We Made It to the Badlands

8.26.2023

Medora, ND

Mileage: 2523

After our first night of chilly sleep under blankets (love this!) we got up early.  We couldn't leave Jamestown, ND without seeing The Largest Buffalo in the World.  It is a typical 1950's tourist attraction, but kinda a must do!  

Our first bison sighting.

Speaking of Roadside Attractions this is The Largest Cow in the World.  We didn't stop for this one.

The Enchanted Highway parallels 94.  It is a road with many large sculptures.  We didn't take it, but if you ever come here you might want to!

Our first views of the Badlands of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  We are staying in Medora, ND which is really in the middle of no where.  The closest city of any size, Rapid City, SD is 6 hours away.  We are 8 hours from Minneapolis, MN.  

Don't look at how dirty both vehicles are!  We have been on a lot of dirt roads lately!  DO look at the beautiful rocks in the background.

From our camp site we can see some of the dramatic hills.

I think this view of Google Maps is fascinating.  There is such a clear line from the prairie to the start of the badlands.  I always think of pioneers moving west only to come against such a dramatic change in landscape.

After getting settled we went back to the Painted Canyon Visitors Center for Theodore Roosevelt National Park.  The scenery is amazing there!  

In the picture above is our first sighting of a wild bison.  It is a tiny dot in the upper left corner of the green space in the center of the picture.

The vistas are much too big to be captured with a picture so I took a few videos for you to enjoy.

We enjoyed a ranger talk about the bison, prairie dog, and elk populations in the park.  The bison and elk are thriving.  The prairie dogs are struggling.  After chatting with a ranger and making a plan to see both parts of the National Park tomorrow we went back to the RV to rest a bit before our evening adventure.

We started with the Pitchfork Steak Fondue. After a huge and delicious meal we enjoyed the Medora Musical.  It tells the story of Medora and the founding of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and a bit of Teddy Roosevelt's story.  Did you know that his wife and mother died on the same day?

The venue for both of these sat on top of a hill.  The views were amazing.

Steaks stacked on pitchforks ready to be fondued.

The big black vats in the background are what the steaks are fondued in.

The flags of all branches of the military.

Still photography doesn't do the view justice, so here are two videos to help give an idea of how vast it is.  I tried my new gimbal with these so I hope they are a bit more stable than when I video by hand.

As the sun went down we went to the Medora Musical.  It was a good production which told the story of the town.  There are some very talented folks out here!

Here is a picture of Comet impatiently waiting for us to return home.