At first glance, North Dakota appears to be wide open spaces, but planners will soon find the state is packed with historic sites, cultural institutions and outdoor diversions. From the Scandinavian heritage in Fargo and Minot to the history of the American West in Bismarck-Mandan and sporting traditions in Grand Forks, attendees will enjoy both active and educational experiences.
Fargo-Moorhead
Agriculture is such an important part of this area’s life, when the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center was built in 1993, it was constructed to look like a grain elevator.
“We are rich in our Scandinavian ancestry and our deep roots in agriculture, homesteading and pioneer life,” says Jill Gates, director of sales for the Fargo-Moorhead CVB. That down-home culture provides a fun, genuine backdrop for meetings.
One of the metro’s top off-site venues is Rustic Oaks, a historic farm spread with gardens tailor-made for outdoor events. Featuring wood floors, chandeliers and a mix of rustic charm and elegance, the Barn is a top pick for receptions. Out on the deck, attendees have a view of wildflowers and the Red River.
Other popular spots for groups are the hand-carved Hopperstad Stave Church, a replica of post-Viking churches from the 12th century, and the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, a multipurpose center with a replica Viking ship that was actually used to sail to Norway.
History has also influenced the revitalization of Fargo’s downtown district.
“Our downtown has done amazing things the last few years,” Gates says. “The streets have been completely transformed. You feel like you are taking a step back in time when you walk downtown.”
Nightlife options have also increased, she adds, including Irish pubs and martini bars for relaxing attendee downtime. Fargo currently offers more than 350 restaurants and there are seven hotels under construction, which will bring the city’s inventory to 58 hotels.
Even bigger and better things may be in store for Fargo, according to Charley Johnson, CEO and president of the Fargo-Moorhead CVB.
“The Kilbourne Group has an option to develop an empty half-block in the middle of downtown,” he says.
The plan won’t be released until later this year, but early versions include a mixed-use high-rise building, retail, office space and possibly a hotel.
There are also plans under discussion to build a new City Hall and additional convention space, Johnson adds, plus the Fargodome Authority is conducting a feasibility study regarding the construction of a large convention wing at the stadium, which could in turn attract more lodging.PageBreak
Greater Grand Forks
Art and sport are the mainstays of Grand Forks, and the two combine flawlessly when it comes to venues. The Ralph Englestad Arena is more than just a place to play hockey. With its Italian tile floors and leather seats, this 400,000-square-foot facility is a heartfelt tribute to the game. It’s also a top choice for planners, who can work with the management for meeting space, behind-the-scenes tours and even group events on the ice.
“They try to get people to really experience the venue,” says Julie Rygg, executive director of the Greater Grand Forks CVB. “They have suite areas, and they host a lot of weddings, too.”
If planners want straight art without the ice, Empire Arts Center is sure to please, with a historic theater seating 419 attendees and a gallery housing the University of North Dakota art collection, which includes works by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali. Both spaces are available for group events.
When it comes to the outdoors, more is better in Grand Forks. The town’s Norwegian heritage shines clearest in the cold, “particularly in the winter months, when we want to be outside,” Rygg says.
Home to the Norwegian-themed Uff Da Obstacle Mud Run and Extreme North Dakota racing, the city is used to planning unusual outdoor events, and the CVB is happy to help groups come up with challenging team-building exercises. The Greenway, an outdoor paved parkway spanning 2,200 acres along the Red River, is ideal for conference walks or marathons. PageBreak
Bismarck-Mandan
Separated by the Missouri River, the cities of Bismarck and Mandan offer the best of the West in group experiences. History was made in this region by Lewis & Clark, Sakakawea (better known as Sacagawea) and Gen. George Custer. There are numerous ways to experience it, from riverboat rides to touring Custer’s house at Fort Abraham Lincoln, where he lived before he led the 7th Calvary to Little Big Horn.
Groups can also visit On-A-Slant Village at the site, a reconstructed Native American village complete with earth lodges. Dinner can be catered as only Mandan can: the famed Pitchfork Steak Fondue, where chefs prepare up to 15 steaks at once, skewered on a pitchfork and dipped into boiling hot oil.
While planners may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of historic sites and museums, from the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center to the archeological wonder of the Double Ditch Indian Village State Historic Site, they shouldn’t forget another popular site for events, the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck.
“If you haven’t seen our State Capitol, it is worth a tour,” says Sheri Grossman, director of sales for the Bismarck-Mandan CVB.
The capitol broke the mold with its distinctive high-rise look, and the black marble wall, bronze pillars and marble floors make the Memorial Hall an unforgettable site for receptions.
Meanwhile, the Bismarck Civic Center is starting a 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall addition this summer, which will double exhibit space to 100,000 square feet, and a 160-room Hyatt Place Hotel with a 10,000-square-foot conference center is expected to open in 2014 on the United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) campus in Bismarck. Additionally, the State Museum in the North Dakota Heritage Center will partially reopen in September after a $52 million expansion. Completion is slated for November 2014.
Minot
A variety of venues await planners in Minot, from the Roosevelt Park Zoo to the Dakota Territory Air Museum. Planners should definitely make time for the Scandinavian Heritage Park, a site filled with fascinating exhibits, from a stave church to a working Finnish sauna. There’s even a 230-year-old house imported from Norway and reconstructed on-site, down to the moss between the logs.
It’s no exaggeration that Minot is booming with progress; the energy industry has discovered the rich reserves of the area, including oil production from the Bakken Shale fields.
“We have just over 3,000 hotel rooms in the city as of June,” says Jennifer Guidinger, director of sales for the Minot CVB. “That’s an additional 12 hotels in the past 18 months.”
The area will also be home to four 18-hole golf courses within the next two years, and Minot is benefitting from additional hotels, shops and restaurants, according to Guidinger.
Frequent contributor Beth Bartlett now wishes she had some cool Viking ancestors.
