JAMESTOWN — Jamestown Frontier Attractions and the Jamestown Fine Arts Association are two of 23 recipients awarded funds from the North Dakota Department of Commerce through the Destination Development Grant Program.
The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced the awards on Wednesday, Oct. 15. The Commerce Department awarded $15 million in Destination Development Grants to 23 projects across the state.
“These investments will enhance tourism infrastructure, elevate visitor experiences and support long-term economic growth in communities large and small,” the Commerce Department said in a news release announcing the awards.
The nonprofit Jamestown Frontier Attractions, doing business as Frontier Village, was awarded $212,500 to build a miniature golf course at Frontier Village.
“We are very grateful to the state for recognizing us as a place to be as far as tourism and recognize us as folks that are willing to make things happen,” said Emily Bivens, member of the Jamestown Frontier Attractions Board of Directors. “We are just really excited for this project to move forward.”
The grant allows Jamestown Frontier Attractions to bring a fun and interactive attraction to Frontier Village that fits the site’s mission of connecting people to Jamestown’s history and community spirit, said Allison Limke, visitor experience manager with Jamestown Tourism and board member of Jamestown Frontier Attractions.
“It’s something families, locals and travelers of all ages will enjoy and it gives them one more reason to stay a little longer and explore all Jamestown has to offer,” Limke said.
The nonprofit Jamestown Fine Arts Association, doing business as The Arts Center, was awarded $500,000 for its “Raising the Bar for the Arts” capital campaign.
“This grant gets us very close to reaching our fundraising goal,” said Mindi Schmitz, executive director of The Arts Center. “It’s an incredible show of confidence in what we’re building here: a permanent home for creativity that reaches every age group in our community.”
With $2.4 million raised for the capital campaign, the phase 1 goal is complete. With the grant, $2.6 million has been raised for the capital campaign, and Schmitz said the extra $200,000 will go toward the second phase that includes the renovation of two apartments above the building for visiting artists.
The nonprofit Jamestown Fine Arts Association, doing business as The Arts Center, was awarded $500,000 for its “Raising the Bar for the Arts” capital campaign. The funds support the renovation of the former Wonder Bar building.
Masaki Ova / The Jamestown Sun
The $500,000 grant supports the renovation of the former Wonder Bar building. Once complete, the new addition will feature classrooms, studios, a culinary kitchen, gallery commons, courtyard and storage space. Once the renovation is complete, it will triple The Arts Center’s capacity to serve youth and community members.
The Carrington Rainbow Gardens & Interpretive Center in Carrington, North Dakota, was awarded $200,000.
“This cultural destination will feature a Japanese-style garden, tea house and interactive exhibits in the heart of Carrington’s revitalizing Main Street district,” the Commerce Department said. “Rooted in the real story of Harry Hayashi, a Japanese American entrepreneur who built the original Rainbow Gardens in the 1930s, it will complement other area attractions and offer a serene, story-driven experience.”
The Valley City Heritage Voices in Valley City was awarded $31,303 for 20 talking trail sites and a World War II Heritage City exhibit at the Barnes County Museum.
“These additions celebrate the city’s national designation and provide an engaging, accessible experience for all visitors,” the Commerce Department said.
Bivens said the outdoor miniature golf course is part of a larger effort to enhance visitor experiences and strengthen Jamestown’s position as a leading tourism destination in the state.
The miniature golf course will bring another family-friendly activity to Frontier Village while also complementing nearby attractions such as the World’s Largest Buffalo and the North American Bison Discovery Center.
“Our focus is on visitors and all the visitors coming through Jamestown,” Bivens said. “We have found through our research that our biggest demographic is young families.”
She said the goal is to get visitors to stay longer, experience more of what Jamestown has to offer and bring a bigger economic impact to Jamestown, Stutsman County and the state.
“The longer they stay, the more money they spend,” she said.
The estimated cost to build the miniature golf course is under $500,000, she said. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with the miniature golf course opening in 2027.
Bivens said the outdoor miniature golf course will be located in the area where the amphitheater is located at Frontier Village. She said benches there were removed a few years ago and the hope is to turn the amphitheater stage into a picnic pavilion.
“When folks are coming to play miniature golf, they could have a picnic as well,” she said.
Bivens said each hole will eventually have different interpretive themes.
“The whole idea behind it is to use whether it’s historic landmarks or historic figures or just buffalo because we are known as the Buffalo City, just tying Jamestown and North Dakota into it so it becomes an educational experience as they are playing the course,” she said.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available for local donors, including naming rights for individual holes, course amenities and public spaces. The grant requires a 50% local match.
‘Raising the Bar for the Arts’
The $500,000 grant allows The Arts Center to expand access to creative learning opportunities in Jamestown.
The renovation of the former Wonder Bar building addresses a programming gap for preschool, middle school and high school students who currently lack access to visual arts opportunities, The Arts Center said in a news release.
“Our community has always believed in the power of the arts to connect and inspire,” said Riley Akervik, president of the Jamestown Fine Arts Association Board of Directors. “This project is about expanding our building and investing in the next generation of creators and innovators.”
Construction of the project is on schedule, and a grand opening event is planned for Nov. 13. Full programming in the new addition is expected to begin in January, which includes use of the new culinary kitchen by Jamestown Public Schools and community members.
Fundraising efforts are ongoing as the project nears completion and naming opportunities are available in the addition.
