Medora – Blog

NEWS
March 22, 2012

For more information contact:
Dylan Edwards
Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
dedwards@medora.com
800-633-6721 ext. 8812

Bully Pulpit Golf Course opens nine holes Saturday

Medora, N.D. – The 2012 golf season at Bully Pulpit Golf Course, located three miles south of Medora, will kick off Saturday, March 24, with the opening of nine holes. The remaining nine holes will open later this spring.

Dave Solga, Bullly Pulpit’s general manager, says the first nine holes are in good shape and ready for the golf season. “Winter treated the course quite well, and it’s in nice shape. People are excited to get back onto the golf course. The beautiful spring weather has put us ahead of schedule, and we expect to open all 18 holes at the end of April.”

Solga assures golfers that they’ll have a unique Badlands golfing experience with the nine holes currently open. “Bully Pulpit’s signature Badlands holes – numbers 14, 15 and 16 – are included in the holes available for play. So, golfers can anticipate experiencing a top-notch, challenging game Bully Pulpit is nationally known to provide.”

Golfers can book their tee time online at www.medora.com or by calling 800-633-6721. Walk-ons also are available, but reservations are preferred and recommended.

For more information about Bully Pulpit Golf Course, its rate and vacation packages, visit: www.medora.com/bully-pulpit.

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About Bully Pulpit Golf Course

Designed by world renowned golf course architect, Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Bully Pulpit is nestled in the rugged buttes and vistas of the North Dakota Badlands, just south of Medora, N.D. This 18-hole golf course has been nationally recognized by the likes of Golf Digest, GOLF magazine, and The Links. Bully Pulpit features five tees, ranging in length from a comfortable 4,750 total yards from the forward tees to a challenging 7,166 at the tips. www.medora.com/bully-pulpit

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
PO Box  7
Medora, ND 58645
701-623-4466 phone
701-623-4840 fax

www.nps.gov/throTheodore Roosevelt National Park News Release

Immediate Release
Eileen Andes, 701-623-4466
Date: March 28, 2012

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Announces Spring Visitor Center Hours

Beginning April 1, spring visitor center hours will be in effect at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The South Unit Visitor Center is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT.  Barring unforeseen inclement weather, the Painted Canyon Visitor Center, located on I-94 east of Medora, will open for the season; hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT.  The North Unit Visitor Center will be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CDT.  All will be open daily, with expanded hours Memorial Day through Labor Day.

“Spring is a wonderful time to visit the park,” said Superintendent Valerie Naylor.  “We’ve had a very mild and dry winter, making the coming spring an excellent time to visit the park.  Visitors can get out into the park to hike and to see migratory birds returning to the area, and newborn animals such as bison, elk, and feral horses.”

All three park visitor centers offer information, maps of the park, audio-visual programs, and exhibits.  For further information and current road conditions, call 701-623-4466, the North Unit Visitor Center at 701-842-2333, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/thro.

-NPS-

Backcountry areas and hiking trails in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from October 18 – December 22 to accommodate the park’s elk reduction effort.  

“For safety reasons, we are closing the South Unit’s backcountry and hiking trails three days per week while teams are shooting elk in the park to reduce the herd,” said Superintendent Valerie Naylor.  “We regret having to close any portion of the park at any time.  However, this is necessary to ensure visitor safety and to enhance the effectiveness of the elk reduction teams.” 

This is the second year of the park’s elk reduction effort, which is conducted so that the backcountry areas and trails in the South Unit are open Friday – Monday when visitation is highest.  The South Unit’s roads and overlooks, as well as Cottonwood Campground, will be open daily. The four front-country trails in the South Unit – Buck Hill, Wind Canyon, Ridgeline Nature Trail, and Coal Vein Trail – will also remain open. 

The elk reduction is starting two weeks earlier this year and is ending a month earlier.  Last year’s elk management action lasted 12 weeks; this year it will be 10 weeks in length.  No entrance fees will be charged in the South Unit on the days when the backcountry areas are closed. 

“This change in schedule should maximize efficiency of the elk management effort and minimize disruption to park visitors,” said Naylor.  “The North Unit and Elkhorn Ranch Unit are not affected by the elk reduction effort, and we encourage hikers to enjoy those areas this fall.” 

As part of a multi-year elk reduction, five National Park Service team leaders and up to 4 volunteers per team work together to reduce the elk population with firearms.  Elk meat is packed out of the park and donated to North Dakota American Indian Tribes, Sportsmen Against Hunger through North Dakota Community Action, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGFD).  The NDGFD donates some of the meat back to the volunteers who assisted with the elk reduction effort.

