Auditions are coming up at the end of January, don’t miss your chance to star in the Greatest Show in the West, the Medora Musical! Performed live and outside 100 nights in a row this western musical complete with history, live animals, fireworks, and some good ‘
(Continuing with our peek into the correspondence files between Harold and Antoine “Tony” de Vallombrosa, grandson of the Marquis and Medora de Mores, after Harold had purchased the Marquis family’s holdings in Medora. Here’s an exchange of letters from 1963. Try to imagine Harold onstage as Teddy Roosevelt!)
Dear Friend Harold,
I cannot let the New Year in without sending you my best wishes as my past year’s trip to Bismarck and Medora was for me one of the highlights of 1962—it was greatly so thanks to you and your understanding.
Here I am thousands of miles away and yet frequently I think of you as the greatest optimist I have ever met. This was confirmed by reading very completely the 20th anniversary Gold Seal Report. (Harold had mailed Tony a copy of his company’s full-color 20th anniversary report.)
So whenever I feel depressed and need a good example I think to myself all I need is a little more will power.
I have been exercising plenty to get back in shape but the going is still rough—circulatory problems and varicose veins are difficult to eliminate.
I hope you are in good shape. I enjoyed visiting your horse ranch and your hospitality. I was sorry not to see your New York associates and expect to reach them next time. Knowing you are obviously continuously coming with new ideas and making constructive use of them, I would very much appreciate hearing more about your fabulous Gold Seal Co. Also if any major activities around Medora and the Badlands are being considered I would enjoy keeping up with what is going on. Hoping this long letter is not boring you. I feel again sorry not to have been able to personally thank all the very kind people I met in Bismarck.
Very sincerely,
Antoine de Vallombrosa
Dear Friend Antoine,
I was in Medora and worked all day Monday this week. Among other things I find out that I own the original little home your grandfather lived in before he built the chateau. We got to checking and it has the old square nails on the siding and is still standing exactly where it was, on the north side of the Rough Riders Hotel. I am thinking of ripping off a few lean-to sheds that have been built on it and preserving it as a historical unit. (Note: eventually this building became the little white Bake Shop, which sat beside the old Rough Riders Hotel for many years, and has now been converted to a guest house just down the street to the south of the Hotel.)
The drama, Teddy Roosevelt’s Life in North Dakota, is starting the 26th of June in the Burning Hills Amphitheater. Please keep in mind our past conversation and some summer when you have nothing to do and want a little excitement, spend a few weeks with me in Medora – you play the part of your grandfather and I’ll play the part of Teddy Roosevelt, or one of the cattle rustlers – I think it would be fun. I gave your name to Mr. and Mrs. Andre Richard who plan to visit in France in the next week or two. Andre is the manager of our Andre Richard Division of the Gold Seal Company in New York City. If they happen to be anywhere near you, they may give you a call.
Sincerely yours,
Harold Schafer
Originally published in Inspired Women Magazine.
Women of Medora features inspiring women who have made an impact on the world through their time living and working in Medora.
Candice Lively Wollan may be a Tennessee girl at heart, but North Dakotans have warmly claimed her as one of their own since she began performing as a Burning Hills Singer in the Medora Musical in 2009. (In fact, when the Musical rolled out a newly penned song about North Dakota in 2011, Candice was chosen to sing the ballad night after night—if every single North Dakotan who heard her sing “Always North Dakota” didn’t get a little choked up and want to invite her home for a hotdish dinner, then I don’t know what’s wrong with them…)
This is an expert from local Medora author, Rolff Sletten’s book, Medora: Boom, Bust, and Resurrection. It goes into detail on the shooting of Cowboy, Riley Luffsey. Read More »
Medora, ND) – The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation announced today the return of fan-favorite show, A Magical Medora Christmas! This year the show will travel to four states performing 30 shows in 24 communities. A Magical Medora Christmas features past and present stars of the Medora Musical. Starring in this year’s tour is former host of the Medora Musical and “Queen of the West”, Emily Walter, Broadway stars Jared Mason, and Job Christenson, musician Chad Willow, and the host of the show, Bill Sorensen bringing the spirit of Christmas to audiences through his gift of humor, magic and love. Read More »
Christmas is our favorite holiday!
