AGP Executive Report

Bismarck Live Music: Josh Turner brings his traditional country tour to the Bismarck Event Center Thursday, Nov. 12, with doors opening for an evening show at 7:30. Jamestown Tourism: Mayor Katie Hemmer is rallying local tourism groups around a plan to connect attractions and experiences near the World’s Largest Buffalo monument and strengthen the city’s “Buffalo City” identity. Road Travel: The I-94 westbound Apple Creek Rest Area, about eight miles east of Bismarck, has reopened after building upgrades. Outdoor Recreation: Pembina Gorge State Park has wrapped up its first season, adding a new draw for visitors to northeastern North Dakota. Visitor Costs: North Dakota ranked fourth among the nation’s most affordable states for dining, with an estimated average of $70.76 per person per day.

Roadside Stop: I-94’s westbound Apple Creek Rest Area, about eight miles east of Bismarck, has reopened after building upgrades. Jamestown Tourism: Mayor Katie Hemmer is bringing tourism groups and community partners together to build on the World’s Largest Buffalo attraction and connect visitors with more local experiences. This Week’s Event: Country singer Josh Turner brings his tour to the Bismarck Event Center on Thursday, Nov. 12, with Will Jones opening. Outdoor Destinations: Pembina Gorge State Park has completed its first season. Meanwhile, proposed high-voltage lines near the Wheatland festival site could cut campsites and alter the landscape.

Jamestown Tourism: Mayor Katie Hemmer is organizing tourism partners around a new vision for the World’s Largest Buffalo, aiming to connect visitors with local attractions, businesses and experiences. Road Travel: The westbound I-94 Apple Creek Rest Area, about eight miles east of Bismarck, has reopened after building upgrades. Outdoor Destinations: Pembina Gorge State Park has completed its first season, adding a new chapter to North Dakota’s outdoor tourism offerings.

Wildlife Watching: As waterfowl migrate south, some mallards and Canada geese stay in North Dakota, relying on open water; the Missouri River near Bismarck is a winter refuge and a spot to watch hardy birds. Pembina Gorge: North Dakota’s newest state park wrapped up its first summer camping season. Holiday weekends drew visitors, and traffic picked up as the weather improved, while development continues. Hiking: A recent outdoor feature highlights easy trails through a North Dakota wildlife preserve on the site of a former national park, offering another option for exploring the state’s natural landscapes.

UND Game-Day Draw: North Dakota’s hockey team ended a four-game winless streak with a 4-1 victory over No. 5 Western Michigan before a sellout crowd of 11,622 in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks football team also posted a big home win, beating No. 8 Illinois State 49-21 at the Alerus Center. Pembina Gorge: North Dakota’s newest state park wrapped up its first summer camping season. Holiday weekends drew good crowds, though early bad weather limited activities and delayed its opening celebration; development continues as the park builds toward the visitation levels of nearby Icelandic State Park.

Air Travel: Delta has cut four routes from its Minneapolis hub this year, potentially reducing options for North Dakota travelers connecting through the region. Outdoor Getaways: Pembina Gorge State Park has completed its first summer season, with park officials reporting stronger visitor traffic as the weather improved and development continues. Hiking: North Dakota’s former national park is now a wildlife preserve with easy trails, offering another low-key outdoor stop for visitors. Medora: The town’s entertainment community lost Bill Sorensen, known as “Mr. Medora,” who died at 76. Road Costs: Gas prices fell 12 cents nationally in a week to $4.10 a gallon, though that remains a November record.

State Park Spotlight: Pembina Gorge State Park wrapped up its first summer season as North Dakota’s 14th state park. Holiday weekends drew visitors, though early bad weather limited recreation and the park is still building toward busier seasons. Hiking & Wildlife: A former North Dakota national park is now a wildlife preserve with easy hiking trails, offering another option for outdoor trips. Cultural Travel: The North Dakota Council on the Arts awarded $137,440 for 37 folk-art projects across 32 cities, supporting traditions such as Lakota and Ojibwe arts, cowboy hat-making, music and storytelling. Medora: A travel blog spotlighted the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library as a destination, while the death of Bill Sorensen—known as “Mr. Medora”—marks the loss of a familiar figure in the town’s tourism story.

Cultural Heritage: North Dakota’s arts council awarded $137,440 for 37 folk and traditional arts projects, supporting crafts, music and storytelling in 32 communities. Festivals: ND Country Fest has announced more performers for its 2027 10th-anniversary lineup in New Salem, including Lee Brice, Joe Nichols and Tigirlily. Outdoor Escapes: A feature highlights easy hiking trails at a former North Dakota national park, now a wildlife preserve. Medora: A local commentary frames the Cowboy Cafe’s shift to a bistro as part of the town’s changing visitor experience.

Festival News: North Dakota Country Fest has announced more acts for its 2027 10th anniversary in New Salem, including Lee Brice, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, Neal McCoy and Tigirlily, alongside previously named headliners Old Dominion and Hudson Westbrook. Culture & Heritage: The North Dakota Council on the Arts awarded $137,440 for 37 folk-arts projects across 32 communities, supporting traditions from Lakota and Ojibwe storytelling to saddle-making and rosemaling. Outdoor Getaways: A former North Dakota national park is now a wildlife preserve with easy hiking trails, offering visitors another way to explore the state’s outdoors. Rodeo Scene: A summit held during Minot’s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo brought committees, volunteers and contractors together to share ideas and strengthen the events that draw rodeo fans.

