15 minute read
LANESBORO: THE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
-KATHY THISS LANESBORO RESIDENT
LANESBORO: THE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK PLAY
Lanesboro, often called the “Magical Hamlet,” is a thriving southeastern Minnesota community that has become a destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors. It’s an old town by Midwestern standards, settled in 1856, but its 1970’s redo as a tourist destination owes much to the wisdom of converting an abandoned rail line into a bicycle trail.
The town is nestled in the Root River Valley and surrounded by idyllic rolling countryside and limestone bluffs. It had been a busy milling community in the 1870s, when most of the downtown commercial district that remains today was built. A century later, most of the historic buildings were in disrepair and an old theater stood dark. The Milwaukee Road, which had closed its line through town, sold its 1870 depot. A citizens group used the depot’s reconstruction as a catalyst for cultural and commercial revitalization. Members formed a task force, knocked on doors, held town meetings. City government, local nonprofit organizations and private individuals adopted a collaborative plan focusing on the region’s natural beauty, the arts and historic preservation.
Around the same time, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) obtained the old railroad rightof-way, with plans to convert it to a recreational trail—a 60- mile paved route that would meander along the Root River through picturesque limestone bluffs and small towns— including Lanesboro.
Lanesboro’s remarkable comeback as a livable rural community can be traced to pairing the town’s natural and cultural assets to accessibility. Today, people arrive to bicycle and canoe and even cross-country ski along the Root River State Trail. Once in town, it’s an easy walk to the Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro Arts, the Lanesboro Historical Museum, farmers market, restaurants and bed and breakfasts. Lanesboro has emerged not only as a tourist spot, but with a diverse economy based on agriculture, hospitality and the arts.
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>> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
EYE PRIZE MARKETING 107 Parkway Ave N | (612) 865-5103 eyeprizemarketing.com Your full-service digital marketing experts helping businesses develop and run effective internet ad campaigns that get results. Whether you need product photography, video production or website design, we have you covered.
F&M COMMUNITY BANK 100 Saint Anthony St N, Preston | (507) 765-3823 fmcommunity.com “We make banking easy!”™ Simplify your banking with these easy-to-use services: online banking and bill pay, mobile app featuring instant balance, remote mobile deposit and person-to-person payments.
KRAGE INSURANCE AGENCY 205 Parkway Ave N | (507) 467-3309 Helping people buy all kinds of insurance since 1970 – including home, auto, farm, crop, business, life and health and Medicare supplements. Also helping people buy and sell homes, farms and businesses with four licensed real estate agents.
MANION LAW FIRM, LLC 204 Parkway Ave N | (507) 467-2317 manionlawfirm.com A full-service law firm located in the picturesque town of Lanesboro, Minnesota. General law practice including estate planning, criminal defense and family law.
MERCHANTS BANK 118 Parkway Ave N | (507) 467-2145 merchantsbank.com Merchants Bank offers business, ag, SBA, home and consumer loans, lease financing, business and personal checking and savings accounts. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
PAMELA RISTAU, CPA 209 Saint Anthony St S, Preston | (507) 765-2180 Accountant and Tax Preparer located in Preston, MN. Specializing in tax returns, payroll and bookkeeping services, she has been serving clients ranging from individuals, small businesses, agriculture operations, trusts and estates and non-profit organizations.
THRIVENT FINANCIAL 102 Sheridan St W | (507) 467-3370 walter.bradley@thrivent.com Walter Bradley is your Thrivent Financial representative helping people in the Lanesboro area be wise with money and live generously.
SERVICES
ACENTEK 207 E Cedar St, Houston | (888) 404-4940 acentek.net AcenTek is your local provider for Voice, Video, Internet, and Business Solutions, serving communities in Southeastern Minnesota, Northeastern Iowa and Michigan.
BUNGE CONSTRUCTION (MN Lic. #7867) 100 Alley Dr | (507) 251-7952 General contractor serving southeast Minnesota with residential and light commercial construction services since 1980. Specializing in developing highly efficient, low maintenance, accessible, single-level residences from twin-homes to four-plexes.
COFFEE STREET FITNESS AND DANCE 102 Coffee St E | (507) 272-3731 lanesborofitness.com A full-service fitness center that offers everything a person needs to maintain their health and fitness goals! Guest passes available for one day, two day or one week to work out in fitness center.
HAAKENSON ELECTRIC 326 Parkside Dr SE, Preston | (507) 251-5535 Agricultural, industrial and residential electrical service. 24-hour service.