There’s a ton of fun fall activities in Medora right now, including our upcoming Wild West Fright Fest and more!
But we love Christmas so much that we’re jumping ahead to announce that we’re having three week’s worth of events this Holiday season.
Touring November 24 – December 22 | Plus Christmas Stay & Play Packages for the Medora stop of the tour
More than 30 shows in 24 communities plus an exclusive Magical Medora Christmas weekend when the tour comes to Medora on November 30 and December 1. Tickets go on sale October 15!
Tour schedule, ticket and package info here.
December 7 – 9
Live music with a community dinner, eats on the streets, a veteran’s event and more!
Learn more about how we plan to celebrate Christmas western-style here.
December 15
Be bold and brave the cold during the coolest mountain bike race this side of the Little Missouri River!
The creators of the famous Maah Daah Hey 100 bring you this winter fatbiking event in heart of the winter Badlands — and, oh yeah, there’s a race for those of you on Naughty and the Nice List.
Learn more about the Bold St. Nick’s Winter Fatbike Race here.
Originally published in Inspired Women Magazine.
Women of Medora features inspiring women who have made an impact on the world through their time living and working in Medora.
If you stop out at Medora’s Bully Pulpit Golf Course on a September afternoon, you’ll notice a few things.
First, the summer tourist season doesn’t appear to be over in the least, with a full parking lot, bustling pro shop, and shiny, scoria-colored golf carts zipping around almost every breathtaking hole. (While the famed Medora Musical wraps up the second weekend of September, Bully Pulpit keeps hosting golfers until late October, or until the snow flies—whichever comes first.)
Second, if you’re looking for golf shop manager Kathy Solga, you may have to get in line, as it seems just about everyone on the course knows her and wants to give her a warm hello. But don’t worry—not only will she be happy to take time to visit, she’ll make you feel like you are the only person in the room.
(Medora, ND) – The summer season in Medora comes to its wonderful conclusion this Saturday and Sunday when the Medora Musical wraps up September 8 and the Medora Gospel Brunch closes on September 9.
In celebration of finale weekend, TRMF has invited First Responders (police, fire fighters, etc.) and EMS personnel to see the Medora Musical for FREE on either September 7 or September 8.
TRMF marketing and communications specialist, Daniel Gannarelli says, “We’re excited to host First Responders and EMS personnel for free during the last two Medora Musical performances of the year. They serve us so well in their respective capacities. It’s the least we could do.”
Gannarelli continued, “The end of the year is always an exciting time in Medora. It’s fun to serve guests from all over the world who are trying to take in one more show — whether it’s seeing A TR Salute to Medora at the Old Town Hall Theater, the Medora Gospel Brunch or, most typically, catching one more Medora Musical at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre.
Finale weekend in Medora will also feature the 15th Annual Medora Hot Air Balloon Rally and Kite Fest September 7 – 9. This traditional event that brings in photographers and guests from across the region to view the mesmerizing spectacle.
The fun continues after the season finale of the Medora Musical, too.
Bully Pulpit Golf Course remains open through most of the month of October, and enthusiasts can enjoy the Maah Daah Hey Trail and activities in Theodore Roosevelt National Park all year. Additionally, a full schedule of family-friendly events is planned for folks to enjoy the Badlands throughout the fall and winter season.
Many of the events coming from suggestions from guests in Medora, the schedule of entertainment and events is as follows:
The Fall and Winter events schedule is as follows:
Gannarelli concluded by saying, “These fall and winter events are the highlights. But folks from all over come to Medora in the fall to explore TR National Park without the crowds… or play Bully Pulpit when it’s at its prettiest.”
“In the winter, many love to snow shoe, cross country ski, ride fat bikes on the manicured trails at Bully Pulpit. With this entertainment lineup added to the mix, there really is more to explore in Medora than ever before.”
Guest can get more information about Medora’s fall and winter events schedule — and purchase tickjets for the Medora shows remaining this summer — at Medora.com.
The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation is wonderfully-pleased to announce the first ever recipient of a fully sponsored trip to Medora, John Wright, will experience the Badlands and more this weekend, August 31 – September 2, thanks to a new fund created by TRMF supporters called The Medora Wish Endowment.
