Beyond the Margin

By Joe Spear

The emergence of a chartreuse green landscape in May paints the historic Minneopa State Park and waterfalls in a way we shouldn’t take for granted.

The May sun hits the falls just right for that glimmering sheen about 2 p.m.

It’s a simple beauty but unique to the Mankato region in one of Minnesota’s oldest “rustic” state parks. The Legislature purchased the land around the Minneopa waterfalls in 1905, making Minneopa the third oldest state park after Itasca and Interstate.

Minneopa comes from the Dakota word that means “two water falls” referring to the initial 8-foot falls that lead under the 1921 stone bridge to the larger falls that plummet about 40 feet.

Minneopa State Park and the falls can be taken for granted by those who’ve become familiar with them, but others see them for the jewel they are.

From gowaterfalling.com:

“Minneopa Falls is the most scenic waterfall in southern Minnesota that I have seen. There is a fee to visit the state park, but it is worth it if you like waterfalls.”

Years before Minneopa became a state park, hotels and train stops made it a resort-like area drawing people from around the state.

Local residents keep Minneopa in the forefront with their “Friends of Minneopa” newsletter and caretaking of the 1855 Historic Minneopa Cemetery. A strong volunteer force serves as ambassadors for the park, and the herd of bison brought to the prairie side of the park in 2015 occupy a 300-acre fenced-in area.

Residents show their affinity for the park through their generosity. Local landowners sold some 147 acres to expand the park in 2015 and took the Department of Natural Resources’ low bid instead of higher bids from a private party.

In 2018, Minneopa was among the top 10 state parks with about 280,000 visitors a year, according to the DNR.

The park has grown in visibility as a newsletter developed by park naturalist Scott Kudelka with the help of volunteers goes to more than 500 people, according to a report last fall in the Star Tribune.

The New Deal’s Works Progress Administration constructed seven buildings at the park from 19371940. Workers built stairs to the waterfalls, hiking trails and seven buildings, including a shelter, maintenance buildings, restrooms and other structures. They were constructed with local sandstone and timbers.

The bison herd has been one of the biggest draws as the animals can be found roaming across the gravel bison road, sometimes weaving between the drivethru traffic, a thrill for vehicle occupants. The herd is raised for breeding stock in one of the few pure bison herds left in the country.

There remains an abundance of fascinating details about the park that echo a different time in history, and the people of Minneopa’s history have inspirational stories.

Louis Seppman, a stone mason, built a flour mill at Minneopa in 1862, completed in 1864. It could turn 150 bushels of wheat a day into flour with its enormous four-paneled windmill and beautiful stone silo.

Two wings of the windmill were broken off in a lightning storm in 1873 and were rebuilt, only to be taken off again by a tornado in 1880, never to be rebuilt. After about 100 years of sitting in the elements, the stone silo was reconstructed, the window and doors fixed and the cap-like roof, reshingled in 1970, according to the DNR. Over the years, the 60-site campground has become popular with college students and local residents. I once witnessed a wrestling match between two college classmates at the campground. (Yes, there was alcohol involved.)

The camper cabin sits just above a ravine where one can hear the trains cross the valley below.

Friends of Minneopa holds a Winterfest event, complete with candlelit trails, a bonfire and cookout.

The park offers a real sense of history sitting on the banks of the Glacial River Warren about 11,000 years ago. The park is completely contained in the old riverbed, and the DNR notes that large rocks cropping up in various places are not native to the area and were carried by the glacial river to rest near Minneopa.

The DNR website describes the valley overlook at the park as one where the River Warren carved a 320mile valley, some 5 miles wide and 250 feet deep.

Of course, the value of places in nature and parks grew with the onset of the pandemic. Thousands fled to the peace and quiet and relative safety of the outdoors. Many gained a new appreciation for what comes in May at Minneopa.

Joe Spear is editor of Mankato Magazine. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear.