Colored Tours - Historic Bluff Country

Driving Tours of
Prairies, History, Churches, Native American,
Amish and Scandinavian culture, Sinkholes and
Scenic Drives, Apple Blossoms, and much
more. Discover the charm of the Blufflands!
2014
The Prairie Route - Orange
Leave I-90 (exit 193) and go east on MN 16 to Grand Meadow to view the 1864 Booth Unit GAR Hall
and First American Bank, a "prairie school" architecture building listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. East of town, the prairie lands turn to rolling hills. In Spring Valley visit the 1876
Methodist Church Museum (a Laura Ingalls Wilder Site) and the Washburn-Zittleman House Museum. Take Co. 12 southeast past the Catholic cemetery to tour Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park.
Travel south on Co. 5 through an area of former iron ore mines. Tiny Cherry Grove was home to the
late aviation designer, Bernard Pietenpol.
Adventure Planning
Traveling south, cross Co. 44 and follow Co. 5 to US Highway 63. Turn west to the "garden spot" of
Historic Bluff Country. Follow US 63 north to the junction with Co. 14. Turn west to Ostrander and enjoy a round of golf or dine at an area eatery. Go south on Co. 1, west on Co. 11, then south on Co. 14
to Lake Louise State Park, boasting one of Bluff Country's two lakes. Nearby LeRoy offers a classical
revival historic library and a small gem of a bank in the "prairie school" style, beautifully restored. Join
MN 56, the Shooting Star Scenic Byway, turning west past corn fields, native grasses and wildflowers
and the Shooting Star Recreational Trail. At Taopi see Minnesota's smallest operating post office and
stop for a self-guided walking tour of vacated CNW railroad right-of-way to see hundreds of rare prairie plant species. At Adams, see the "prairie school" bank (now a private business) and at Rose
Creek, the Congregational Church, before turning south on Co. 19, then west on Co. 6 to Lyle which
offers parks, a "Walk of Pride" tour, and historic church settlements. US 218 takes visitors toward
Austin. At the south edge of town, turn east on Co. 3 through rich farmland, then north on Co. 20 to
see the historic Hofandia Swedish church. View farm and home antiques at the campground before
rejoining 1-90 (exit 187).
History & Sinkholes - Yellow
Begin in Chatfield, with the International
Band Music Lending Library and Pease
Wildlife Museum. Turn west at the stoplights on Co. 2 past Mill Creek Park and
cross the Root River. Stop at the wildlife
sanctuary on the Fillmore County Historical Society’s farm before turning left on
Co. 101. Along this route, notice several
log homes built from Northern Minnesota
and Montana logs. Continuing west on
101, at the next crossroads is an old
stone house where the Jesse James
gang once stayed. A swing north on Co.
1 will bring you to historic Flugel’s Mill
past Pleasant Grove, or a swing west on
MN 30 will take you to Stewartville, with
its beautiful golf course and other recreational activities.
Another option is to travel south on Co. 1
into Spring Valley to see Laura Ingalls
Wilder artifacts and Washburn-Zittleman
House. Take Co. 12 south for a scenic
drive to Co. 5. The drive north on Co. 5
includes the historic town of Wykoff. Or
continuing on Co. 12 south will take you
to Forestville State Park, which features
Mystery Cave, Historic Forestville pioneer town, excellent trout streams, scenic horse trails and hiking and
cross-country ski trails.
At Preston, turn north on US 52 to Fountain, which claims to be the “Sinkhole Capital of the USA.”
You can actually tour one along the Root River State Trail.
Churches & Native America - Purple
Drive east from Caledonia on Hwy 249 (part of this route is gravel) past the Houston County Historical Pioneer
Village and Museum on the Houston County Fairgrounds, winding along beautiful Crooked Creek Valley with its
old building foundations and logging trails on the bluffs. Watch for wild turkeys.
At Freeburg visit the fossil stone cross in the graveyard. A few miles along, note the Evangelical Country
Church, built in 1895, and old log buildings.
Turn left and follow through Hokah on MN 26, driving along the Mississippi River bottom and the National Wildlife
and Fish Refuge. Eagles are spotted frequently on this route. Thousands of Tundra Swans gather in this area
each November. Brownsville is one of Minnesota's
oldest towns on the main
channel of the Mississippi.
The little church in town is
on the National Register of
Historic Places. Caves in
the bluffs were once used
as refrigeration for apples
and other perishables.
Turn left on County Rd 18
along the Root River to
see the Krazy K Stables
horse ranch. Continue on
County Rd 18 until the
junction with MN Hwy 16
Scenic Byway at Hokah.
Follow Hwy 16 West to
Houston past Valley High
Golf Course and through
the Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest and goat prairie.
From Houston you can
turn left and follow MN
Hwy 76. Turn left. Note the
old Stone Church built in
1863 from stones quarried in the area. At the junction with Co. 4, you can turn right to the Yucatan Valley, which
abounds in native American relics. Three miles past Yucatan on a wood-clad hillside are the Winnebago Indian
Catacombs of Yucatan. Then two miles past the 125 year old Lutheran Church at Black Hammer is the "Black
Hammer Stone Lady" on top of a tree-covered mound shaped like a hammer.
Venture back in time with a visit to Schech's Mill, off of Hwy 76 between Houston and Caledonia on County Rd
10. This is a National Historic Site mill that is still operating with water power.
From Hwy 76, drive east on Hwy 44 to Spring Grove, where you will find unique shops and a variety of lunch
stops. Year ‘round enjoy a stroll along Main Street, the art gallery and City Park. Summer visitors can cool off at
the new SWIM Center. Just outside of Spring Grove and south on County Rd 4 you can enjoy the Norwegian
Ridge Birding and Nature Trails Park, newly repaired and launched in 2013. Wilmington Church is located on
County Rd 17 south of Hwy 44 east of Spring Grove.
Beaver Creek State Park located on County Rd 1 north of Caledonia off of Hwy 76, is great for camping, hiking,
picnicking and birdwatching.
Apple Blossom Drive - Brown
At La Crescent, drive north to I-90 West from La Crescent to visit the Dresbach Visitor Center and Lock & Dam
#7 (temporarily closed until the interstate bridge work is completed.) Turn right on I-90 to Exit 266 for a visit to
OL Kipp State Park (Great River Bluffs State Park) and return to La Crescent, Apple Capital of Minnesota, via
the Apple Blossom State Scenic Byway. The hill taking you out of the valley to I- 90 was once paved in brick,
and you bragged if your car could make it to the top without boiling over. Enjoy the annual Applefest celebration
in September and many varieties of locally-grown apples.
If you drive south and west from
La Crescent on Hwy 16, you
enjoy the Root River bottom
land. At Hokah you can see Mt.
Tom, the most geologically complete elevation in Minnesota. A
natural waterfall can be seen on
Fall St. south of Highway 44 that
forms the main street (Mill
Street) through town. Scenic
Como Park is a wonderful area
for picnics and wedding receptions. You’ll find just about anything you’re looking for (and
some things you aren’t!) at Hokah Hardware in downtown Hokah. The area surrounding
Hokah was originally the home
of the Winnebago Indians. Both
town and river were named after
their chief, Hokah (Indian for
“root”). Your drive takes you through a portion of the Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest. Wildflowers such as
bluebells, yellow lady slipper, large-flowered trilliums, and Dutchman’s breeches flourish, as well as bald eagles,
hawks, and other species.
Continue west on Hwy 16 to the City of Houston. The sign on the bluff overlooking the city was built in the
1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp as a landmark for aircraft. Notice the WWII Stuart tank in the City Park.
Stop at the Houston Nature Center to meet Alice the Great Horned Owl and check out the displays. You can
find out about local birds and hiking trails. Kids of all ages will enjoy the new Natural Playground near the
Center. Drink in the nearly 100 prairie and wetland species planted in the park, and bring your bike for a spin
or take a walk on the Root River Trail. The Wet Bark State Recreation Center, just outside of Houston (left on
Poppe Rd from Hwy 16, then right on County Rd 13) is great for small group horseback riding, camping, hiking
and picnics. For another beautiful tour, drive west 6.2 miles on Hwy 16 from Houston and turn left on Chisholm
Rd.
