, one of the Tuesdays and Thursdays with a senior discount. We had heard from fellow campers that the Medora Musical is a must-see and we totally agree!
The city of Medora's website gives its history as follows:
In April 1883 a French nobleman named Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, founded the town of Medora naming it in honor of his wife, the former Medora von Hoffman.
The Marquis built and financed several businesses in town with the financial backing from his father-in-law. These businesses included a beef packing plant, a stagecoach line, a freighting company, refrigerated railway cars, a hotel, stores, and a large home overlooking his town (Chateau de Mores). The Marquise (Medora) independently funded the creation of both DeMores School and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the oldest continuously operating church in the Bismarck diocese. The Marquis and Marquise dreamed big and their fingerprints are visible all over town.
Despite the Marquis’ vision and energy, by the fall of 1886 all of his various enterprises had ended in financial failure. The Marquis and Marquise returned to France with their family.
In September 1883 a young New York politician named Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Medora to hunt buffalo. Roosevelt immediately fell in love with the land and invested in cattle raising purchasing two large ranches - the Maltese Cross, about seven miles south of Medora, and the Elkhorn, about 35 miles north of town. In 1901 Roosevelt became the youngest president in U.S. history, serving until 1909. He called his years in the badlands "the romance of my life," and often credited his Dakota experiences with enabling him to become president.
As the seat of Billings County, Medora continued to be an active community following its early years. It has always been a cattle town, with countless thousands of cattle being shipped out over the years. Three large coal mines operated in the vicinity from the 1920s to the 1940s, and the Civilian Conservation Corps maintained a base camp near Medora from 1934 to 1941. During which time the CCC completed landscape and restoration work on the 128-acre Chateau de Mores State Historic Site and De Mores Memorial Park. These sites were opened to the public on August 7, 1941.
On April 25, 1947 the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established. The park encompasses 110 square miles in its North and South Units. Roosevelt's Maltese Cross ranch cabin sits behind the Visitor Center.
In 1958 the Burning Hills Amphitheatre was constructed a mile west of Medora. The Amphitheatre hosted the theatrical production Ol' Four Eyes until 1965. Ol’ Four Eyes was a dramatic retelling of Roosevelt's life in the North Dakota Badlands. In 1965 the nationally renowned Medora Musical began production which still runs nightly during the summer months.
Entrepreneur Harold Schafer and his Gold Seal Company began a restoration and modernization of the old west town in 1962. He developed many additional attractions and his efforts are now managed by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF). The efforts of TRMF and many independent business people have helped make Medora one of the premier family entertainment destinations in the country.
These are our pictures from walking around town and visiting a couple of Medora museums...
Snow Roof? Medora North Dakota August 2023
We saw a couple of buildings with roofs like this and are apparently built that way...
Point to Point Park Optical Illusion attraction Medora North Dakota August 2023
Visitor Center on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Medora ND surrounded on all 4 sides by Badlands hills
TR (Ole Four Eyes) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Medora Von Hoffman
Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside (upstairs) Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside (upstairs) Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside (upstairs) Von Hoffman House Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Is this where "hung jury" came from?
Historic Marker on walking tour of Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
(We learned in Medora that Lawrence Welk's family settled in North Dakota from Germany)
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
I remember Mr. Bubble! Harold Schafer came up with that...
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Actual undershirt Teddy Roosevelt was wearing the day he got shot
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
Harold Schafer Heritage Center Medora North Dakota August 2023
St. Mary's Catholic Church Medora North Dakota August 2023
St. Mary's Catholic Church Medora North Dakota August 2023
St. Mary's Catholic Church Medora North Dakota August 2023
We attended mass at the Community Center both weekends we were in Medora. The first Saturday, just about every seat was taken with young families and older folks like us. It was heart warming to see young couples taking their young children to church, while on vacation. It brings feelings of hope.
The second weekend, there weren't as many people, but it was still nice. The priest celebrating mass comes from Belfield, about 16 miles away.
Situated on the west edge of Medora, Chimney Park once contained the plant, a slaughterhouse, three icehouses, several outbuildings, a railroad spur track, and a corral. The building burned in 1907, leaving the tall, native clay brick chimney standing.
