10 Things Everyone From Ray North Dakota Knows

One of the many things our parent company, Townsquare Media encourages all of us to do daily is be local. What is it that is happening locally? Find it, write about it and talk about it. This encourages us daily to think outside the box. One lesson I have learned since being under their wing is to look at all the communities we serve. Since we are in a mostly rural area, if there's not much going on, focus on the town. Last month we started the Small North Dakota Town Tour in Grenora. Today, we focus on Ray North Dakota.

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The small but mighty town of Ray, North Dakota, was recently a hive of activity when the KEYZ Facebook page asked a simple yet thought-provoking question: "What are some great things about Ray North Dakota?" The outpouring of replies demonstrated the distinct charm and spirit of the close-knit community.

The people—Ray's core audience—came up again and again in the comments. A monument to the sense of community that characterizes this tight-knit neighborhood, the town's citizens were praised by many for their friendliness and warmth. This neighborhood is more than simply a place to live; it's a family.

Several people commented on how nice the Ray Golf Course is. The ND Tourism website shows it's a 9-hole, par 36 course at 2901 yards and a Slope 68.0/Rating 112. I had to look that up because I never remember what's what after I leave. I have been there a few times, and let's just say the hospitality was great!

A lot of people also said nice things about how great the school in Ray was. Most people agree that the general well-being of a town is closely linked to the strength of its educational system. The school's reputation for success not only shows how well it does in the classroom but also shows how important it is as a place where the community can come together and grow.

If you enjoy having fun and fundraising The Gnarly Barley 5k Run/Walk/Crawl is for you! This event is gaining in popularity, and in August of 2023, organizers presented a $50,000 check to the Ray Golf Course. This year's event is June 22, 2024. Based on all the pictures on their Facebook page, I need to be in Ray for all this fun!

There was a lot of talk about Ray Gain Palace Days. With each passing year, this three-day event has grown bigger and better. Not only was there a parade, but there was also music, a car show, reunions, and pancakes on the golf course. Blackhawk opened the event in 2023 with a great show at the Glen Severson Memorial Field. It's always in August, so make plans now to attend!

For the foodies in the group, If you want your steak and cake fix, look no further! Thoreson's Meat Processing was a reoccurring theme in all the responses along with Pour Some Sugar Custom Cakes. When it comes to steak or ham or if you're just looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, these are 2 local businesses that are happy to be in Ray!

You might think a small town like Ray doesn't have much going on as far as shopping goes. They opened a new retail store on Main Street called Rae’s Consignment & Retail. If you're in Ray, stop in and make a purchase!

You have another community in western North Dakota to be proud of when you include the tire shop, the mall, the Ray Farmers Union Elevator, the Cenex store, and all of their volunteers. From Ray, North Dakota, welcome!

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