WALHALLA, N.D. — Pembina Gorge State Park eased into its first summer season as North Dakota’s 14th state park. The North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department was happy with the season, not only for Pembina Gorge, but also nearby Icelandic State Park.
Parks and Recreation manager Mike Duerre always appreciates a busy season without too many surprises.
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“We weren't at full capacity on the weekends for sure. But our holiday weekends were pretty good. Then as the weather got nicer, traffic picked up,” Duerre said.
Work continues at Pembina Gorge as it builds momentum and aims to reach usage levels seen at other popular parks in the area, like Icelandic. The Gorge saw some unfortunate weather hiccups early in the summer that were unable to be amended.
Its opening dedication, which was going to be attended by Gov. Kelly Armstrong, was postponed due to weather conditions. A makeup date was never officially set and a smaller ceremony was later held with little fanfare.
“It ended up being a bit strange for scheduling. From the June opening, we rescheduled to Saturday, Sept. 26, in conjunction with Walhalla’s Pumpkin Days and for fall colors, but ended up having to significan...