Rough Riders Hotel, Medora, USA - a historic hotel in the authentic Wild West of the Badlands

We're staying at the Rough Riders Hotel, a historic hotel in Medora, North Dakota, USA. We're exploring the charming Western town of Medora, the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We get a great impression of the national park and the Badlands on the nearby Painted Canyon Nature Trail. The Rough Riders Hotel is located in the heart of Medora, just a short walk from the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The hotel combines Old West charm with modern comforts. It's named after the volunteer cavalry led by Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. Dating back to 1884, the hotel, after several renovations, now consists of a historic wing and a modern addition. Everything here is themed around Theodore Roosevelt, who spent a lot of time in the Badlands and also owned a farm in the area. The hotel also houses one of the world's largest private collections of books by and about Theodore Roosevelt, which are available for guests to read. And there's a collection of weapons from that era. The hotel has 76 rooms and suites, including 8 historic rooms in the original part of the building. We are looking for a true Wild West experience, so we are staying in a "Historic Queen" room! The historic rooms are a bit smaller than the modern rooms and don't have a refrigerator. They're also only accessible by stairs, not by elevator. But instead, a teddy bear awaits us on the bed, and the ambiance transports us back to the 1880s, just like in Roosevelt's time! The name "Teddy Bear" actually comes from President Roosevelt. On a hunting trip, Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot an exhausted and defenseless bear cub. This famous anecdote led to the production of toy bears called Teddy's Bear, which were an immense success. Even the small bathroom has a Roosevelt theme. The decorative tiles feature the three brands Roosevelt used for his cattle in the Badlands. The hotel restaurant, "Theodore's Dining Room" serves fine dining, and both dinner and breakfast were delicious! Medora was founded in 1883 by the Marquis de Morès, a European adventurer. He built a meatpacking plant and a town here, which he named after his wife, Medora. Only a few ruins remain of the meatpacking plant today, but the town of Medora still exists. With only about 150 inhabitants, it strikes us as a truly sleepy Western town. This is partly because the tourist season hasn't really started yet. In the summer, it's bustling with activity; shows, concerts, and the Medora Musical make the town a popular tourist destination. We stroll through the quiet streets, which exude a strong Western atmosphere. And, of course, Theodore Roosevelt is omnipresent here as well. Very close to Medora, on Interstate 94 heading east, at a highway exit, lies Painted Canyon, part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Painted Canyon owes its name to the colorful rock formations of the Badlands. The Painted Canyon Nature Trail starts right at the rest area and viewpoint on the Interstate. The approximately 1,5 km (1 mi) loop trail leads steeply down into the canyon and through millions of years of geological history. A wonderful end to our stay in Medora and Theodore Roosevelt National Park! What we liked: the historic ambiance the good food What we liked less: the room was a bit small (that was the price you pay for the historic ambiance...) Our conclusion: A lovely hotel in a perfect location near Theodore Roosevelt National Park You can find our video about Theodore Roosevelt National Park here:    • Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Da...   For more information, please turn on the video subtitles! If you enjoyed it, please like and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss anything. The complete channel playlist for our stay in the USA can be found here:    • USA Roadtrip   More hotel videos from us can be found in this playlist:    • Hotels   Visit in May 2024 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:40 Rough Rider Hotel Arrival 01:29 "Historic Queen" Room 05:16 Lobby, Reception, and Library 07:04 Dinner at Theodore's 08:11 Breakfast at Theodore's 09:23 Walking Tour in Medora 12:17 Painted Canyon Nature Trail 15:41 Outro