A Place Like Whalan

“Yes, we should all be glad that there’s still a place like Whalan.”

In a world growing noisier and more complicated by the day, you have to love that there’s still a place like Whalan.

Whalan, Minnesota, is a small town (population 67) on the Root River, four miles east of Lanesboro. Travel another nine miles and you find Peterson. You can arrive in Whalan via State Highway 16 or do what most people do—jump on a bike and pedal there on the Root River State Trail.

The trail cuts through the middle of town like a sharp knife through fresh pie, which fits well because homemade pie is what many people associate with Whalan, Minnesota. The Aroma Pie Shoppe, located just a few yards off the Trail, lures thousands of bikers each season to pause for delicious pie (and other goodies). If it’s the only reason you show up here, you’ve made a fine choice.

But there’s much more in this tiny treasure of a town. People come to hike, bird, fish, take jeep rides, tube down the river, and enjoy a round of mini-golf. In the winter, Whalan hosts a February candlelight cross country ski event and there are also sleigh rides to partake in. There are crafts and boutique shopping to be found at Treasures on the Trail, and the new Whalan Depot has gifts, ice cream, drinks, and snacks. Whalan hosts a July 4th softball tournament and is home to Ernie’s Filling Station (a relic-filled 1917 vintage gas station) and O’s Poppin Kernels. If you want to take in a Sunday service, Whalan Lutheran Church is a welcoming place. This little town also has a fun and unique history to explore at the Whalan Museum (think railroads, tobacco plants and mink farms).

If you end up staying longer than a day and want to plan family fun, reunions, weddings, and such, you’ll find top quality hospitality, highlighted by the award-winning Cedar Valley Resort. There are excellent whole-house rentals too, including Cyclin Inn, Bluffview Guest House, and the new Blossom Valley Inn. Whether you stay for a day or overnight, there is plenty to explore and enjoy in Whalan.

Whalan offers all that in the heart of the quiet, pulseslowing beauty of Bluff Country. Yes, we all should be glad that there’s still a place like Whalan.