This Small North Dakota Town Has The Best Downtown

For a town with only 150 residents and barely half a square mile in size, Medora sure has a heck of a lot going for it. Situated between the Badlands of North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, hundreds of thousands of visitors turn up every summer to explore downtown Medora, making it the state’s top tourist destination.

While these days folks are attracted by the town’s carefully curated mix of history and entertainment, its early days were no less colorful. Founded in 1883 by French nobleman Antoine de Vallombrosa and named after his wife, Medora played a key role in the state’s early cattle industry and soon drew the attention of investors and entrepreneurs from the East Coast.

Medora's Presidential Connection

Among them was a 24-year-old New York politician named Theodore Roosevelt. Here to hunt bison before the great herds disappeared, Roosevelt immediately fell in love with the Badlands. He liked it so much, in fact, that he bought the nearby Maltese Cross Ranch. After the devastating loss of both his mother and wife (they died on the same day in February 1884), he returned to the area and established a second operation, the Elkhorn Ranch. Both ranches are now part of the national park named after him.

While the region’s cattle industry had mostly declined by the late 1880s, Roosevelt’s time in North Dakota was instrumental in shaping the American conservation movement, influencing the establishment of national parks like Theodore Roosevelt National Park — a legacy that continues to be reflected in Medora’s status as a popular tourist destination.

The Rough Riders Hotel

Today, a walk around downtown Medora will leave you feeling like you’ve traveled back in time to the Roosevelt years, especially around the Rough Riders Hotel. Established in 1884 to serve a hoped-for beef boom, the Metropolitan, as it was originally called, passed through several owners before being named after the cavalry unit Roosevelt led during the Spanish-American War.

The hotel’s connection to America’s 26th president and his time in Medora is especially evident in its public spaces. Not only does its lobby feature a large stone hearth, tin-tiled ceilings, and the dark wood paneling that wouldn’t look out of place in the mid-1800s, it’s also home to a large collection of books by and about Theodore Roosevelt.

The hotel’s food and drink experiences are another clue as to the high regard in which the former president is held here. Theodore’s Dining Room is a cozy eatery with a real brick fireplace and stained-glass windows that has even been featured on the Food Network, while TR’s Tavern serves craft cocktails and local beers on tap.

Medora’s Cowboy Culture

You’ll find another important downtown Medora attraction, an easy two-block walk from the hotel: the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame. Encompassing all things cowboy, a special emphasis is placed on the importance of horses in the old West, from cattle herding and rustling right up to modern-day rodeos.

Fascinating exhibits also tell the story of North Dakota’s Native Americans, as well as the epic journeys westward along what became known as the Great Western Trail. Be sure to also spend some time enjoying the views from the attraction’s outdoor patio with its superb views of the Little Missouri River and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The Man Who Saved Medora

Arguably as important a figure in downtown Medora’s story as Roosevelt, Harold Schafer played a huge role in preserving and building upon the town’s history. This North Dakota-born businessman felt drawn to preserve what was, by the mid-1960s, very nearly a ghost town.

After renovating and reopening the Rough Riders Hotel in 1965, he turned his attention to establishing the famous Medora Musical. Staged throughout the summer months, this must-see show is performed in the Burning Hills Amphitheater, which was built into the side of a butte across the Little Missouri River just a short distance from downtown. The musical has been seen by more than 4 million people, according to the official website of Medora.

After retiring, Schafer used his substantial Medora holdings, including the hotel and musical, to establish the nonprofit Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, which now operates most of the town’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

All of which makes a visit to the Harold Schafer Heritage Center a must. Located in the heart of downtown, museum highlights include displays of Schafer’s businesses and products (he grew rich marketing bubble bath!), a recreation of his offices, as well as two short films about his life and his role in rescuing Medora from obscurity.

From Quiet Cowtown to Booming Downtown

Downtown Medora is a lot of fun to explore on foot. You can stroll along the same wooden sidewalks once common in Old West towns across North Dakota, though the storefronts now display boutique goods and souvenirs that would have likely astonished shoppers from the 1800s. Handy historic interpretation panels tell fascinating stories on the very spot you’re standing, whether it’s about the town’s deep connection to one of America’s greatest presidents, or of the man who turned a near-forgotten cow-town into North Dakota’s best downtown.