LANESBORO CAR WASH AND LAUNDROMAT 102 Ashburn St E | (507) 951-7451 Year-round self-serve two bay car wash, and a laundromat with eight-20lb washers and dryers and one 35lb washer and dryer. Open 6am10pm. Change machine available.
PRESTON SPECIALTIES 103 Coffee St W | (507) 467-2137 prestonspecialties.com Protecting your products from the inside out. Specializing in corrugated and composite structures, we custom design packaging to meet your specifications.
REVIVAL HOUSE THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND WELLNESS 100 Beacon St E | (507) 218-4071 revivalhousewellness.com Located in in the Stonemill Hotel and Suites, we offer holistic therapies in a comfortable, relaxing and luxurious environment.
WORSHIP
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 200 Kenilworth Ave S | (507) 467-3344 staronthehill.com Church is located on the hill overlooking downtown Lanesboro. Everyone is welcome! Sunday worship at 9am. Refreshments and faith formation follow.
DISCOVERY FAITH COMMUNITY 507 Parkway Ave S | (507) 467-2646 facebook.com/discoveryfaithcommunity An active lay led congregation serving the people of Lanesboro. Join us! Services Sunday mornings at 10:30am.
ELSTAD LUTHERAN CHURCH 37784 Dogwood Rd | elstadlutheranchurch.org A welcoming church in rural Lanesboro, surrounded by the fields and hills of southeastern Minnesota.
WHALAN LUTHERAN CHURCH Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 903 Oak St, Whalan | (507) 467-2159 Whalan Lutheran Church is serving the community and engaging and encouraging others through a life-changing journey. Alternating start times each month. See listing on Lanesboro.com for schedule.
MIENERGY COOPERATIVE 31110 Cooperative Way, Rushford | (507) 864-7783 MiEnergy.coop Tri-County Electric Cooperative and Hawkeye REC merged in 2017 to form MiEnergy CooperativeTM. MiEnergy is a wholesale electricity provider to the City of Lanesboro.
OUR NEIGHBORS
Want to live in Lanesboro? We have it all—beauty and art, a school and library, a park, pie and pizza and, above all, community. You truly can go to your neighbor's for a cup of sugar.
It takes an enormous amount of cooperation and energy to run our town. City employees, shopkeepers, innkeepers, Minnesota DNR, restaurateurs, American Legion, artists, actors, Chamber of Commerce, and many, many volunteers work together to make this a great place, whether you live here or are just visiting.
We make our own fun. We have festivals and music. We have community theatre and pop-up plays. We have cookie walks and silent auctions. We have barn dances and parades. We have parties and church suppers. We have sing-a-longs and school concerts. We have been officially designated the Rhubarb Capital of Minnesota and are home to the Rhubarb Sisters and Rutabaga Brothers.
The flavor of our town is seasonal. In the winter, we relax and visit with our neighbors. In the summer, we share our town with the rest of the world. Winter rejuvenates us, and summer rejuvenates the town.
Join us!
Hop in the car or on your bike. Go exploring—these trail towns are just a short trip from Lanesboro.
PRESTON prestonmnchamber.com | 10 miles by bike | 8.4 miles by car
FOUNTAIN fountainmn.org | 11 miles by bike | 9.7 miles by car
HARMONY exploreharmony.com | 22.5 miles by bike | 13.6 miles by car
WHALAN rootrivertrail.org/site/rrt-whalan-landing.php 4.6 miles by bike | 4.8 miles by car
PETERSON petersonmn.com | 13.5 miles by bike | 14.4 miles by car
RUSHFORD AND RUSHFORD VILLAGE rushfordpetersonvalley.com | 18.3 miles by bike | 18.7 miles by car
HOUSTON houstonmnchamber.com | 31.1 miles by bike | 29.5 miles by car
