Boomer Destinations: Fargo, ND
By Tim Trudell
While the movie “Fargo” primarily took place in Minnesota, you can relive the chilling wood chipper scene during a visit to Fargo, North Dakota.
Fans of the classic movie flock to the Fargo-Moorhead (Minnesota) visitors center to pose with the wood chipper prop. You can even wear prop clothing like a floppy winter cap to add authenticity to the photo. Pay no mind to the mannequin’s leg sticking out from the chipper’s opening.
The wood chipper may be the draw, but people also visit the center to pose for a photo with a “50th State” sign. Travelers often leave the Roughrider State as their last one to visit. Having lived in the Great White North for more than five years, that was never an option for me.
Fargo, the largest city in North Dakota, with more than 136,000 people, offers an opportunity for a nice weekend getaway. It’s only a 6.5-hour drive from Omaha.
Roger Maris Museum
The city is the hometown of baseball legend Roger Maris. Maris set Major League Baseball’s single season home run mark of 61 during the 1961 season. He surpassed the previous mark held by Babe Ruth, who hit 60 homers in 1927.
Maris’ record stood for 37 years, until Mark McGwire set the standard at 70 in 1998. The Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa, who had challenged McGwire that season, finished with 66 dingers. Eventually, the home run record would be owned by Barry Bonds, with 73. Maris went from first for 37 years to seventh place in a span of four seasons.
Maris continued to own the American League single season home run record until 2022, when Aaron Judge, another Yankee, eclipsed his mark with 62 home runs.
The museum highlights his baseball career with the uniforms of his teams, baseballs, gloves, equipment, awards and other memorabilia.
Maris originally didn’t want a museum in his honor. He eventually relented, provided it was free and open to the public. Local leaders and the Fargo American Legion organized the original exhibit in 1984, located inside West Acres Mall.
Born in Hibbing, Minnesota, in 1934, his family moved to the Fargo area when he was 8-years-old. He played summer baseball for the American Legion teams as a teenager. Maris was recruited to play football at Oklahoma, but opted for a professional baseball career. He was drafted by Cleveland, signing a $15,000 first-time contract. Maris played four seasons in the minors before beginning a 12-year Major League Baseball career.
Public art and architecture
Downtown Fargo offers spacious walking, rife with public art sculptures and murals. While it’s a younger city for the Midwest, Fargo’s cityscape includes unique architecture. The historic Fargo Theater is a must, whether you want to watch a movie or just enjoy the view of its vintage sign, especially inviting when illuminated at night.
Hjemskomst Center
Minutes from downtown Fargo, head over to Moorhead, Minnesota, for a tour of the Hjemkomst Center. Home to the Gokstad (Homecoming in Norwegian) replica Viking ship, Robert Asp built the boat over a six-year period, with dreams of sailing it across the Atlantic Ocean to his ancestral home in Norway.
After being transported to Duluth, Minnesota, the Hjemkomst made its maiden voyage in August 1980, sailing around Lake Superior, with Asp at its helm. Four months after the sailing, Asp died from cancer.
In May 1982, Asp’s three sons and daughter, along with eight crew members, departed Duluth, navigating their way through the Great Lakes and on to the Atlantic Ocean, en route to Norway, arriving in Bergen on July 19. They then sailed to Oslo, where the ship stayed in port for a year, before being transported home. Asp’s longtime dream was achieved.
After checking out seasonal exhibits, ranging from flags from around the world to paintings, head outside and soak in the view of a replica Stave church, a look back at the days when Scandinavians practiced Norse religion. Scandinavians eventually adopted Christianity as their main religion, with most people affiliated with Lutheran beliefs.
Scandinavian stave churches were built during the 12th-13th centuries. The name comes from the church’s support pillars (staves). Staves are reminiscent of cathedrals, and were constructed from logs. A peep hole allowed people afflicted with a disease, such as leprosy, to observe services from outside.
Bonanzaville USA
The wild west lives on in Fargo, and you can rope up a fun visit to Bonanzaville USA. The living history museum consists of 40 buildings over 12 acres.
From the days of cowboys and cowgirls to early automobiles, Bonanzaville USA offers a fun and interesting look at times past. And you don’t need to be a Cartwright to enjoy your visit to Bonanzaville.
Walk along western storefronts, taking in historical structures that were relocated to the museum. You’ll find a prairie church, general store, one-room schoolhouse and drug store, as well as the first house built in Fargo.
With vintage automobiles on display, you’ll find vehicles dating to the early 1900s through mid-20th century.
Fargo Air Museum
The history of air comes alive as you tour the Fargo Air Museum. While exhibits change seasonally, a few permanent displays offer a glimpse of American air power, from a replica of a Wright Brothers flyer to a P-51 Mustang fighter on to a Predator unmanned vehicle, aka drone.
Once abandoned to sit and rust following its service for Australia during World War II, a Douglas C3 was stored and displayed as “Duggy.”
The Fargo Air Museum, opened in 2001, features a World War II exhibit, showcasing a Harley Davidson motorcycle and vintage jeep. Also representing World War II, a B-25 medium-range bomber examines the American response following the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. The B-25 was named after Major General William “Billy” Mitchell, considered the father of American military aviation.
With more than 20 aircraft, the Fargo Air Museum is located at Hector International Airport.
Red River Zoo
With about 600 animals representing almost 90 species, the Red River Zoo features a variety of animals, from desert creatures to cold climate animals.
Opened in 1993, the zoo sits on 34 acres. It’s recommended to spend about three hours touring exhibits featuring animals from around the world. Visitors can see Sichuan Takin, native to Tibet, as well as Bactrian Camel, which can be found in the Gobi Desert of northern Asia.
Among the “cute” animals, how about checking out a red panda? Or a Swift Fox? The Pallas Cat, about the size of a large house cat, is native to Central Asia and can be found in spots up to almost 17,000 feet above sea level.
North American animals on exhibit include the Grey wolf, river otter and bald eagle.
Where to eat
With plenty of dining options, the Fargo-Moorhead area features unique culinary choices.
Kroll’s Diner has been a North Dakota dynasty since 1969. The 1950s-style diner’s menu features comfort food, from a club sandwich to sausage and sauerkraut, as well as kielbasa and dumplings. Its Knoephla soup is a delicacy starring dumplings in a creamy yellow broth.
The Toasted Frog creates dishes where eclectic flavors challenge diners’ palates, from fried pickles wrapped liked an egg roll and served with siracha sauce to corn ravioli made with roasted corn, mascarpone, squash, poblano and brown butter. Entrees feature wood fire pizza, filet mignon and fish, as well as burgers and sandwiches. It’s truly a culinary adventure.
Check out the Moorhead Dairy Queen, where the Dilly Bar was invented in 1955.
Where to stay
With plenty of options, Fargo is home to a variety of local and national hotel franchises, as well as bed and breakfast inns. Consider staying downtown, where the hotels are affordable compared with some cities’ core neighborhoods. The Donaldson is a vintage boutique hotel, while the Radisson is among the best in the hotel chain.
North Dakota is home to great attractions, and Fargo is the perfect kickoff city to visit. A short drive from Omaha, it’s an easy getaway for Boomer fun.