North Dakota’s Medora Musical has been named a Top 100 Event for 2012 by the American Bus Association. ABA member Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation submitted the musical for consideration. The ABA’s Top 100 Events in North America is a comprehensive list of what the ABA recommends for group travel in United States and Canada. This prestigious list includes winners from hundreds of celebrations, festivals, commemorative events and fairs. ABA members nominate events and a panel of judges considers many factors prior to making the final selection.

Judges review the event’s wide appeal to motorcoach and tour groups, plus its proximity to other attractions that allow operators to create a package. They look to see that the event has adequate motorcoach parking and group accommodations and that it is the finest event that the area has to offer group travelers.

The National Park Service plans to implement prescribed fire projects in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit starting on September 14.  Prescribed fires are those started by park managers under specific weather and fuel conditions for a particular purpose.  Air temperature, humidity, fuel load and moisture, and wind speed and direction are some of the many factors considered in determining whether conditions are favorable to start a burn. 

“We have been waiting for the right conditions to conduct these prescribed fires,” said Superintendent Valerie Naylor.  “Fire is a natural process that contributes to the maintenance and health of prairie ecosystems within the park.  National Park Service policy stresses managing fire for resource benefits rather than merely suppressing it.”

Two separate areas are expected to be burned, totaling approximately 1,200 to 2,200 acres. One burn area is near the Longhorn Flats Pullout and the other is west of River Bend Overlook, in the park’s Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Area between the Little Missouri River and the scenic tour road.  The primary objective of the burns is to restore fire to parts of the landscape that have historically been subject to natural, periodic wildfire.  The topography includes numerous clay buttes, moist drainages, and areas of bare ground which provide natural firebreaks.  These help firefighters contain the fire to desired areas and avoid impacts to fire sensitive vegetation and culturally important sites.  The burn prescription, fire behavior, and site conditions will result in a only fraction of the area actually being burned. This mosaic of burned and unburned areas is an outcome expected in a naturally occurring fire.

Research has shown that native grassland diversity and forage quality deteriorate when fire is excluded from natural fire dependent systems for extended periods of time.  Fires of appropriate intensity transform dead plant material into soil nutrients and increase the amount of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, encouraging plant and animal diversity across the landscape.  The variety and health of plants and animals found at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is partially the result of past fire activity. 

Local fire departments and law enforcement agencies have been notified and signs will be placed along the road and at park visitor centers to notify the public.  National Park Service personnel will be assisted by other federal land management agencies and cooperating organizations to safely carry out the prescribed burns.

Information will be available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/thro.  In addition, an excellent source of fire information specific to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Northern Great Plains can be found at www.nps.gov/ngpfire/thro.htm.

Summer may be winding down, but the activities in Medora are still underway. Admire hot air balloons flying over the Badlands, enjoy live music, take in the Medora Musical or cheer on rodeo participants. For more information about these September events or others, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation at 1-800-MEDORA-1 or visit www.medora.com/events. 

Through September 10

Aloft

Nightly at the Medora Musical

Aloft is an internationally-renowned collective of aerial and circus artists dedicated to providing awe-inspiring and memorable performances. Founded by Shayna Swanson in 2005, with the acclaimed full length show “Rolling Backouts,” Aloft put an innovative spin on traditional circus acts, creating art that spilled over with beauty, wonder and solid storytelling. Since then Aloft has created three more full length productions, Dinner of Our Discontent, The Silentest Movie and Science of Heart. In 2008 Aloft began producing a monthly cabaret show, El Circo Cheapo Cabaret, which has sold out each performance over the last three years and gone on a highly successful nationwide tour. Aloft’s performers are highly trained, visionary professionals who leave spectators breathless, even as they inject a level of humanity into their performance that audiences can’t forget. 

 September 2

Greg Hager performs live on the Chuckwagon Patio

North Dakota’s own Greg Hager performs original music with Old Western cowboy flavor.

 September 3-4

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame Barrel Race

Ranchorama Rodeo Grounds

For more information about this event, contact Kenda Berger at 701-226-3024 or Marcella Johnson at 701-226-3145.

 September 3-4

Greg Hager performs live on the patio at the Chateau de Mores Interpretive Center

North Dakota’s own Greg Hager performs original music with Old Western cowboy flavor.

 September 3-4

Fireworks display after the Medora Musical

A special fireworks display will take place after the nightly performances of the Medora Musical on September 3 and 4.

 September 4

3^rd annual Wade Westin Music Fest

Enjoy performances by various artists and musical styles in a tribute and celebration of the life of Wade Westin. The concert features cast and band members of the Medora Musical and other North Dakota musicians and bands, including the University of Mary Steel Drum Band and Shepherds of Harmony from Bismarck’s Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Admission is free for the concert. Proceeds will benefit the North Dakota 2011 Flood Relief Fund. The event starts at 2 p.m. MDT at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre.