Chimney Park Medora North Dakota August 2023
Chimney Park Medora North Dakota August 2023
Chimney Park Medora North Dakota August 2023
The next day we drove through Theodore Roosevelt National Park's South Unit. We lucked out and saw bison and wild horses! I was never a strong history student, so maybe I had learned this about Teddy Roosevelt, but if I did, I forgot it. Theodore Roosevelt lost his wife to Bright's disease (a severe kidney ailment) a couple of days after giving birth and his mother to Typhoid Fever on February 14, 1884. Teddy Roosevelt came to North Dakota the first time in his mid-20's to hunt and to grieve the loss of his wife and mother. We also learned that Teddy Roosevelt was the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize! Medora is full of historic anecdotes about Teddy Roosevelt and is very proud of all the time he spent here.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Teddy Roosevelt's cabin moved here from 7 miles away
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Inside Teddy Roosevelt's cabin
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Prairie Dog Town
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
(Wild or Feral Horses) Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
(Little Missouri River) Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota
August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit Medora North Dakota August 2023
We had scheduled a walleye fishing trip with a guide at Indian Hills Resort in Garrison North Dakota for August 8th. The drive to get there is 180 miles, so we decided to stay at a hotel the night before and night of the day of fishing. On the way to Garrison we took scenic byways and enjoyed the ride. We only had a 30 mile ride the morning of the fishing trip which launched at 7am, so we were happy we'd driven the day before. The guide took us to the fish and we each caught our limit of 5 walleye each! It was a beautiful day on the water. We were on our way back to the dock by 10:30am with our catch, so we took in the local Farmers' Market at 4:30pm that day after a nap. The Garrison Farmers' Market was much larger than Medora's. It was a whole city block of vendors and they had baked goods, veggies and a few crafts. We got a German kuchen, which is slightly sweet and fluffy and tasty. There was a Juneberry flavored one, so we picked that one. We enjoyed our 40 hours in Garrison and took home some nice walleye too!
Garrison North Dakota 8 August 2023
Steve in his happy place on Lake Sakakawea Garrison North Dakota
(Lewis & Clark spelled "Sakajawea" eight different ways in their journals)
Garrison North Dakota 8 August 2023 (Indian Hills Resort)
Lake Sakajawea
Garrison North Dakota 8 August 2023
German Kuchen from Garrison Farmers' Market
The day after we returned from Garrison, we drove to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is 68 miles from the South Unit entrance. We had heard about the cannon balls, but it was still amazing to see them. We did a couple of short hikes and got to see prairie dogs up close enough to get a picture. One of the trails we did was the Buckhorn trail up to the prairie dog town, which was about a mile each way. The other trail was the Caprock Coulee Nature Trail and it was .8 miles each way. The drive to the North Unit was scenic with beautiful views along the way. We noticed a Ukrainian Catholic Church on the way there and decided to stop to check it out on our way back. We then noticed another Ukrainian historical marker a couple of miles after the church. It was very interesting and enlightening.
Field of sunflowers between North and South Units of TRNP North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Longhorn steers in Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Little Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023 (Buckhorn Trail)
Little Missouri River at Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Buckhorn Trail and very windy!
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Prairie Dog Town and one Prairie Dog
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit August 2023
We had noticed this Post Office Museum on the way to the North Unit of the park, so we stopped on our way home. Built in 1912 of logs and sod roof, this structure, which is listed in the National Register, as a historic site, housed the Grassy Butte Post Office from 1914 to 1964. It now serves as a free admission museum housing antiques and relics from the 1800's and 1900's.
Post Office Museum Grassy Butte North Dakota August 2023 (note Church behind post office now privately owned and used as a bed and breakfast)
Inside Post Office Museum Grassy Butte North Dakota August 2023
Inside Post Office Museum Grassy Butte North Dakota August 2023
Inside Post Office Museum Grassy Butte North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church grounds Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church grounds Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church grounds Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Catholic Church grounds Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Historic marker Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
Ukrainian Pioneer Memorial Cross Fairfield North Dakota August 2023
The next weekend we attended the Ranchorama Days - NDRA Rodeo about a half mile from our campground. NDRA is North Dakota Rodeo Association. We actually went to the Slack round Saturday morning at 9am, which was free, then to the rodeo at 6pm that night. Slack is defined as an overflow of contestants. Rodeo Associations are limited to eleven performances and a short-go, with approximately ten contestants per event in each performance, 1200 contestants could not fit into the nightly performances. That is why they have slack! All the performers in the Slack round have just as much chance of winning in their categories as do the performers at the nightly rodeos. We had gone to a rodeo in Great Falls Montana at the State Fair, and that rodeo was put on by the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association). The PRCA was noticeably better than the NDRA, but the NDRA cowboys and girls still put on a good show. After all the rodeos in about a month's time, Anita has had her fill for a while.
NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
Miss Rodeo North Dakota NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
Bronc Riding NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
Bronc riding at NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
Bull Riding at NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
NDRA Rodeo Medora North Dakota 12 August 2023
A couple of nights after the rodeo, we decided to try to catch the colors of Painted Canyon at dusk.
There were a few people there doing the same thing, even one artist with his easel and paints. Steve, once again, got some great shots with his Iphone.
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
Painted Canyon Medora North Dakota August 2023
The next morning, we hiked one of the Point to Point trails in the town of Medora. Steve had commented since we arrived in Medora that he'd like to go "up there". Anita agreed, but was a little intimidated by the climb. It all worked out fine and we both felt good about having done the hike. The hike is described as: For the best view of Medora, nothing beats the Point to Point Trails. Lovingly built directly into the stunning bluffs that overlook the town, the trail offers outdoor lovers a chance to go “over, under, through — but never around,” in the words of Theodore Roosevelt.
