Recent Successes
None of this has been possible without the help of hundreds, no thousands, of folks who helped support projects in Medora.
Here is a short list of our most recent, Donor-Funded Projects
$1,000,000 Matching Gift Challange for the Andrist Endowment for the Performing Arts -- Challange reached December of 2017
Supports the arts in downtown Medora, at the Von Hoffman House, and at the Andrist Stage and Windgarden -- John Andrist made a matching gift pledge, and people responded.
Medora Musical Bathroom Expansion -- completed 2017
Thanks to contributions by Mark & Claudia Thompson, owners of H.A. Thomson and Sons, as well as Paul Gurholt, the rest room capacity was nearly DOUBLED.
Old Town Hall Theater & Sorensen Stage expansion and renovation -- completed 2017
Now home to numerous shows, this project was funded by a combination of lead donors, John Andrist and Mike & Peggy Bullinger, and numerous seat sponsors within the theater itself.
Bill & Jane Marcil Life Skills Center -- completed 2016
$7,000,000 First ever creation of a space for staff, cast, student and international workers, and volunteers to work, train, and grow together in.
Historically accurate renovation of the Joe Ferris General Store, thanks to lead donor Dr. Dennis Wolf -- -- completed in 2016
Infrastructure at the Medora Musical -- the safer, wider road leading to the amphitheatre and vastly improved paved parking and drainage -- completed in 2014
The restoration and expansion of the historic Rough Riders Hotel -- completed in 2010
A place often frequented by Theodore Roosevelt during his time here, this was also the first project undertaken by Harold in 1962 when he began the resurrection of Medora.
See our Projects for the Future list to see what lies ahead for TRMF and Medora.
Giants Have Always Walked In Medora
Many, many improvements have been accomplished since that first Rough Riders Hotel Project in 1962. While there's even more on the horizon for TRMF, we take guidance from the past, and what has been accomplished by the those "giants" of Medora's history.
The ones who had the courage to dream, then roll up their sleeves and make the dream a reality. People like Theodore Roosevelt, and the brazen Marquis de Mores, and Medora herself who, while the epitome of a fine lady, could pick off fast-moving small game a from atop her steed, leaving her hunting partners astounded.
Of course like Harold and Sheila. Like Medora's first General Manager, Rod Tjaden and his wife, Sandy, like "Gentleman" Wade Westin, "Cowboy" Lyle Glass, like former North Dakota Governor (and Medora Musical stuntman!), Ed Schafer, and the hundreds of others who had positive impact here.
We look to them to guide our path forward, and we try to honor them each day with our work in Medora.
Harold Schafer, One of a Kind
Rolf Sletten, inaugural winner of the Bully Spirit Award with an excerpt from his speech about the history of TRMF.
The "First Lady of Medora" Sheila Schafer in her last taped interview. Unmatched, Unparalleled, an Unbelievable person we're lucky to have had in Medora.
Former General Manager of the Medora Division of the Gold Seal Co., and first President of TRMF, Rod Tjaden and wife, Sandy, did so much to start this amazing tradition that is Medora today.
Coming soon: Wade Westin's making the Medora Musical
Coming soon: Cowboy Lyle Glass
More Good Stuff from TRMF
Browse our library of past TRMF Newsletters
See a full Timeline of TRMF Projects and History Here
Become a TR Medora Foundation Member
See our most recent Development Report, including TRMF Financial Information