Medora and North Dakota Impressions
As some of you know, a “sub plot” to this trip was my venturing into deep red America and seeing if I could have conversations with these other Americans. Being shy, it has not been easy, but I thought I had my golden opportunity at the Pitchfork fondue steak dinner before the Medora Musical that I attended. Waited in line and had dinner with two nice women from very rural far NE North Dakota. (Look up Langdon, pop. 2101.) High school teachers in schools that graduate 35 for one and 2 for the other. I soon moved the conversation to politics and they talked about the very old, tired legislators that pass a law every session trying to require the 2 state universities to play each other in football. Like there was nothing more important to do? Seizing my opportunity, I warily commented that at least they were not legislating stuff about women ‘s bodies. (Which is probably not true, but…..) Well, that opened the conversation further. Turns out they read the NY Times, and listen to their podcasts and love the fact that they have French exchange students and what they learn from them. So, my search for red America continues, but I left that evening feeling better about things.
Many National Parks have these gateway towns like Medora here. This one seems to be quite different. Not only is in clean and thematically valid, it is sort of run as a fully connected community. None of the business have their own web sites, all are instead part of Medora.com. There you can book everything from lodging to tours, to dining and of course the Medora Musical.
The Medora Musical is famous around here and for good reason. Fabulous setting carved into a hillside, nice stage and first class facilities. It is uplifting, corny, funny, and well done. Look at the last shot I got of the finale. The audience is pumped up, happy and then, out of nowhere, the view of the white cowboy on the white horse. I mean, totally over the top, but fun.
And, growing up in Indiana, we took pride in how friendly we were. I have to say ND people might be even friendlier!
My view from the dining area at the Pitchfork Steak Fondue.
The 2017 Burning Hills singers.
The Finale. Yes, that is a real person on a real white horse.
I discovered Medora by accident while moving my brother to Michigan a few weeks ago. I’ve traveled back and forth across this country no less than 10 times before and I don’t know how I missed it. I expected a mini Jackson Hole or something. To my surprise, it’s perfect the way it is – still real and not over the top. Coming from Seattle, I wanted a cup of coffe in the afternoon. The only place I could find one was in the ice-cream parlor and the woman there had to make a new pot for me. She commented on how many people wanted coffee later in the day. “Must be colder than I thought outside”, she commented. Strange as it may seem, I felt like I escaped from homogenized America and back to a real place with it’s own character.