 September 10

Final performance of the Medora Musical

Burning Hills Amphitheater

See the final performance of the Medora Musical as we bid a heartfelt farewell to the 2011 season. For tickets call 1-800-633-6721.

 September 10-11

Badlands Appreciation Weekend & Hot Air Balloon Rally

Visit Medora and appreciate all that the beautiful Badlands have to offer. Aside from hot air balloons, this year’s rally will feature cluster balloonist John Ninomiya from California. His cluster balloon consists of anywhere from 50 to 150 helium filled weather balloons that take up to 2 hours to fill. Launch times are September 10 at 5:30 a.m. MT and 4:40 p.m. MT, and September 11 at 5:30 a.m. Ninomiya will launch his cluster balloon during the September 10 morning launch. For more information about Ninomiya, go to: www.clusterballoon.org.

 September 17

Dakota Air: The Radio Show, featuring Paulette Carlson

Burning Hills Amphitheater

2:30 p.m. MDT

Catch the 10^th and final presentation of the show’s wildly successful inaugural season.  Dakota Air is an old-fashioned live radio variety show, featuring comedy skits and music along with local history, culture and talent.

 This show will feature the traditional and contemporary western sound of the Radio Starts Band, as well as comedy and historical storytelling of Creative Director Steve Stark and the Airheads Radio Acting Company. Stark is well known for his knowledge of and portrayal of President Theodore Roosevelt, who is so closely tied to the Badlands of North Dakota. 

 Guest stars include singer/songwriter Jesse Veeder-Scofield, columnist and cowboy poet Rodney Nelson, and The Burning Hills Singers.  Special guest star for the Dakota Air Medora show is Paulette Carlson, founder and lead singer for the chart-topping, ACM/CMA award-winning band, Highway 101.  In addition to performing in Dakota Air, (which will be broadcast live over the statewide Prairie Public network), Paulette and the Radio Stars will be performing a 45 minute concert of Paulette’s hits  immediately following the radio show

 September 17-18

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Cutting Horse Invitational

Ranchorama Rodeo Grounds

Watch as cowboys showcase their skills at this invitational. For more information contact the NDCHF at 701-623-2000.

 September 24

National Public Lands Day

Free entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. For more information contact the Theodore Roosevelt National Park at 701-623-4466.

Medora, N.D. – The sky over the North Dakota Badlands during the Badlands Appreciation Weekend Hot Air Balloon Rally may look like a scene from the Disney-Pixar movie Up. John Ninomiya of Solana Beach, Calif., plans to fly a helium cluster balloon, consisting of 80 balloons ranging in size from four to six feet during the rally scheduled for Sept. 10 and 11 in Medora. 

The Badlands Hot Air Balloon Rally will feature seven hot air balloons, in addition to Ninomiya’s cluster balloon. Unlike hot air balloons, cluster balloons don’t use a basket or hot air. In this unique form of ballooning, the pilot wears a harness to which dozens of large, helium-filled latex balloons are attached.  The pilot releases a water ballast to ascend, and bursts or releases balloons to descend.  

Ninomiya is nearing the completion of his “States of Enlightenment” project. His goal for this project is to fly a helium balloon in all 50 states; North Dakota will be his 47^th for the project. 

With more than 20 years of experience as a balloonist and more than 800 hours of flying time in hot-air balloons, Ninomiya is just one of a handful of balloonists worldwide who fly cluster balloons. He holds a commercial balloon pilot’s rating from the FAA for both hot-air and gas ballooning. 

“The North Dakota Badlands will be a perfect scenic backdrop for John’s flight in North Dakota. He couldn’t have selected a more beautiful location,” stated Randy Hatzenbuhler, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. “His cluster balloon flight will add some excitement to this year’s event, and we’re thrilled he chose the Badlands Hot Air Balloon Rally for his flight in North Dakota.” 

Ninomiya’s interest in ballooning was inspired as a child by the French film “The Red Balloon,” in which a young boy is carried into the skies over Paris by a bouquet of helium-filled toy balloons.  Ten years ago John began teaching himself to fly with helium balloon clusters.  

“It’s challenging, because it’s harder to control than a hot-air balloon,” Ninomiya says. “But there’s nothing else like it. It’s like a child’s dream of flight come true.” 

The scheduled flights during the Badlands Hot Air Balloon Rally are:

• Sept. 10 at 5:30 a.m. MT and 4:40 p.m. MT
• Sept. 11 at 5:30 a.m. MT.  