42 | # LANESBOROMN | # ONLYINLANESBORO ARTS AND CULTURE Cheryl Lamon - Artist 108 Coffee St E (507) 467-4466 P.9 cherylsfabricgarden.com Commonweal Theatre Company 208 Parkway Ave N (800) 657-7025 P.9,11 commonwealtheatre.org Driftless Visuals PO Box 26 (612) 222-4003 Joan Finnegan Fine Arts 34617 Cty 12 (507) 272-0254 P.9 joanfinnegan.com Lanesboro Area Art Trail PO Box 19 (651) 307-6373 P.9 lanesboroareaarttrail.com Lanesboro Arts 103 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2446 P.9,12 lanesboroarts.org Lanesboro Arts Gallery 103 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2446 P.9,12 lanesboroarts.org Lanesboro Historical Museum and Storytelling Telephone Booth 105 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2177 P.9 Peterson Creative Photography and Design 30601 Grouse Rd (507) 421-9906 P.9 petersoncreativephoto.com St. Mane Theatre 206 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2446 P.9 lanesboroarts.org/st-mane-theatre CAMPGROUNDS Eagle Cliff Campground and Lodging 35455 St Hwy 16 (507) 467-2598 P.28,34,37 eagle-cliff.com Gud-i-nuff Campsites 23653 Hickory Rd (507) 421-8008 Highway 250 Campground 25276 State Hwy 250 (507) 467-3395 Sylvan Park and Riverview Campgrounds 202 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3722 P.32 lanesboro-mn.gov COMMUNITY AND LOCAL SERVIES A Dog Spot 37142 Doe Rd (507) 875-2600 Alton Erickson and Assoc. Real Estate Sales 205 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3783 American Legion Post #40 103 Elmwood St E (507) 467-3440 P.38 lanesboroamericanlegion.org Artisan Design and Landscape, LLC 203 Sheridan St E (507) 993-6399 Bakke Cement and Masonry 23032 Hickory Rd (507) 467-2941 Bob's Body Shop 26385 Hideaway Rd (507) 467-3372 Bunge Construction, Inc. 100 Alley Dr (507) 251-7952 P.40 Christie's Photo 706 Viking Ave S (507) 467-2118 Church Hill School Condominiums 201 Ridgeview Ln S (952) 210-9662 City of Lanesboro/Public Utilities 202 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3722 P.38 lanesboro-mn.gov Classic Concert Enhancement, LLC PO Box 145 Coffee Street Fitness and Dance 102 Coffee St E (507) 272-3731 P.40 lanesborofitness.com Doc's Auto Body and Repair 210 2nd Ave, Whalan (507) 467-3598 Dr. James Waldow, DDS 109 Coffee St (507) 467-2269 Driftless Goat Company 22514 Grosbeak Rd (507) 467-2077 Dry Store 28097 Goodview Dr (507) 951-7296 Dybing Hydraulics, Inc. 100 Woodview Ave (507) 421-6731 Engelson and Assoc LTD PO Box 712 (507) 467-1040 Eye Prize Marketing 107 Parkway Ave N (612) 865-5103 P.40 eyeprizemarketing.com Fifth Sun Gardens 27835 Goodview Dr (847) 626-8382 Folkvangen LLC 100 Woodview Ave (507) 467-2345 Good Job Painting, Snow Removal and Lawn Care 808 Auburn Ave S (507) 450-6030 Hebl Cleaning and Restoration 31088 State Hwy 16 (507) 467-4798 Huntington Electric 26418 Hideaway Rd (507) 467-2348 Jen You 1 Touch Massage Therapy 401 Parkway Ave S (507) 517-1119 Joel Pfeffer Construction 302 Elmwood St E (507) 317-4409 Johnson-Riley Funeral Home and Cremation Svc 304 Sheridan St (507) 467-2130 Krage Ins Agency and Preble Farmers Mutual 205 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3309 P.40 Lanesboro Area Chamber of Comm and Visitor Ctr 100 Milwaukee Rd (507) 467-2696 P.38 lanesboro.com Lanesboro Area Community Foundation PO Box 370 (507) 696-1884 P.38 smithfoundation.org Lanesboro Area Fisheries 23785 Grosbeak Rd (507) 467-2442 Lanesboro BP Food Shop S&A Petroleum, Inc. 100 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2121 P.32 sapetroleum.net Lanesboro Car Wash and Laundromat LLC 102 Ashburn St E (507) 951-7451 P.40 Lanesboro Entertainment Group, LLC 100 Coffee St (507) 475-3646 Lanesboro Fire Hall (City Hall) 202 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2225 Lanesboro Post Office 114 Coffee St (507) 467-2250 Lanesboro Public Library 202 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2649 P.38 lanesboro.lib.mn.us Lanesboro Public School and Childcare Center 100 Kirkwood St E (507) 467-2229 P.38 lanesboro.k12.mn.us Lanesboro Sales Commission 402 Coffee St E (507) 467-2192 P.38 lanesborosalescommission.com Member of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce bolded.
