This Mini Cowboy Town Boasts Pitchfork Steaks, a Golf Course, and Roosevelt Heritage in North Dakota Badlands

Medora, North Dakota

Tiny Medora packs serious Wild West charm into this town of less than 200 people.

This living tribute to Teddy Roosevelt sits at the entrance to his namesake national park, complete with nightly musicals in a stunning outdoor amphitheater.

Founded by a French nobleman who lost his fortune here, modern Medora serves up pitchfork steaks, cowboy charm, and the rugged Badlands scenery that helped shape a future president.

Town’s Heritage Center Honors the Man Who Saved Medora

Start your journey at the visitor center of this downtown museum where you’ll learn how this historic town evolved over the past six decades.

Harold Schafer (made his fortune with products like Mr. Bubble), worked toward saving this town in the 1960s from becoming obscure.

His multi-million-dollar gift founded the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, which now operates many of the town’s attractions.

Personal items like photos and letters, including planning documents, illustrate Schafer’s evolving vision to transform Medora into a premier tourist destination.

Open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM seven days a week during tourist season with free admission, the center welcomes everyone interested.

Billings County Courthouse Museum Preserves Frontier Government

This historic courthouse building is located centrally in Medora’s historic district, dating back to the town’s early days.

Court documents and legal records on display reveal how frontier justice evolved, from territorial days through statehood and beyond.

It further details Medora’s transformation from a cattle town to a tourist destination, providing visual evidence spanning more than 140 years.

The Marquis Built His Dream House at Chateau de Mores

French nobleman Antoine de Vallombrosa (aka the Marquis de Mores) built this impressive summer home for his family in 1883.

Now it features original furniture and personal belongings. Behind the main house, there’s the horse pen, stable, root cellar, and carriage house.

Don’t miss the “Rails, Ranching and Riches” exhibit, showcasing a scaled-down refrigerator car and the original Deadwood stagecoach.

In summer 2025, the Chateau is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Off-season hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Roosevelt’s Actual Ranch Cabin Sits Preserved

Learn about Theodore Roosevelt’s North Dakota life by visiting his original Maltese Cross Cabin which was built during winter of 1883 to 84.

Also his first ranch headquarters in Dakota Territory, it was originally located seven miles south of Medora along the Little Missouri River.

Measuring roughly 18 by 30 feet, the period furnishings inside recreate Roosevelt’s “adventure, healing, and inspiration,” experience.

The ponderosa pine logs have dovetailed corners and chinked gaps that would later withstand the harsh Dakota weather.

Self-guided tours are available year-round, with ranger-led tours in the summer.

Von Hoffman House Lets You Time-Travel

The Medora Doll House is a historic brick home that showcases how the wealthy lived on the frontier in the 1880s.

Baron and Mrs. Von Hoffman (parents of Medora Vallambrosa, wife of the Marquis de Mores) built this elegant house in 1884.

Peter Book crafted this building with common-bond brick construction which is most unusual for 1880s western North Dakota.

Inside, the high-quality woodwork in the furniture reflects the craftsmanship accessible to wealthy frontier families, despite Medora’s remote location.

Located at Broadway and 5th Street in downtown Medora, you can easily include it in a walking tour of the town’s historic district.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Badlands Await at This Park

You’ll know why Teddy Roosevelt fell in love with this park as you drive through the Wind Canyon Trail for some epic views of the Little Missouri River.

Prairie dog towns pop up everywhere, and there’s a chance you’ll spot these chatty creatures popping in and out of their burrows.

Don’t miss the South Unit’s 36-mile scenic loop drive where bison herds and feral horses roam freely against dramatic backdrops.

The park is open 24/7 year-round. A 7-day vehicle pass costs $30 in 2025, or grab an annual pass for $55 for multiple visits.

No reservations are needed to enter the park, just show up and explore. But you’ll need a free permit to camp in the backcountry.

Maah Daah Hey Trail Offers 100 Miles of Badlands

This legendary trail network connects all three units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park: the South, North, and Elkhorn Ranch Units.

Named using a Mandan Indian phrase meaning “an area that has been or will be around for a long time,” you’ll experience diverse ecosystems here.

Look for trail markers featuring the turtle symbol to guide you through remote areas that President Roosevelt once explored on horseback.

For overnight trips, you’ll find primitive campsites approximately every 10 miles along the trail, with basic facilities for backcountry travelers.

Explore the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame

This impressive 15,000-square-foot center celebrates the people who shaped North Dakota’s western identity since 1995.

The first floor showcases extensive exhibits on Lakota life, ranching history, prairie development, and bison culture.

On the second floor, exhibits honor the West’s rodeo champions. When the weather’s nice, check out the 5,000-square-foot open-air patio.

Fall 2025 visiting hours are daily from 9 am to 4 pm, except Mondays, from October 1st until the Cowboy Christmas celebration in early December.

During winter, the museum closes to general visitors, but the business office stays open Monday through Friday for special appointment viewings.

The Medora Musical Has Been Entertaining Since 1965

Every summer, the Burning Hills Amphitheatre celebrates Medora’s history and Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy in a string of performances.

The professionals here mix history with humor and high-energy musical numbers at a theatre that’s been carved into the side of a butte.

In 2025, the Medora Musical celebrates its 60th anniversary with enhanced productions honoring its long history while adding fresh elements for returning visitors.

If you have hearing impairments, they’ve got you covered with hearing loops and you can arrange for interpreter services by calling ahead.

The show runs nightly from early June through mid-September, starting as the sun begins to set and ending under a canopy of stars.

Bring History to Life at Old Town Hall Theater

This intimate 200-seat venue in downtown Medora hosts summer shows where talented performers portray Theodore Roosevelt.

The theater serves as home to the annual Badlands Chautauqua, reviving an educational tradition popular during Roosevelt’s time.

After shows, performers often meet with audience members in the lobby, creating personal connections that enhance your historical understanding.

Don’t miss “A Theodore Roosevelt Show” featuring Joe Wiegand, who demonstrates his encyclopedic knowledge of Roosevelt’s connections to all fifty states.

For a different perspective, catch “T.R. – The Strenuous Life” performed by historian Kurt Skinner, offering another interpretation of the influential president.

Pitchfork Steaks Amidst a Badlands View

You haven’t experienced true Western dining until you’ve 12-ounce steaks speared on actual pitchforks and dipped into large vats of oil.

Running since the 1960s, the Pitchfork Steak Fondue still upholds the tradition with period costumes that just add to the historical vibe.

It’s right next to the Amphitheatre. Your steak comes with a buffet of baked beans, potatoes, coleslaw, fresh vegetables, and fruit salad.

Live music plays while you eat, and most folks combine dinner here with the Medora Musical afterward for a complete wrap.

For the 60th anniversary in 2025, they’re offering special packages with the Medora Musical, including commemorative events July 1-3.

Bully Pulpit Golf Course Offers World-Class Golf

Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, a renowned golf architect, this spot is ranked among America’s top public golf courses.

The course’s distinctive back nine features holes 14 through 16 known as “The Badlands Holes,” where you’ll navigate through rugged formations.

The club offers regular amenities while the course remains open from April through October, a good mix of nature and sport in one place.

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