Ninomiya will attempt to fly his helium cluster balloon at the 5:30 a.m. MT launch on Sept. 10. If he’s unable to fly due to wind conditions, he’ll make another attempt at 5:30 a.m. MT on Sept. 11. 

The public is invited to watch all balloon launches, which will occur on the grass lot east of the Badlands Motel in Medora.

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Attachment: photo of John Ninomiya during his cluster balloon flight in Ashland, Ohio. 

Medora is located at the entrance to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. As North Dakota’s #1 vacation destination, Medora offers family entertainment in an Old West atmosphere. 

For more information about Medora, visit: www.medora.com.

For more information about Theodore Roosevelt National Park: www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm 

About John Ninomiya:

www.clusterballoon.org

flying@clusterballoon.org

 John Ninomiya has over twenty years of experience as a balloonist and over 800 hours of flying time in hot-air balloons. He began flying cluster balloons in 1997, under the tutelage of ballooning pioneer Don Piccard.  This unique and exciting form of ballooning, which involves flying in a harness attached to a cluster of helium-filled balloons, is practiced by only a handful of people worldwide.  

John has made over sixty cluster balloon flights, making him the world’s most experienced cluster balloon pilot.  His flights have included an ascent with oxygen to 21,000 feet, a flight off the coast of San Diego to a landing in a boat, and featured appearances at balloon festivals across the United States.  All of his flights have been conducted safely and in compliance with applicable federal aviation regulations. 

Outside of ballooning, John holds a master’s degree in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of California San Diego.  He is currently Director of Epidemiology and Health Services Research at Milliman Care Guidelines, a clinical guidelines development firm.  John lives in Solana Beach, California. 

He holds a commercial balloon pilot’s rating from the FAA for both hot-air and gas ballooning.

Burning Hills Amphitheater Wraps up 2011 Season with Statewide Radio Show, Concert

Medora, ND—Fargo production company Prairie Airwaves and the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation have announced that the monthly radio program Dakota Air: The Radio Show will be performed to a live audience in Medora at the Burning Hills Amphitheater on September 17th, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. MT, featuring Warner Brothers recording star Paulette Carlson and followed by a special concert. The 90-minute radio show preceding the concert will be aired live across Prairie Public Broadcasting’s broad radio network, and will be rebroadcast throughout the month.

Grammy nominee and CMA award-winning Carlson—known for her rise to fame as founder and lead-singer for the nationally acclaimed Highway 101 band—helped re-define the face of country music in the late 80′s with such innovative hits “Whiskey, If You Were A Woman” “The Bed You Made for Me,” “Somewhere Tonight” and “Cry, Cry, Cry.” The band won vocal group of the year honors from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association in 1988 and in 1989. Carlson and her husband split their time between homes in Montana and Nashville, TN, where she is rekindling her love of performing and songwriting.

Dakota Air: The Radio Show follows an old-fashioned radio variety format and is lead by host and executive producer Merrill Piepkorn. Piepkorn said, “This is a nice opportunity for people to extend their Medora summer experience into September — our unique live radio show followed by the concert with Paulette, all set in the beautiful badlands of North Dakota.”

Other guest performers joining the Dakota Air cast and Carlson to deliver a unique variety show include cowboy-poet Rodney Nelson and singer-songwriter Jesse Veeder Scofield. In addition, Levi and Bethany Andrist, former Burning Hills Singers star performers, will take the Medora stage once again.

Each monthly show features music by The Radio Stars—a band introduced to the nation during Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” show in Bismarck in 2009—as well as original comedy by professional acting company “The Dakota Airheads” under the creative direction of humorist and writer Steve Stark.

Tickets for this special performance and concert are $25. For show tickets, and for information about special lodging packages, and an afternoon barbeque on Tjaden Terrace, call 1-800-medora1 (1-800-633-6721) or visit www.medora.com.

Dakota Air is a live radio show that entertains, educates and inspires audiences by featuring talent from across the region while showcasing a bit of culture and history about the location from which each show originates.  In addition to Prairie Public’s radio broadcasts, the shows will also be available worldwide for playback at anytime online at www.DakotaAirTheRadioShow.com.

Corporate sponsors are Basin Electric Power Cooperative, North Dakota Farmers Union, and Gate City Bank.  Prairie Public is the radio-broadcast partner. 

Dakota Air: The Radio Show began monthly performances at locations across North Dakota in September 2010. See www.DakotaAirTheRadioShow.com for live and broadcast schedules. For more Medora show information, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation at the Medora office by calling 1-800-633-6721.

