Location of New Retail Center -- Old News -- But I Finally Understand It -- Bakken, Williston, ND

It's been difficult for me to envision exactly where the retail center will be on which Menard's will be located. Off to the west of the bypass, south of Herman Oil is where I thought it would be, but the drainage is not good as that tract of land sits low to the highway.

But now, a reader has sent in a perfect description of where this retail center will be.

As you read the description below, if you have been out to Harvest Hills development, and at the circle, going directly south you would end up at/near the BHI SuperSite complex. Just east of this road, before you get to BHI/industrial park area, will be the retail center on top of the hill, looking down over Sand Creek (if I understand the following correctly):

The retail center is pretty much southwest of Herman Oil. Or across the Sand Creek Valley from where the new Motel 6 is under construction. It is up on top of the hill. If you go in front of Mercy on 11th and head west, a gravel road takes you down the hill and prairie trail to the top. This will become a road that will take you all the way to the Lindsey Road ( where Baker Huges is building their mega complex) Sand Creek center will be basically between 2&85 to the south and 11th street to the north. 32nd street will be a new feeder street that will stretch from Harvest Hills SOUTH to 2&85...this will be just to the west of Sand Creek retail center. So if you draw the lines...Sand Creek retail will be close to the intersection of 11th and 32nd (soon to be built streets).

I don't know if this area, including Harvest Hills, the Timbers, south to BHI SuperSite, and then east to the bypass to include the new retail center (of which Menard's is just one piece) is a larger tract of land than the "Williston I grew up in," but it is a huge tract of land, easily the size, I suppose of a Ray or Tioga. Maybe a stretch. I have trouble judging these things, but it's a starting point for discussion.

Growing up, we frequented the area, but "we" always called it Sandy Creek. Apparently it is "Sand Creek."

Here's how Williston's master planner is developing the area: click here.