Nobody had any idea it would grow to what it is today, though. Each year, Medora draws thousands of history buffs and vacationing families aspiring to get a feel for the Old West. As the sun sets, enjoy a steak dinner cooked to perfection over a pitchfork fondue, and end the day at the famous Medora Musical , an old-fashioned variety show that Schafer believes makes Medora one of the top tourist attractions in North Dakota. Other attractions include horseback riding, a driving range, shopping, the Cavalry Colors Ceremony and storytelling. And beside the ruins of the old meatpacking plant is the entrance to the South Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, as the park has been called since 1978.
Accommodations range from modern to historic.
In close proximity to where Roosevelt and the marquis lived, is the Rough Riders Hotel. The original structure was built in 1885, then torn down and reconstructed in the 1960s. Another option for history buffs is the T.R. Cabin, a reproduction of the cabin built by Roosevelt on his Maltese Cross Ranch. It's available from Memorial Day through Labor Day. There are modern motels, too, and a campground nearby.