Medora, N.D. – Many summer destinations and attractions are wrapping up their season as college students leave their summer jobs to head back to campus. However, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF) is able to stay fully staffed, thanks to a combination of retired and international workers. 

TRMF has a long history of recruiting workers locally. However, North Dakota’s low unemployment rate has made it harder to find employees. As a result of this, TRMF has been creative in filling its summer positions by recruiting nationally and internationally. For the 2011 summer tourism season, the Foundation’s workforce represents 22 states and 18 countries. 

Many of the national workers are retired and travel the country, in many cases by RV, doing seasonal work. Some of the international workforce is in the U.S. as part of a college exchange program, and Medora offers a great environment for them to better their English language skills, as well as learn about customer service and business. 

“We wouldn’t be able to operate without our national and international workforce,” says Randy Hatzenbuhler, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. “Since our largest visitor season is during May-September, we’ve found that many university and high school schedules don’t match up with our busy season. This, combined with the state’s low unemployment rate, makes it tough to find enough employees locally.”  

Countries represented by workers at Medora include: Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Columbia, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Liberia, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine. 

States represented include: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. 

Having a diverse workforce adds to the work atmosphere of Medora, and ultimately it’s a win-win situation for all involved, Hatzenbuhler notes. “We enjoy having international students work in Medora. It’s a way for us to learn about other cultures, and for them to experience American culture. They also benefit by improving their English language skills. In fact, some attend English as a Second Language class twice a week while they’re here. Overall, working in Medora is a great experience for our international employees.” 

One way TRMF employees learn about each other’s culture is with Multicultural Night. This employee-only event is held near the end of the summer tourism season, and the staff is encouraged to prepare a food item from their native country or state to share with others. In addition to being able to sample food, employees share information about their country or state with co-workers. Due to its popularity amongst the staff, Multicultural Night is now an annual tradition.

Free Medora Musical tickets to flood victims; proceeds from annual Music Fest to benefit flood fund

Medora, N.D. – The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation wants to lift the spirits of North Dakotans across the state who have been battling flood issues this year by giving away free tickets to the Medora Musical and donating proceeds from the upcoming Wade Westin Music Fest to the North Dakota 2011 Flood Relief.

“It has been a difficult summer for many people in the state,” said Randy Hatzenbuhler, president of the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. “We decided that dedicating the Music Fest proceeds to help with flood relief and inviting those who have been most impacted by the floods to be our guests at the Medora Musical are ways that we can help. We look forward to serving these people and giving them a first class show.”

Free tickets to the Medora Musical

Families and individuals impacted by this year’s flood can receive complimentary tickets to one of eight selected performances of the Medora Musical, set in the Burning Hills Amphitheater.

The selected dates are: August 24, 25, 31; September 1, 5-8.

Each household can receive two complimentary adult tickets; all students in the household are free.  Those impacted by the flood include people displaced from their home due to flooding; people who helped their neighbors protect homes from flooding or are helping clean damaged areas post-flood.

To inquire about free tickets for flood-impacted guests, call 1-800-633-6721, and ask for tickets under the 2011 FLOOD BLOCK CODE.

3^RD Annual Wade Westin Music Fest

The 3^rd annual Wade Westin Music Fest will be held at the Burning Hills Amphitheatre on Sunday, September 4, at 2 p.m. Mountain Time.  This annual event is held in honor and memory of Wade Westin, who was a Burning Hills Singer and host of the Medora Musical during seven seasons.

The concert features cast and band members of the Medora Musical and other North Dakota musicians and bands, including the University of Mary Steel Drum Band. Admission is free for the concert, and Hatzenbuhler says the goal is to fill the theater.

“Wade loved to showcase North Dakota talent and help others. This event is a highlight of our summer season and a legacy event for our friend and co-worker who we enjoyed so much,” said Hatzenbuhler.

Since it first started, proceeds from the Music Fest have been donated. “We’ve had a good tradition of ‘passing the hat’ during the concert and putting the proceeds to good use. The first year, all proceeds were put into a college fund for Wade’s young children. Last year, proceeds were used to place a plaque in memory of him. And this year, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation will gift the proceeds from the Music Fest to the North Dakota 2011 Flood Relief Fund.”

For more information about the Wade Westin Music Fest and the complimentary Medora Musical tickets for North Dakotans affected by this year’s flooding, please call 1-800-633-6721 or visit www.medora.com.

The North Dakota 2011 Flood Relief Fund was established by the North Dakota Community Foundation at the request of Governor Jack Dalrymple. It serves as an efficient, coordinated vehicle for those wishing to assist with flood relief efforts across North Dakota. More information can be found at