Medora: Badlands, History and Performing Arts

Medora combines striking landscapes with history and live performances. The town is a useful reference point for getting oriented in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park: the entrance to the South Unit is in Medora and is accessible via Interstate 94, exits 24 and 27. The South Unit Visitor Center is just beyond the park entrance.

Scenic Park Drive and the Maah Daah Hey Trail

The South Unit scenic drive begins and ends in Medora. It is 48 miles long and runs entirely within the Little Missouri Badlands. Without additional stops, the drive takes about two hours. Its length and approximate driving time provide a practical framework for this part of your trip; planned stops add to the time.

The Maah Daah Hey Trail is quite different in scale. The 144-mile trail crosses the Badlands, the Little Missouri National Grasslands, private land, and the North and South Units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Its southern route leads to Medora and continues to the Burning Coal Vein Campground.

The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their described form: the scenic park drive is a 48-mile loop that starts and ends in Medora; the Maah Daah Hey Trail is a long route through different areas designated for several activities. When planning your trip, these details can help you avoid treating a scenic drive and a trail stay as though they had the same time or distance requirements.

History in town and nearby

In the center of Medora is De Mores Memorial Park. It features a bronze statue of the Marquis de Mores, donated by his sons in 1926. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On the western edge of town, Chimney Park preserves the tall chimney of the former packing plant. It was built from locally made clay bricks; the plant building burned down in 1907.

Near Medora is Chateau de Mores, a historic house museum with 26 rooms on two floors. The house contains many original furnishings and personal belongings of the de Mores family. It is located 1/8 mile west and 1/8 mile south of Medora. The house’s history also provides the setting for History Alive!: The 20-minute monologues combine theater and history and are based on original letters, diaries and other documents. They are presented on weekends from June through August on the porch of Chateau de Mores near Medora.

The sites have different historical connections: the donated statue in Memorial Park commemorates the Marquis de Mores, while the chimney in Chimney Park bears witness to a former plant and the 1907 fire. The Chateau, in turn, preserves the family’s furnishings and personal belongings; History Alive! focuses on monologues based on historical documents.

Musical, fondue and golf

The Medora Musical is a live country-western music revue performed outdoors in Medora. The revue features live horses on stage and a fireworks finale. Alongside the landscape and history, it adds a clearly defined type of stage production to your itinerary.

At the Pitchfork Steak Fondue, 12-ounce steaks are cooked medium-well using a western-style fondue method. This specific preparation adds a distinctive culinary touch alongside Medora’s outdoor and cultural offerings.

The Bully Pulpit Golf Course is also part of the recreational offering associated with Medora. Its course winds through Badlands meadows and wooded areas, along the Little Missouri River and from one mesa to the next. The topics described here already show the different sides of a trip: a drive through the Badlands, long trail routes, historic sites, a music revue, a distinctive steak dish and a golf course set in changing landscapes.

For the broader travel overview: Billings County.