2020 EDITION | LANESBORO.COM | 43 Lanesboro Tire and Service 301 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2293 Life Style Inc - Kenilworth Apartments 607 Kenilworth Ave S (507) 451-8524 P.38 lifestyleinc.net Life Style Inc - Sylvan Manor Apartments 503 Parkway Ave S (507) 451-8524 P.38 lifestyleinc.net Lions Club of Lanesboro PO Box 4 (507) 398-3026 P.38 lions5m1.org/lanesboro LWMG Internet, LLC PO Box 145 Manion Law Firm, LLC 204 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2317 P.40 manionlawfirm.com Merchants Bank 118 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2145 P.40 merchantsbank.com Midwest Virtual Assistants Lanesboro (507) 421-5493 MN DNR Root River Trail Center 100 Milwaukee Rd (507) 467-2552 Preston Specialties Inc. 103 Coffee St W (507) 467-2137 P.40 prestonspecialties.com Revival House Therapeutic Massage & Wellness 100 Beacon St E (507) 218-4071 P.40 revivalhousewellness.com River Hills Chiropractic, Dr. Kay Johnson 102 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2629 RLH Grain 18 Beacon St E (507) 467-2300 P.38 Root River Recovery 210 Zenith St (507) 259-4309 Scenic Design Hairstyling 102 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2233 Sveen Construction Excavating 26926 Everyday Rd (507) 467-2510 Thrivent Financial 102 Sheridan St W (507) 467-3370 P.40 walter.bradley@thrivent.com Town Klippers 207 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3528 Vis Plumbing and Heating 105 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2240 DINING AND SPIRITS Another Time Ice Cream Parlor and Chocolates 100 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3556 P.6 anothertimeicecream.com Aroma Pie Shoppe 618 Main St (507) 467-2623 P.6 The Bite 111 Parkway Ave N Granny's Liquor 113 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2700 P.6 grannysliquor.com Hawaiian Shaved Ice 401 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2253 P.6 High Court Pub 109 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2782 P.6 highcourtpub.com Home Sweet Home Cafe and Cakery 210 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2244 P.6,8 lizscakes.com Lanesboro Pastry Shoppe 202 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2867 Old Village Hall Restaurant and Pub 111 Coffee St E (507) 467-2962 P.6 oldvillagehall.com Pedal Pushers Cafe 121 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-1050 P.6,7 pedalpusherscafe.com Root River Saloon 112 Coffee St (507) 467-3355 Root River Unwined 102 Coffee St W (224) 688-4663 P.6,7 unwinedlanesboro.com Spud Boy Diner 105 3/4 Parkway Ave N (563) 419-0727 GROUP FACILITIES RENTALS Lanesboro Community Memorial Center 202 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3722 P.17 lanesboro-mn.gov The Rustic Hearth Event Center 905 Bench St (507) 467-9000 P.16,17,18,37 cedarvalleyresort.com Sons of Norway - Heimbygda Lodge 200 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-0100 P.17 LODGING A Guest Hus Motel and Historic Knotty Pine Cabins 610 Parkway Ave S (507) 438-5272 P.28 aguesthus.com Art Loft Lodging 103 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2446 P.30 artlofts.org Berwood Hill Inn 22139 Hickory Rd (612) 867-3614 P.18 berwood.com Bluff Country Retreat 26557 Evening Dr (612) 283-0591 Blossom Valley Inn 511 New St, Whalan (507) 450-2306 Bluff View Guest House 111 1st Ave, Whalan Brewster's Red Hotel 106 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2999 Cedar Valley Resort 905 Bench St (507) 467-9000 P.16,17,18,37 cedarvalleyresort.com Coffee Street Inn 305 Coffee St E (507) 467-2674 P.28 coffeestreetinn.com Cottage House Inn 209 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2577 P.28,31 cottagehouseinn.com Country Haven B&B 32324 Cty Rd 12 (507) 765-3389 Cozy Quilt Cottage 23824 Holly Rd (507) 459-8722 P.30 cozyquiltcottage.com Cyclin-Inn 439 Half St (507) 251-5101 P.30 cyclin-inn.com Cyclin-Up Inn 920 Bench St (507) 251-5101 P.30 cyclin-inn.com Grandma's Inn 100 Elmwood St E (507) 467-2144 P.28 grandmasmn.com Green Gables Inn 303 Sheridan St W (507) 467-2936 P.28 greengablesinn.us Habberstad House B&B 706 Fillmore Ave S (507) 467-3560 P.18,19 habberstadhouse.com High Court Loft 109 Parkway Ave N (507) 951-4483 Hillcrest Inn 404 Hillcrest St E (310) 283-0077
