Cass: Discover Culture, Nature, and History

Cass brings together destinations in the county with cultural and natural sites in the surrounding region. When looking for a hotel, it may help to choose the focus of your trip first: Bonanzaville and the county park at Brewer Lake are in Cass County; other museums, gardens, parks, and event venues add to the regional selection.

Destinations in Cass County

Bonanzaville, USA is in Cass County, just outside West Fargo. Bonanzaville currently offers four walking tours.

The county park at Brewer Lake offers RV sites with water and electrical hookups, as well as tent sites. Amenities also include restrooms with showers, a swimming area, and a boat ramp. Those planning a trip around camping and activities on the water will find these different facilities in one place.

Culture and experiences in the surrounding region

The Fargo Air Museum combines exhibits with flight simulators. Its two hangars feature aircraft ranging from a Wright brothers’ plane to an unmanned MQ-1 Predator. The main hangar has four flight simulator stations, and visitors can choose from more than 30 different aircraft. Virtual reality is available as an optional addition, along with real-time weather and air traffic. Guests can also climb into the cockpit area of a UH-1H Huey, registration #67-17406.

The Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity offers 25,000 square feet of space where the community can create art, not just view it. The Fargo Theatre offers another way to experience culture: built in 1926 as a cinema and vaudeville theater, it screens independent and foreign films and hosts concerts and other live events. In Downtown Fargo, the Plains Art Museum, the Fargo Theatre, and the street murals are among the main destinations for art, architecture, and photography.

The Plains Art Museum is located on the banks of the Wakpa Sha, also known as Kitchi-ziibi and the Red River. For many Indigenous nations, the river was an important trade and transportation route for many thousands of years. This history of the river adds a long historical perspective to the museum’s contemporary art and cultural offerings.

Nature, gardens, and wildlife

The Northern Plains Botanic Garden consists of four gardens: Edible Forest, Children's Garden, Japanese Garden, and Woodland Garden. The four names reflect the different focuses within the garden. In the region surrounding Cass County, the Red River Zoo focuses primarily on species from regions with climates similar to North Dakota’s; species from North America, northern Asia, and northern Europe are especially well represented.

The Red River Zoo’s Children's Zoo Farm is home to heritage livestock breeds. It teaches children where food comes from and why biodiversity matters. The zoo was built and opened to the public in May 1999. The themed animal areas and the farm’s educational content offer different perspectives on animals and their habitats.

In the region surrounding Cass County, the Heritage Hills Loop park and trail are situated in a bend of the Red River of the North. The many trees there provide habitat for a variety of bird species. The Rendezvous Loop connects to trails leading to Eagle Run Park and 40th Avenue West Park. Both examples show how nature areas and trails can be included in trip planning as distinct regional destinations.

History and practical information

The Maple Creek Crossing State Historic Site commemorates a creek crossing that was important to travelers before a bridge was built. The site is therefore about more than one place: it also highlights the earlier importance of crossings to travel.

The Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Centers provide information about attractions in Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. One of the centers has an electric vehicle charging station. Check the station’s availability and any fees before setting out.

Whether you want to plan your stay around history, art, wildlife, or trails, the destinations have distinctly different focuses. Use these differences to plan a trip to Cass and the surrounding region that suits you.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Page, Fargo, West Fargo, Casselton, Mapleton, Burleigh County, Walsh, Lamoure County.

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