By Jason Stuart
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
Tourism and economic development officials from Glendive and Medora, N.D., are working together to develop a formal collaboration which will cross-promote tourism between the two communities.
The executive directors of the Medora Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Medora Chamber of Commerce visited Glendive recently to meet with officials from the Glendive Convention and Visitors Bureau to further the development of that collaboration. It was the second meeting in the last few months between the two groups. Glendive CVB officials had previously gone to Medora for a meeting.
Cathy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Glendive CVB, said the discussions are still in their preliminary phase, but added the meetings between the two groups have been “very good” and a firm partnership appears to be in the making with enthusiasm for it on both sides.
“There’s a lot of things we’re going to be working on,” Kirkpatrick said. “I’m looking forward to lots of good opportunities moving forward, and they’re excited about it.”
Kirkpatrick said while there have been “conversations” in the past between Medora and Glendive economic development officials regarding cross promotion, for whatever reason, nothing official ever came of it.
Nevertheless, she noted that Medora tourism officials and businesses catering to tourists have a long-standing habit of referring their visitors to Glendive because the majority of visitors to Theodore Roosevelt National Park are taken with the badlands scenery and often ask where they can see more.
“When we first visited with them, they talked about how much folks who visit Medora enjoy the badlands and want to see more, so they have always referred them to Makoshika,” Kirkpatrick said.
She said that’s why when she took over as executive director of the Dawson County Economic Development Council (which manages the CVB), she saw “definite potential” in partnering with Medora to market Glendive to tourists visiting there.
The specifics of how the two communities will cross market each other will be worked out as the partnership progresses. Kirkpatrick said it has been agreed that “one of the first things” they will do is link the Glendive and Medora tourism websites.
Beyond that, Kirkpatrick noted a part of it will be promoting what one community has that would appeal to tourists that the other may be lacking in.
For example, she said one question that gets asked a lot by visitors to Medora is about fishing opportunities. With little in the way of fishing immediately around Medora, Kirkpatrick noted that would be a good opportunity to direct them towards the Glendive area, and especially so during paddlefishing season.
“I see we have the potential to market our recreation opportunities to Medora visitors,” she said.
Reach Jason Stuart at rrreporter@rangerreview.com.