Jamestown Lawmaker Urges Legacy Fund to Back Bison World
A Jamestown legislator told The Jamestown Sun he believes Bison World should receive investment from the North Dakota Legacy Fund, arguing the project would help diversify the state economy as oil revenues decline. The proposal matters locally because the bison themed park promises new jobs and year round tourism along Interstate 94, while project backers seek state support for roughly half of the financing not yet committed.
On November 19, 2025 Rep. Mitch Ostlie, R Jamestown, said in an email to The Jamestown Sun that Bison World would be a fitting candidate for investment through the North Dakota Legacy Fund, the state sovereign wealth fund created from oil revenue. He framed the proposal as part of a longer term strategy to broaden the state economy beyond fossil fuels.
"Our investment strategy continues to be more of the pension fund mentality," Ostlie wrote, and he added that "Bison World is exactly the kind of project that a true “sovereign wealth” fund should invest in." He stressed the need for economic diversification, saying "This is larger than Bison World." "It is about economic development and growing our state’s economy for the time when oil is no longer paying our bills."
Bison World is proposed as a bison themed cultural and entertainment park sited adjacent to Interstate 94. Planned features include an amphitheater, museums, and a range of winter attractions such as skating, a bison safari, snow and ice sculptures, and live reindeer. Project organizers say private investors have already committed to roughly half of the estimated cost, and they are seeking additional backing from state resources to complete financing.
The proposal arrives amid broader national and international examples of public funds deploying capital into tourism infrastructure. The Jamestown Sun report cites Alabama’s Retirement Systems and several international sovereign funds as jurisdictions that have used pension or sovereign wealth vehicles to support tourism and cultural projects. Those examples have often been pitched as ways to generate long term returns while supporting local economic development.
For Stutsman County the debate centers on potential economic benefits and the appropriate role for the Legacy Fund. Supporters point to job creation, increased visitor spending, and a more diversified annual tourism calendar that could reduce seasonal slowdowns. The location along Interstate 94 would make Jamestown a more prominent stop for regional travelers and could amplify demand for lodging, dining, and other services.
Skepticism is likely to surface around the risk profile of tourism projects and how any investment would align with the Legacy Fund’s in state investment goals and fiduciary responsibilities. Project backers will need to demonstrate a credible business plan and how public participation would protect taxpayers while delivering measurable returns.
Next steps include further discussions among Bison World investors, local leaders, and state officials who oversee Legacy Fund investments. As Jamestown watches the conversation, the underlying question remains whether North Dakota will use its oil era savings to help build a tourism future that can sustain communities when commodity revenues ebb.
