Road Trip #7 - Medora and Teddy Roosevelt National Park

Saturday, June 20th

We spent the majority of Saturday in Medora, ND. It is a fun old western tourist town and was always a highlight of my childhood vacations! We started by going to one of the old timey photo places to get a fake turn of the last century rancher/saloon photo taken, but the earliest available time they had was when we had to leave to get back to the family reunion dinner. If you go, make a reservation as the first thing you do before sightseeing to ensure you get a time.

We ate lunch at the Cowboy Cafe. It is our traditional spot to eat buffalo burgers and drink sarsaparilla. We love the ranch decor with local ranch brands burned into the tables and booths. There are pictures of the local ranchers all over the walls. Even though the waitresses are young ladies, most of them have been working at the Cowboy Cafe year after year. There are also foreign exchange students who get to practice English and learn the restaurant business. The ranch feel is so authentic, Eight found a tick crawling on the table at our booth.

My aunt, niece, and sister at one table. Photo by Karen Rasmussen.

Tim, Six, me, Eight, and my dad at our booth. Cheers! Photo by Karen Rasmussen.

Decor is all about the local ranchers.

The menu really hasn't changed since I remember coming here as a child, or at least what we always order hasn't changed. We all went for the buffalo burger and sarsaparilla. Some of us branched out and got the buffalo burger special that came with potato salad, others went for a side order of french fries. Six being her usual self chose the chicken nuggets with fries that came in a cardboard car. She took it home to use as a Barbie car for the rest of our trip. The food is a novelty since you can't find this menu at just any restaurant. We were adequately satisfied and it was inexpensive. The Cowboy Cafe is a cash only establishment, so plan accordingly.

My buffalo burger, side of fries and sarsaparilla. I chose not to go for the special with potato salad.

After we fueled up, we went to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park so the girls could earn their 11th Junior Ranger badge. We attended the Ranger Program touring Teddy Roosevelt's house. He actually lived in this house, although it has been relocated a few times, with it's current location right outside the Visitor's Center. It was quite the ranch mansion in it's day because it has 3 rooms on the main floor for himself, two doors, and a second level for his ranch hands. At the original location, it also had a root cellar access from a trap door in the kitchen. He came to the Badlands to try to heal his broken heart from losing both his wife and mother within hours of each other, and hours after his first child was born. His daughter went to live with his sister because in those days single dads raising children was very rare. His time in the Badlands also helped form his view on conservation and preservation. When he became president, forming the National Park Service was one of his proudest accomplishments.

Teddy Roosevelt's house in the Badlands.

The girls and my mom in the kitchen with my dad and uncle with the Park Ranger in the living room.

We drove the Scenic Drive and enjoyed seeing the rugged nature as Teddy Roosevelt once did. We saw prairie dogs, wild horses, and a few bison off in the distance. One of the Junior Ranger tasks was to take a hike. While on the Wind Canyon Trail, we spotted a herd of bison crossing the road from where we just came. So we hurried back to our vehicles to see the herd up close. As we pulled up and off the side of the road, we opened the doors to take pictures without buggy windshields. In the process my sister managed to lose one of her sandals on the side of the road.

Prairie Dog town, their chatters and chirps were loud!

Family photo with the Badlands.

A beautiful example of the different layers of rock that make up the Painted Canyon of the Badlands.

Family photo overlooking the Badlands.

A herd of wild horses.

Very cute colt in the wild herd.

A view from the top of the Wind Canyon.

My little Junior Rangers enjoying a break on their hike, right before we spotted the bison herd.

Our cousins are in the red car!

Awe, baby bison!

This herd crossed the road and started grazing in the field near our cars. (This is where my sister lost her sandal.)

Huge bison.

So big and shaggy!

We could almost reach out and touch them. But we didn't because that would be really stupid. Leave the wildlife alone!

After many bison photos, we drove back to the Visitor's Center to turn in the Junior Ranger books. The Ranger checked over their books and had the girls swear in for their 11th Junior Ranger Badge. Then my dad took my sister to look for her sandal while I took the rest of the family back to the family reunion for dinner and the talent show.

The Ranger checking over the girls' work.

The Ranger swearing in the girls, taking an oath to be conservationists.

Congratulations on your 11th Junior Ranger Badge!