Wild West: Badlands to Yellowstone

Nestled at the gates of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, Pitchfork Steak Fondue offers an authentic Western experience. Our lively evening begins with a savory barbecue, where cowboy chefs cook New York strip steaks on pitchforks! There’s also an expansive buffet of great fixin’s including baked beans, potatoes, coleslaw, donuts, and much more. Afterwards, we attend the famous Medora Musical, a show that celebrates Theodore Roosevelt, patriotism, and the Great American West. Enjoy captivating performances like country western music by the Coal Diggers Band, a reenactment of Roosevelt’s charge during the San Juan Hill battle, and a grandiose fireworks finale!

Board famous vintage 1930s Red Buses with roll-back tops and wide windows for unrivaled views and picturetaking as we discover the park’s crown jewel: Going-to-the-Sun-Road. Our excursion takes us along the banks of glacial lakes, passes through green forests along sheer cliff walls, and reveals delightful wildflowers and wildlife. Throughout the tour, our knowledgeable driver-guide shares fascinating facts, stories, and rich cultural history of this magnificent area.

Watch the storied history of Lewis and Clark’s explorations unfold before us as we glide along the Missouri River on a narrated open-air boat tour. Receiving its name from Meriwether Lewis back in 1805, Gates of the Mountains surrounds us with rugged limestone cliffs. Marvel at the Hauser Dam collapse, see Native pictographs on a rock wall, and watch for bighorn sheep, otters, eagles, and other wildlife! 

Spanning over two million acres, Yellowstone is our country’s first national park and one of the most visited by tourists around the globe. Not only is it home to the largest concentration of mammals in the Lower 48, but it also boasts more geysers and hot springs than anywhere else on Earth! Enjoy a guided tour to marvel at the majestic wildlife and gaze upon Mother Nature’s geothermal wonders. Find yourself captivated at every sight in the park, such as the vibrant colors and fascinating white travertine on Mammoth Hot Springs.

Enjoy going off-road during a 4x4 open-air Jeep adventure, keeping your eyes peeled for critters including mule deer, antelope, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, donkeys, elk, and the park’s herd of more than 1,300 buffalo. Our driver-guides safely get us up-close to the wildlife and provide narration about the park’s history.

Standing as a tribute to American history and the ideals that have shaped the nation, this iconic carving features the sculpted faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Created over a span of 14 years, from 1927 to 1941, the memorial symbolizes the birth, growth, development, and preservation of our country. Admire it in the daytime, then return another day after sunset 
for the Evening Lighting Ceremony. 

From pinnacles and towering spires to colorful layers of sedimentary rock, this unique landscape showcases what forces of nature can create over millions of years. In addition to geologic wonders, this 244,000-acre park is one of the world’s richest fossil beds and contains remains of extinct mammals, like the saber-toothed cat. It’s also been home to Native American tribes for thousands of years, which is detailed at archaeological sites. Watch for a variety of wildlife as we learn more about the storied history of this land!