bagg bonanza farm

We stopped by this site just out of luck. We didn't realize just how close to Highway #29 it was. It is a fantastic walk through the past with great volunteer tour guides who fill you in on the wonderful stories that bring everything alive.I highly recommend stopping by and checking this place out. The gate fee is only $5.00 per person, but you can wander around this large farm for a long time. It's well maintained, and the care of the community shows in all of the hard work put into the restoration. I have to admit that there is much of it that isn't wheelchair friendly as the buildings were built ages ago, and some of the stairs are steep, and obviously not built to code... but in a way, that is part of the fun of walking around those houses.

Bonanza or large farms is not a new concept. They dotted the great plains 70 - 90 years ago. They were developed from the landholdings the Railroads were given to place rail service across the Dakota's. When those companies went bankrupt the investors ended up with large tracks of land. The land had to be farmed to gain some return back on their investment. Most of these farms and their history have been lost. This is the only restored site in the upper Midwest maybe even the nation. The restoration society and friends have put countless hours in bringing this history back to life. The site also serves a great community gathering spot catering for weddings and large events at the farm. There are many other sites in the area including Fort Abercrombie which was the first fort in North Dakota and saw the battles between the settlers and the Native Americans. Also Fort Sisseton in NE South Dakota Just 80 miles from the Bagg Farm also great history.

I was attracted to the word "Bonanza" initially because of childhood memories of the TV show. When I read about what the farms actually were, I was fascinated with a part of history about which I knew little. We recently visited the Bagg Bonanza Farm and were guided through the buildings by Virginia, a volunteer who has dedicated years to help see that the farm was restored as much as possible to its original look. Virginia has a wealth of information to share about a time and concept in our nation's history about which most of us likely know little. I was transported back in time and thoroughly enjoyed the very comprehensive tour. It is a bit out of the way as are many things in North Dakota, but it is well worth the drive if you are anywhere in the general Fargo area.