North of Houston and Money Creek on Hwy 76 you will find the Buffalo Gal Ranch, home of “Cody” the buffalo
who starred in the movie Dances with Wolves. This docile beast, 7 ft tall at his hump, died in 2006 at the age
of 19 after entertaining visitors to the area for years. His favorite snacks were Oreo cookies. Call ahead ((507)
896-2345) for tours or to purchase buffalo products. Deer herds are frequently seen in the fields along this
highway.
Or go North from Houston on Hwy 76, and turn right on County Rd 9 through the winding roads of Looney Valley.
Drive around Money Creek, settled in 1853 for the most part by New Englanders. You will see a tiny, very old
Methodist Church that is still operational, with a Mason’s meeting room and a church museum upstairs,
complete with KKK influence documentation. There is also a non-denominational cemetery (Money Creek
Cemetery) nearby.
Winding Roads & Rivers - Green
From Preston, the Fillmore County seat,
travel US 52 to MN 16, turning left at the
junction. Above Lanesboro, stop at the
scenic lookout to see the Root River Valley spread out below.
Prehistoric Lost Lake lies on the left
(now a State Game Refuge) and state
fish hatchery ponds to the right. Descend into Lanesboro, sample the Root
River State Hiking, Biking and Skiing
Trail, which continues east along MN 16
to Whalan, Peterson, Rushford, and
Houston, with water-carved limestone
and sandstone bluffs and hardwood
trees.
Rushford offers a restored train depot
and many examples of Victorian architecture. Immerse yourself in Scandinavian tradition at Norsland Lefse, enjoy
the outdoors with a picnic in shady
Creekside Park (built by volunteers in
only 5 days after the great flood of 2007)
or atop Magelssen Bluff with fantastic
hiking trails and lookouts to view the
Root River Valley. Or dine at any of
several local restaurants. Stock up on
vacation supplies or gifts in the downtown shops. At Rushford, turn south and take MN 43 toward Mabel.
Bratsburg marks the end of the watershed for the middle branch of the Root River. Soon you will drop
down into Choice and the picturesque valley of the Root's south branch. At the junction of MN 43 and
Co. 44 stands the antique steam engine that is Mabel's trademark. Mabel's Steam Engine Museum
details the history of this mighty machine. Travel west on Co. 44 to Canton and Harmony, the heart of
Amish Country. Buggies and other horse-drawn equipment are common sights in this area. Guided
tours of the Amish settlement are available.
Historic Scenic Highway - Red
Begin your tour at Rushford,
where prairie land falls sharply
away to a deep valley of limestone bluffs, created by a prehistoric river that widened out at
Rushford. The restored railroad
depot, adjacent to the Root River
State Hiking and Biking Trail, offers a spot for trail users and others to learn about the area. Be
enchanted by the city’s lovely
parks, Magelssen Bluff overlook
and its many dining options, including a Scandinavian lefse factory!
Follow MN 16, Historic Bluff
Country’s National Scenic Byway, west along the Root River.
Stop in Peterson to see the restored railway depot museum.
Continue to Whalan for homemade pie or mini-golf. In historic
Lanesboro the entire business
district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Unique shops and a professional theater
provide attractions that may warrant a stop. Tour the State Fish Hatchery, one mile west of Lanesboro on MN 16.
Traveling on, turn right at the junction of MN 16 & US 52 to Preston. Stop to fish in one of many nearby trout streams, visit an apple orchard, visit the new National Trout Center, or view the old Fillmore
County Jail, built in 1869. (The community also boasts an advanced Resource Recovery Center to
recycle solid waste.) From Preston, turn north on Co. 17 winding through wooded hills to visit the historic Allis Barn, now a resort.
Continue on Co. 17, turning left on Co. 8 to Fountain, gateway to the Root River State Trail and home
of Fillmore County History Center and Museum. Take Co. 11 north from Fountain to MN 30, traveling
east to Troy and Saratoga, onto MN 74 and back through Amish Country to I-90, or continuing from
Troy to Fremont and visiting an old country store.
Visit our new Visitor Center at
303 S Elm Street
Rushford, MN
Located 1 block North of Hwy 16 on Elm Street (behind the Rushford Historic Depot
and across the street from Stumpy’s Restaurant) in Rushford
Need More information? Contact us!
Phone: (507) 864-2992
Email: [email protected]
Mail: PO Box 489, Rushford, MN 55971
Website: www.bluffcountry.com