Submitted Photo The Cote Round Barn near Dunseith, named to the National Register of Historical Places in 1986, is shown in 2007. Photo courtesy of State Historical Society of North Dakota.

ROLLA – The Rolette County Historical Society is raising money for a multi-faceted tourism destination project focusing on agriculture.

The proposed project would be developed around the site of the Cote Round Barn, named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, and would include a recreational vehicle (RV) park, rodeo grounds, gardens, orchard and livestock management opportunities, according to the historical society.

The site is at the junction of North Dakota Highways 5 and 3/U.S. 281 near Dunseith.

The historical society purchased the property this year under a five-year contract. In addition to the Round Barn, built in 1943 as a dairy barn with a dance hall on the second floor, the property includes a garage, outbuildings and 33 fenced acres. The barn was restored with a reshingled barn roof and restored barn doors in 2000. Internationally, it is one of the most frequently mentioned round barns on various media platforms, the historical society noted.

The plan is to restore the round barn and original dairy equipment on the main floor, with a dairy museum on the second floor. The farm house would be restored for a live-in farm manager, and other buildings would be restored for equipment storage and other farm operation items.

A 40-unit RV facility, which tourism data indicates is a need in the area, would be installed, the historical society reported. A farm-themed playground area would be located nearby.

The plan includes construction of auxiliary parking and 14-unit RV/livestock trailer lots adjacent to rodeo grounds. Acreage would be developed for native plantings, community gardens, orchards, berry patches and farmers market opportunities. A platform deck would be built near a city pond for birding and wildlife viewing.

Facilities would be upgraded to allow for livestock. The historical society is investigating hands-on learning opportunities with trade schools and colleges to develop historic dairy operation businesses such as hand milking dairy cows/goats, bottle/pail feeding calves and kids, cream separating, butter churning, ice cream making and marketing of dairy products.

Installation of a chicken coop and brooder house with associated equipment would provide for egg and meat sales.

Local fund raising and grant seeking began this year. The historical society had raised $20,000 as of the end of June.