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There is Lots to See and Do
Minnesota Lake provides a place for quiet afternoon walks in the woods, or around a quiet fishing pond as well as having peaceful picnics with your family.
If you would like to do some bird watching or hunting, it is available. You can also investigate local and family history in the extensive files kept at the Kremer House.
Maybe you'd like to root for the school team or take in a softball or baseball game.
You'll find it all in Minnesota Lake.
Come to visit, enjoy our lake, our park and gardens, and our friendly hometown events.
Open Mon. through Wed. 8:30-4:00
Paper Stories Photographs and Words from Minnesota Lake by the People of Minnesota Lake, Minnesota and David Morano
This quiet city park is located in town on the lake. Enjoy beautiful sunsets, and family picnics in two spacious park shelters with tables.
No reservations are taken for the shelters, it's on the "first come,
first serve basis" Restrooms and water are available. New playground equipment was added in 2002 through the work of many volunteers and donations by many people and organizations, including a DNA grant. Two baseball fields are adjacent to the park. Take a walk around the Old Mill Pond Boardwalk or rest on the wooden benches along the pond. You may also rest out of the sun in the gazebo and listen to the sounds of nature. The gazebo makes a lovely setting for weddings, birthday parties, etc. A beautiful sundial has been placed near the boardwalk. A rock burm
was constructed in the summer of 2004.
A wooden boardwalk has been constructed around the Old Mill Pond. Many families who consider Minnesota Lake or Communities in the surrounding area their hometown have purchased planks on the boardwalk. A name plaque is put in place to designate the owner of the individual plank. Putting a red star in front of the individual's name designates plaques for veterans. There are still planks available for purchase. It is a good way to remember family members, classmates, etc while they are still living as well as when they are deceased. All money received from the sale of planks is used to pay for the boardwalk and its upkeep. Wells Concrete Products donated the cement bridge crossing between the pond and the lake. The metal railings and Old Mill form were designed and constructed by local residents. An anonymous donor donated all materials.
The Old Mill Pond is located in the city park near the lake. It was dredged out and made deeper a few years ago. Each year, the DNR stocks the pond in early summer with game fish. The pond is reserved for children, family, and senior citizen fishing.
The Minnesota Lake Area Garden Club took over the Community Butterfly Garden in the summer of 2003. Until that time long time resident Donna Salic had been in charge of the garden. Community volunteers work together to plant and tend this garden designed with an abundance of floral color and rock formations. Summer and fall wedding have been held near the garden. Bring your picnic baskets and cameras! The garden changes from season to season so come often and enjoy the surroundings.
Several years ago, Dick Sonnek helped to develop a Hosta Garden in the Old Mill Park. The garden had grown into a showplace of many variety of hosta. The garden club added another hosta garden around some of the new sidewalks that were put in place after the new playground equipment was added. Dick has also donated several of his unique iron garden sculptures to the town. These can be found in the gardens and around the boardwalk in the Old Mill Park.
The State of Minnesota is capitalizing on the public's growing inters in non-game wildlife and bird watching as well as the ever popular interests of hunting and fishing to promote the Quad Lakes project which will help with the preservation of our valuable natural resources and thereby improve the quality of life and promote tourism in the Southern Minnesota area. The Quad Lakes Project is made possible through the funding of the Minnesota State Legislature, the cooperative efforts of the Faribault County Soils and Water Agency, various Divisions of the Minnesota DNR, including Fisheries, Non Game Wildlife, Water, Forestry, Trails and Waterways. Other wildlife Agencies cooperating include Pheasants Forever, Faribault County Deer Hunters Association, Martin and Faribault County Turkey Association, the Blue Earth County Soils and Water Agency, various area Sportsman's Clubs, the University of Minnesota Extension
Service, and Master Gardener Gordon Herbst. The Project benefits Minnesota Lake, Rice Lake, Bass Lake, and Lura Lake along with other area lakes and wetlands. The project relies heavily on local volunteer efforts. We are proud of Quad Lakes Director, Bob Brush who was the 1999 area Jefferson Good People Award Winner. He was then named a state winner and sent to Washington DC for honors. This was in recognition of his tireless efforts on behalf of lake conservation and preservation projects throughout this area of Southern Minnesota.
For bird watching or hiking, don't miss our Old Mill Trail, which begins in the Old Mill Park. The Trail follows around the north shore of the lake to the site of the original footing of Godfried Schostag's mill. Learn more about the mill (1864-1939) and the heritage of people living in the Minnesota Lake area by visiting the Kremer House Library and Museum at 317 Main St. (507-462-3420)
For those who want to camp and fish, Lura Lake is located in Daly Park just 15 minutes away in Blue Earth County. Lura Lake has campsites for tents and campers, picnic shelters, playground and year round fishing. (Daly Park phone 507-625-3282) In the winter this park can be reached by snowmobile trails leading to and from Minnesota Lake.
Joel Anderson of the DNR estimated that there were about 11,000 ducks and coot on the lake this summer as well as 1,000 geese. As many as 500 pelicans have been estimated as part of that growing bird population here in Minnesota Lake. The egret population is also on the rise.
During the fall season the lake provides excellent hunting for waterfowl, especially for those after the Canadian Goose. During the late season, northern ducks migrating south often stop to feed on area cornfields and rest on the lake. Within a ten-mile radius of Minnesota Lake are four other wildlife management areas, which include marshland, timber, and upland habitat for a variety of game species such as pheasant, Hungarian partridge and whitetail deer. Each provides excellent sport in season.
Along with two ball diamonds for Little League Softball and Baseball, and adult recreational Softball in the city park, Minnesota Lake has a beautiful modern baseball field on the school grounds with adequate bleacher space, an elevated press box and electronic scoreboard. With a lush, finely manicured grass infield, this diamond is a favorite of all visiting teams. In 2001, a joint venture by the Maple River School District, the City of Minnesota Lake, and the Baseball Association new lights were provided for this in field. With American Legion and VFW teams, a registered state amateur team, the Minnesota Lake Royals, and Little League Teams, you can enjoy watching a game of ball on almost any lazy summer evening.
The town of Minnesota Lake is located on the shores of old glacial Lake Minnesota and is surrounded by some of the richest farmland in the world. Glacial Lake Minnesota was formed over 10,000 years ago as glacial ice was melting. Once covering part of five counties and over on-half million acres in size, all that remains today is the 1,800 acres of Minnesota Lake, which is in the north central corner of Faribault County.
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Kremer House Library and Museum