Visit Ellendale
We hope you enjoy your stay here and partake in some of our local flavor. Ellendale offers beautiful parks, excellent lodging, a variety of culinary pursuits and shopping, cultural, recreational and educational opportunities for people of all ages.
Whether you’re a long-time resident or visiting for the weekend we want you to savor your time in Ellendale!
Lodging
Ellendale Extended Stay
Location: 316 1st Ave S, Ellendale
Phone: 349-3695 or 701-535-0337
The Harvest Inn
Location: 605 1st Ave S, Ellendale
Phone: 349-2467 or 877-822-2150
Prairie Winds Motel
Location: 5th Street N, Ellendale
Phone: 349-3771
Camping
Local camping options around town.
Airbnb: The Birch on Third
Location: Third St, Ellendale
Phone: 701-535-0347
Hay’s Lodge
Location: 9464 80th St SE, Ellendale
Phone: 701-375-7446
Elm Lake Lodge
Location: PO Box 564, Elm Lake, Frederick, SD
Phone: 605-358-8801
Prairie Pothole Lodge
Location: 9212 100th Ave SE, Fullerton
Phone: 701-783-4545
History of ellendale
Ellendale was the first permanent settlement in Dickey County. It began in October 1881. Early in 1882, the Ellendale townsite was platted, with the survey bearing the date of May 8, 1882. The plat was filed in the Registrar’s office on August 22, 1882 and was voted the county seat November 6, 1882 with Ellendale winning over Keystone 162-62 votes. Ellendale was incorporated as a village July, 1883, and as a city August 25, 1889.
Homes, businesses and services flourished in Ellendale. Then, on the windy night of May 9, 1916, came the big fire. Three blocks of businesses, a church and 21 families were burned out. With characteristic western zeal, Ellendale rebuilt.
The Ellendale area has an active historical society involved with preserving history of the area. The Coleman Museum and the O.P.E.R.A, Inc. groups are very active in the community raising funds to maintain and develop these historic landmarks.
Coleman Museum
Dr. Lauren Coleman, an Ellendale native purchased the former Farmers National Bank Building in 1927. He moved is dental practice and his family home into the building and Dr. Coleman kept seeing patients nearly until his death in 1968. When his wife, Lucile died in 1984, her grandchildren generously donated the building and many family artifacts, including Dr. Coleman’s 1928 Ritter Dental Machine, to the Ellendale Historical Society.
The building houses a great variety of interesting artifacts donated by area families and businesses. It also holds a large variety of items related to Ellendale’s college, which began its history in 1899 as the State Manual Training School, then became the State Normal and Industrial School, and ultimately finished its service as a state institution in 1972 as the Ellendale Branch of the University of North Dakota. Since then the campus has been the home of Trinity Bible College.
In 2002, the Historical Society completed a 36×80 addition on the back of the main building, to house artifacts previously kept in the old Depot Museum. The building is handicapped accessible and has themed sections devoted to Ellendale’s businesses, households, churches, newspapers, farmers railroads (the Milwaukee and the Great Northern), its country schools, and the service of its men and women in the military.
Persons interested in any aspect of Ellendale’s history, and those who would like to donate significant historical items or support us financially are urged to contact us at colemanmuseum@gmail.com, or call Ken Smith, President of the Society, at 701-320-2794 (cell). We are a 501c3 organization and we rely on the support of our generous donors. also, rely on annual memberships of ten dollars per year for our operations. Our operation is highly economical and we are determined to be good stewards of your investment.
Hours: Our summer hours from the week after Memorial Day in June to the week of Applefest in September
Wednesdays: 10:00 to 2:00; Thursdays: 1:00 to 5:00, Fridays: 1:00 to 5:00.
If you are passing through at a different time or need accommodations for a group or other purpose, please call Ken Smith at 701-320-2794 (cell), or Jeanette Ruenz at 701-535-0442 (cell).
Location: 50 W Main, Ellendale
Free Admission: Donations Welcome
Historical Tour of Ellendale is available via the Pocketsights App. Download the app and search Ellendale to find the tour!
Dickey County Court House
For the first two years after organization, Dickey County did not have an official courthouse. In the fall of 1884, action was taken by the county commissioners to build a courthouse, which would be two stories high and would house county offices on the first floor and the courtroom and public hall on the second floor.
The first courthouse was built at Main and 3rd Avenue on the lots where Evergreen Place is now located. Judging from pictures, the courthouse appeared to be a structure about 40 by 60 feet. There were four chimneys to take care of the heating. The courthouse was completed and readied for occupancy by the beginning of 1885. Brown and Mallory were the builders and according to county warrants that were issued, the cost was $5,448.
A bond issue for $50,000 to build a new courthouse passed in the May 28, 1910 election. The new structure was built in 1911 and 1912 and the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone was held on May 19, 1911 with the Masonic Lodge in charge. Because of rain, only the ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone took place on the courthouse grounds and the remainder of the program was held at the Opera House.
The dedication of the new building was held on July 4, 1912 and county offices were moved from the old building into the new courthouse. The setting for the new courthouse covered an entire city block at a cost of about $100,000.
