Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Medora, N. Dakota

This stop kept us busy for the duration of our stay. One instance where the hype did not meet our expectations was Deadwood. This town was filled with mini-casinos in each store. It should have been nicknamed the mini Vegas of the Dakotas. This town fell short of our expectations.

The national park has a south and north part to it. Our campground, Boots Campground, was closer to the south. Our ride to the south side included spottings of feral horses and some turkeys. The smell of sage bushes was prominent as we stopped to take pictures. The north side had a detour which was a 60-mile car ride to get there. The north side held more appeal for us. The terrain was more impressive as the hills were more majestic, and the terrain varied.

The town of Medora impressed us with how proud they were to celebrate Theodore Roosevelt. The Medora Musical was held in a stunning amphitheater with a tribute to the president and his accomplishments. It was an excellent way to spend the evening. We had a unique experience when the Town Hall Theater presented an evening with President and Mrs. Roosevelt. On stage were two actors portraying the Roosevelts sharing their life stories. I learned more about President Roosevelt during that short time than I had in my school years. Afterward, they answered questions from the audience, and it was as if the people they were portraying came alive. Their knowledge was impressive. The town was small but had the feel of a bygone era.

Our last hike was to the Petrified Forest. We had never been to one, and it was interesting to see how wood can morph into stone. The wood in wet sediment takes 5,000 to 10,0000 years to turn to stone.

This was a much enjoyed stop, and we would suggest a visit if ever in the area.

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