a relaxing RETREAT

from Area Woman Magazine Jun/Jul '17

by Lake & Home Magazine | Area Woman Magazine

JUNE JULY

sheyenne oaks offers a quiet oasis just outside of Fargo-Moorhead

For a romantic weekend in the country or an outdoor adventure in one of North Dakota’s most inspiring settings, look to Sheyenne Oakes Campground and RV Park. This quiet respite from the stresses of modern life sits just 45 minutes southwest of Fargo, just south of Leonard, North Dakota.

Those who crave a few more creature comforts along with indoor plumbing and electricity (or a kitchen to cook their purchases in) will love the house and cabins available on Sheyenne Oaks’ wooded grounds. Hopewell House is a charming farmhouse that sleeps 10 and includes a full kitchen, which makes it a popular gathering place for groups, retreats and reunions. Andrew’s Cabin pays homage to the first white settler in the region. He built a cabin in 1879 just down the road from this quaint log cabin that the Hansens constructed in 2012. It’s fully furnished and boasts a grill on the front porch and a hot tub in the back. It sleeps six. Families with young children should also stop by the working ranch, located just across County Road 23. You’ll find chickens, piglets, cattle from the family’s herd and a flock of more than a thousand sheep. A nearby farm stand sells eggs, meat and other products, so just open up the freezer or fridge and grab what you need. In an example of true North Dakota hospitality, the farm stand (and everything else in the campground) operates on the honor system.

For a little romance, try Bertha’s Cabin. Bertha was an early settler as well and her snug, tworoom cabin has been renovated into a sweet little hideaway for two. Just like Andrew’s cabin, it includes a small kitchen, a pretty little porch and an outdoor hot tub on the back deck, a wonderful spot to unwind after a long day of exploring the trails, the campground’s biggest draw.

“All of it sits on the north border of the Sheyenne National Grassland, 70,000 acres that people just hike and bike and ride their horses and ATVs in,” says Jodi Hansen. “People like the peacefulness of it all, the quiet.”

Sheyenne Oakes is just steps away from 40 miles of marked trails, including the North Country Scenic Trail, which begins in New York and ends in Lake Sakakawea State Park near Pick City, North Dakota, crossing seven states in between. The Sheyenne National Grassland is also a major draw for birders and nature enthusiasts intrigued by the native flowers, curious deer, wild turkeys and the huge variety of birds that favor the oak savannah and riverbed near the campground.

The majority of visitors come from North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, but Sheyenne Oaks has also welcomed visitors from as far away as New Hampshire, Oregon, Washington and throughout Canada. Despite its close proximity to the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, this quiet little hideaway is still unknown to many in the region. The Hansens hope that 2017 is the year that changes.