This is what Steve saw and said "I'd like to go up there"...
You can't really see but there were cable ladders and switchbacks
Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Another cable ladder, but almost there...
Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Friendship Circle at the top of Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Info Board at top of Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Info Board at top of Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Info Board at top of Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
Harold Schafer was telling his son Ed what he wanted to do and Ed's response was
"There's nothing there"
Top of Point to Point Trail downtown Medora ND August 2023
View from the top of Point to Point Trail (Friendship Circle) downtown Medora ND August 2023
While in North Dakota site seeing and reading so much about native American history, Anita had a "moment". It was something Anita's never really thought about, but the "Dakotas" are Indian names. Steve has mentioned before that Iowa is an Indian name too, so curiosity took over and it turns out after a brief Internet search, that 27 states have names that came from Native American origins! That would be a good trivia question.
On August 15th, we saw the Medora Musical. Their website describes the show as follows:
THE MEDORA MUSICAL - THE GREATEST SHOW IN THE WEST
A little history. A little humor. A whole lot of Western spirit. Experience the ultimate Country Western Music Revue in Medora, ND! This live outdoor spectacle showcases a variety of music favorites – from Dolly to disco.
It’s good old-fashioned family fun with thrilling variety acts, live horses on stage, a firework finale and new twists each summer. All while celebrating the history of Medora, Teddy Roosevelt, and the historic American West.
We found the whole experience to be very well managed. The venue has 2800 seats and there were probably 2000 people the night we were there. Anita was a little worried when she saw the line for the dinner, but it really moved along quickly, and there was even a live performer singing while we waited. We had to take pictures of the steaks on pitchforks! The steak was actually good too! The show itself has wonderful performers who sing, dance and play instruments; and it's all well choreographed with several costume changes. It was a hot night the night we were there and we commented that it must be hard to change their jeans with all the sweat. The musical was started in 1965 by Harold Schafer, one the the honorees of the show. Each summer the show changes, but it always honors Teddy Roosevelt, Antoine de Vallombrosa (the Marquis de Mores), and Harold Schafer. At our campground, we'd hear the fireworks every night, but the night we went we saw too! It was a fun night!
Before dinner and the show we walked around the grounds Medora North Dakota August 2023
Before dinner and the show we walked around the grounds Medora North Dakota August 2023
Before dinner and the show we walked around the grounds Medora North Dakota August 2023
Before dinner and the show we walked around the grounds Medora North Dakota August 2023
Before dinner and the show we walked around the grounds Medora North Dakota August 2023
Pitchfork Steak Fondue at the Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Pitchfork Steak Fondue at the Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Just before the show, this guy showed up Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
During Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
During Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
During Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
During Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Closing Song Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
Medora Musical Medora North Dakota August 2023
A couple of days before we were to leave, we decided to drive into Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) one more time to see the sunset.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Wild Turkeys at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Wild Horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Sunset at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
While we were driving through the park to see the sunset, we saw a couple of short trails we wanted to hike before leaving. We only had one more day to do that, so on August 17th, we hiked the Wind Canyon Trail and the Boicourt Trail. Neither trail was long (.4 miles each), but both headed up. The views were great! We went after lunch, since in the morning we walked around the town of Medora one last time and saw another production put on by the Medora Foundation. It was a little show teaching camping safety and of course mentioning Teddy Roosevelt. Bully! (Roosevelt used the word bully as an adjective meaning "superb" or "wonderful", a more common usage at that time.)
View from Wind Canyon Trail Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
View from Wind Canyon Trail Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Boicourt Trail Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota August 2023
Top of Boicourt Trail Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) Medora North Dakota
August 2023
We had a great time in Medora, but we didn't spend any time outside our camper reading a book like we usually do because of flying grasshoppers! They were everywhere! When they flew their wings looked like butterflies. In town, yellow jackets were everywhere there were flowers, and there were lots of flowers! In the national park, we were swarmed by no see 'ums the first time we tried a hike. The second week we were there, the no see 'ums were much less, but still bothersome if we stood still. Also, we would have liked to do part of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, which is 100+ miles long and runs through Medora, but the access to the trail head was on another long gravel/dirt road, so we skipped it.
In our driving around to find easier access to the Maah Daah Hey Trail, we stopped to see the Medora Cemetery, which we had seen the sign for the night before on the way to the musical. Also, next door to the Medora Musical grounds, we saw a huge construction site which will be the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, scheduled to open in 2026.
Tomorrow (18 August) we're heading to Rapid City South Dakota and we'll be staying in the campground on Ellsworth Air Force Base. We'll be there a couple of weeks. Tomorrow happens to be our anniversary! 6 years already. Time flies when you're having fun!
Happy Anniversary! Loved all the photos! Especially the walleye and Medora photos!
Stay safe! Be careful in the heat!