Road-Trip Costs: The national gas average fell 12 cents in a week to $4.10 a gallon, but remains more than a dollar above last year—useful context for travelers planning a North Dakota drive. Living Traditions: North Dakota awarded $137,440 for 37 folk-arts projects involving 91 artists in 32 communities, supporting traditions from Lakota and Ojibwe arts to fiddle-making and saddlecraft. Festival Preview: ND Country Fest has announced its 2027 lineup, including Old Dominion, Lee Brice, Joe Nichols and Phil Vassar, giving visitors an early reason to plan a trip to New Salem. Outdoor Stops: A recent feature spotlights easy hiking trails at North Dakota’s former national park, now a wildlife preserve. Shopping: West Acres in Fargo is set to welcome North Dakota’s first The North Face store Friday.

Festival News: ND Country Fest has announced more acts for its 2027 10th-anniversary celebration in New Salem, including Lee Brice, Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, Neal McCoy and Tigirlily. Cultural Heritage: North Dakota’s arts council awarded $137,440 for 37 folk-art apprenticeships across 32 cities, supporting traditions from Lakota storytelling to cowboy-hat making. Outdoor Gear: North Dakota’s first The North Face store opens Friday at West Acres in Fargo, bringing outdoor apparel and hiking gear to the state’s largest shopping center. Trails and Wildlife: A former national park in North Dakota is drawing attention as a wildlife preserve with easy hiking trails. Rodeo Scene: A summit at Minot’s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo brought committees, volunteers and contractors together to share ideas and build connections.

Outdoor Gear: West Acres in Fargo is set to open North Dakota’s first The North Face store on Friday, adding a new option for hikers and outdoor travelers. Badlands Heritage: A herd of Nokota horses is moving to a new home at Standing Rock, continuing efforts to preserve a breed rooted in Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s history. Visitor Services: Dakota BOT has expanded to ND.gov, building on North Dakota Tourism’s chatbot; it can help visitors find attractions, weather and hunting information, though the state advises users to verify answers. Hiking: A recent feature spotlights a former North Dakota national park now known as a wildlife preserve with easy trails. Medora: A look at the Cowboy Cafe’s shift to a bistro frames the change as part of the town’s evolving visitor scene.

Visitor Information: North Dakota’s Dakota BOT is now available across ND.gov, extending the state’s tourism chatbot to help visitors find information on things to do, weather and outdoor activities. It has answered 81% of questions since launching on the Commerce website. Outdoor Heritage: A herd of Nokota horses, descended from horses that roamed Theodore Roosevelt National Park, is moving to a new home on the Standing Rock Reservation as part of efforts to preserve the breed. Road Updates: Mandan’s Main Street and Memorial Highway intersection has added a second left-turn lane to ease backups; five lanes are expected to remain open through winter. Minot will seek public input Nov. 10 on proposed 16th Street Southwest upgrades, including a shared-use path and possible roundabouts. Medora: Bill Sorensen, known as “Mr. Medora,” has died at 76, a loss for a town whose tourism identity is closely tied to its local characters and history.

Visitor Help: North Dakota’s Dakota BOT is now available across ND.gov, using lessons from the Tourism website’s chatbot to help visitors find information, including things to do, weather and hunting. Road Travel: A second left-turn lane is opening at Mandan’s Main Street and Memorial Highway intersection; five lanes are expected to remain open through winter construction. Medora: Bill Sorensen, known as “Mr. Medora,” has died at 76. He performed in more than 1,000 shows, including the Medora Musical, which draws over 100,000 visitors a year. Outdoor Access: A federal duck stamp helps protect wetlands and grasslands, supporting wildlife enjoyed by hikers, birdwatchers and photographers. Regional Connections: The Big Sky North Coast passenger rail corridor has completed its first Corridor ID phase, an early step in planning a route that could expand travel options across the region.

Visitor Help: North Dakota’s new Dakota BOT chatbot is now available across ND.gov, building on the tourism website’s earlier chatbot to help visitors find activities, weather and other state information. Road Update: In Mandan, a second left-turn lane is opening at Main Street and Memorial Highway/Mandan Avenue; five lanes are expected to remain open at normal speeds through winter. Hiking & Wildlife: White Horse Hill National Game Preserve, on Devils Lake’s south shore, offers short trails through prairie, wetlands and forest, with wildlife viewing; entry is free. Medora: Bill Sorensen, fondly known as “Mr. Medora,” has died at 76. He performed in more than 1,000 shows over five decades, including the Medora Musical, which draws more than 100,000 visitors a year.

Winter Roadways: NDDOT’s 2026 Name-A-Plow contest is open through Nov. 23, with one winning name selected for each of the state’s eight districts. The agency also reminds drivers to give snowplows room to work. Devils Lake Outdoors: White Horse Hill National Game Preserve offers free entry, short hiking trails and chances to spot wildlife and more than 200 bird species. The former national park draws about 80,000 visitors a year. On the Road: Irish tour guide Kenny Crowley has set off from Fargo in a yellow school bus to fulfill his dream of driving across the Wild West, after a local family helped make the trip possible. Medora Attractions: A visitor’s account praises the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library’s interactive exhibits and walkable roof overlooking the Badlands. Meanwhile, major public and private investment is reshaping Medora, prompting questions about how the town can grow while preserving its Western character. Badlands Discovery: A science teacher exploring North Dakota’s badlands found what researchers believe is the first known trackway made by an adult T. rex—a rare discovery that adds another point of interest for visitors.