Some major events since then have been the replacement of the coal heating system by an oil system in 1973, the listing on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1980, the windows in the dome were repaired in 1983 after damage from the 1966 tornado, an elevator was installed in 1993, the jail was removed in 1997, tuckpointing the exterior brick in 1998 and all windows replaced in 2005.
Four murals can be found around the inside of the rotunda. They have been refurbished in the last few years as have the courtroom mural and ceiling and the main and second levels of the rotunda.
ELLENDALE OPERA HOUSE
The historic Ellendale Opera House – located at 55 Main St. and listed on the National Register of Historic Places – celebrated its 114th anniversary in 2023.
The opera house – owned and operated by the non-profit charitable organization O.P.E.R.A., Inc., – serves as the cultural hub of the community.
One of the building’s storefronts has been restored into a Lobby & Gallery space and each year hosts art exhibits, play productions, musical events, poetry readings, art classes, private receptions and community meetings.
O.P.E.R.A. (Organization of People in Ellendale for Restoration of the Arts) was formed in 1992 to save the landmark from demolition. It assumed ownership of the building from the city and has been working to fully restore the Main Street landmark.
Like many “opera houses” built at the turn of the century, the building included first floor storefronts for commercial businesses, second floor offices for attorneys, dentists and doctors and an auditorium on the third floor for community events and performances.
The auditorium with seating for about 1,000 was used for high school and college plays, graduations, political debates, dances, basketball games, wrestling and boxing matches, 4-H rallies, roller-skating and other social events.
For more information on the historic opera house, to schedule a tour of the building, or to rent the Lobby & Gallery for an event, contact O.P.E.R.A. Executive Director Justin Meidinger at 701-535-0347, or e-mail: jmmeid@hotmail.com.
Whitestone Hill State Historic Site
Phone: 701-328-3508
Location: 23 miles south east of Kulm
Whitestone Hill State Historic Site marks the scene of the fiercest clash between Indians and white soldiers in North Dakota. On September 3, 1863, General Alfred Sully’s troops attacked a tipi camp of Yanktonai, some Dakota, Hunkpapa Lakota, and Blackfeet (Sihasapa Lakota), as part of a military mission to punish participants of the Dakota Conflict of 1862. In the ensuing battle, many Indian men, women, and children died or were captured. Military casualties were comparatively light. The Indians also suffered the destruction of virtually all of their property, leaving them nearly destitute for the coming winter.
Today, Whitestone Hill State Historic Site includes a portion of the battlefield and a small museum with exhibits explaining the 1863 Sibley and Sully expeditions and the Battle of Whitestone Hill (the museum burned November 2009 and is currently being renovated). There are two monuments, one honoring the Indian dead and a second commemorating the soldiers who died in the battle. A marker also recognizes two early settlers, Tom and Mary Shimmin. A fieldstone shelter beside the trail provides a resting point overlooking part of the battlefield and a freshwater lake. Nearby is a picnic area with a shelter, table, pit toilets, and a parking lot.
The site is open year round, but there is no snow removal service. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.
Hunting & Fishing
There are many opportunities for excellent hunting and fishing in the Ellendale Vicinity. Often called the Pheasant capital of North Dakota Ellendale offers excellent guides and lodging services. Ellendale is known for its great Pheasant, Goose, Duck and Deer hunting.
Hunting & Fishing Supplies
Cenex: 349-3191
True Value: 349-3274
Ellendale Country Club
Located four miles south of town on Hwy. 281 is the Ellendale Country Club with its lovely clubhouse, built in 2008. The club and course are open to the public. Guests and members are invited to warm up on the driving range and then enjoy a round or two on the 9-hole course. The course is beautifully maintained and features grass greens, notting hills and watered fairways.
- Last Tuesday of the month and Memorial Day Veterans golf for free (must show military ID)
- Greens fees $15 for 9 holes, $25 for 18 and all day
- Under 12 years of age $10 per 9 holes
- Cart rent $12
- Trail fee $5 (non-member who bring their own carts)
- Rental clubs $3
- Pull cart rental $1
- Full bar and grill with outdoor patio
- Cater parties of all kinds
- Membership Fees
Location: 10134 US-281, Ellendale
Phone: 701-349-4292
Tourism
Whether your passion is hunting, fishing, birding, snowmobiling or history, Ellendale offers something for you. Visit our downtown specialty shops including an old-time variety store, coffee shops, a greenhouse and restaurants. Then tour the opera house, museum and court house. Head west on Hwy. 11 to enjoy the scenery and drop a fishing line into Pheasant Lake. Further west, you can stare up at one of the 120 wind towers in a farm that stretches from North into South Dakota.
Located on the main north-south migratory bird flyway, our region is host to a wide variety of birds that pass through during migration or make this area their year-round home. Over 100 species are spotted in our area, making Ellendale a prime birding headquarters.
During the hunting seasons, Ellendale is a great home base for your trip in search of pheasants, deer and other bountiful game.
For more information about Ellendale area events and attractions, please contact ellenjda@drtel.net.