Historic Scanlan House B&B Inn 708 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2158 P.18,27,28 scanlanhouse.com Iron Horse Outfitters and Inn 100 Coffee St (507) 951-2955 P.28 ironhorselanesboro.com James A. Thompson House B&B 401 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2253 P.18,17 jamesathompsonhouse.com Marquee Suites 204 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3474 P.30 marqueesuites.com Mrs. B's Historic Lanesboro Inn 101 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2154 P.28 mrsbsinn.com O'Leary's B&B 707 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3737 P.18 olearysbandb.com Riverside Suites 208 Ashburn St E (507) 467-2144 P.30 riversidesuiteslanesboro.com Root River Valley Cabin 34880 Fawn Dr (507) 990-5265 P.30 vrbo.com/1311007 Sacred Clay Country Inn 23234 Grosbeak Rd (507) 467-9605 P.17,18,28,30 sacredclayinn.com Scandinavian Inn B&B 701 Kenilworth Ave S (507) 467-4500 P.14,18,29 scandinavianinn.com Stone Mill Hotel and Suites 100 Beacon St E (507) 467-8663 P.14,27,28 stonemillsuites.com OUTDOOR RECREATION Cedar Valley Resort Outfitters 905 Bench St (507) 467-9000 P.16,17,18,37 cedarvalleyresort.com Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center 28097 Goodview Dr (888) 800-9558 P.14,37 eagle-bluff.org Eagle Cliff Outfitting 35455 St Hwy 16 (507) 467-2598 P.28,34,37 eagle-cliff.com Gator Greens Mini Golf 439 Half St (507) 251 5101 P.37 cyclin-inn.com Lanesboro Public Golf Club 900 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3742 P.37 sites.google.com/sitelanesborogolfcourse Little River General Store and Outfitters 105 Coffee St (507) 467-2943 P.32,33,37 LRGeneralStore.com River Rats Outfitters 103 Rivers Edge Rd (507) 429-7202 Root River Outfitters 101 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-3400 SHOPPING Amish Experience 105 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2992 P.32 Beautiful Something 106 Coffee St E (507) 272-1257 Cedar Hollow Gift Shop 905 Bench St, Whalan (507) 467-9000 P.16,32 cedarvalleyresort.com Cheryl's Fabric Garden and Handcrafted Boutique 108 Coffee St E (507) 467-4466 P.32 cherylsfabricgarden.com Copper Crane Pottery 27972 Deep River Rd (507) 875-2751 Crown Trout Jewelers 107 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-3078 E2 Boutique 117 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2994 P.32 Emil Farquarts 108 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2004 ESSENCE Of Lanesboro 100 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2800 Lanesboro Clockworks 100 Coffee St W (763) 567-3440 Lanesboro Farmers Market 202 Parkway Ave S Man Art/Mom Art 110 Coffee St E Parkway Market and Coffeehouse 201 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2500 P.32 TheParkwayMarket.com The Peddler 107 Coffee St E (507) 380-1677 P.32 facebook.com/LanesboroPeddler PlanetBrick.com Lego Sets and Parts 201 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2500 P.32 planetbrick.com Root River Hackle 36833 Dogwood Rd (507) 467-2135 Root River Rod Co. 116 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2101 P.32 rootriverrodco.com Stone Mill Clothing and Gifts 100 Beacon St E (507) 467-8663 P.27,32 stonemillsuites.com Treasures on the Trail 431 Half St, Whalan (507) 467-2015 P.31,32 treasuresonthetrail.com Windy Mesa Jewelry and Art 102 Parkway Ave N (507) 467-2198 P.32 windymesajewelry.com TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS Amish Backroads Audio Tour (507) 467-2992 P.14 amishbackroadstour.com Bluffscape Amish Tours 102 Beacon St E (507) 467-3070 P.14 bluffscape.com Ernie's 1917 Station Whalan (507) 467-3434 Lanesboro State Fish Hatchery 23789 Grosbeak Rd (507) 467-3771 The Whalan Museum Whalan (507) 467-2344 WORSHIP Bethlehem Lutheran Church 200 Kenilworth Ave S (507) 467-3344 P.40 staronthehill.com Discovery Faith Community 507 Parkway Ave S (507) 467-2646 P.40 facebook.com/discoveryfaithcommunity Elstad Lutheran Church 37784 Dogwood Rd P.40 elstadlutheranchurch.org Highland Lutheran Church 22423 391st Ave (507) 467-3318 North Prairie Lutheran Church 35957 State Hwy 30 (507) 875-2460 St. Patrick's Catholic Church 100 Ridgeview Ln (507) 467-2480 Union Prairie Lutheran Church 31872 State Hwy 16 (507) 467-3363 Whalan Lutheran Church 903 Oak St, Whalan (507) 467-2159 P.40 BUSINESS NAME ADDRESS PHONE MEMBER INFO
