MEDORA, N.D. — The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation is expanding its presence in Medora, with a new lodging development steps away from the Bully Pulpit Golf Course.
The project, known as The Ranch at Bully Pulpit, will add a mix of lodging and event spaces. Plans include an outdoor wedding venue, event spaces, multiple cabins, and a 20-unit motel. The motel is expected to open by July 1, 2026, with the full buildout scheduled for completion in the spring of 2027.
The development comes as stay-and-play golf options continue to grow in popularity across North Dakota and the United States.
Bully Pulpit is consistently ranked among the top five courses in the state, and staff say the new amenities will help the course meet rising demand.
While the project isn’t designed to be exclusively a stay-and-play setup, course officials say they want that to be a significant option for visitors.
“Whether it’s a group that wants to come out for vacation or a group that is hardcore golfers, they don’t have to come and stay in town,” Assistant Golf Professional Max Murphy-Schumacher said. “Instead, they can come out here, grab carts from the clubhouse, check into the motel, and make it a weekend trip.”
One of the central features of the project will be an 11,000-square-foot event facility capable of hosting weddings and other large-scale events. The venue will accommodate up to 350 guests, creating new opportunities for large gatherings in Medora.
Renderings of the outdoor wedding ceremony.
Contributed / Thoedore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
The Ranch is just one of several major projects reshaping Medora. The
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
is on track to open July 4, 2026, a development expected to draw even more visitors during peak tourism months. Despite the rapid growth, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation says its focus is on strengthening and sharing its mission.
“We’re trying to grow the message more than anything,” TRMF Marketing Director Holly George said. “We do that by teaching history and promoting the premise of faith, family, and freedom. It’s great to get more people here because it helps us spread that message better. So many people who come here end up falling in love with it and end up coming back, and that’s great – all this growth is rooted in that demand.”
Renderings of the front entrance into the ranch.
Contributed / Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
The Foundation says it is mindful of preserving Medora’s character even as new attractions and developments come to fruition. The population of Medora still stands around 150 people, and the Foundation isn’t attempting to increase that number.
“It’s not to grow the town – that’s not the goal,” George said. “It’s to grow the offerings around Theodore Roosevelt’s history and entertainment. We like to say that people come to Medora for positive, life-changing experiences, so it’s about how we do that while maintaining the quaintness of the town.”
Carter is a sports reporter for the Dickinson Press. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2025 with a journalism degree. He covered prep sports in the fall for the New Century Press in Sioux Falls, SD, and joined the team in early November. Along with writing for the Dickinson Press, Carter covers Minnesota preps hockey for High School on SI. When not working, you can find him on the golf course, simulator or dome.
