When most people think of Minnesota cities or towns, they picture the Twin Cities or Duluth. But there are many places in the Land of 10,000 Lakes that are well worth visiting - and even a few lost towns that most people don't know about. These towns may have faded away - they may have even disappeared from maps - but they are still worth remembering. One of our favorite lost towns in Minnesota is a tiny community called Dorothy. Check it out:
Dorothy, Minnesota, was once a small yet thriving town in northern Minnesota's Red Lake County.
It grew around a railroad station built between 1916 and 1917. The Northern Pacific Railway rain through it, bringing prosperity to the tiny community.
Much of the industry around Dorothy was railroad or agriculture based. But in 1973, that ended. The train and grain elevator were both closed for good.
This wide place in the road may be almost forgotten, but it still lives in the memory of many Minnesotans. For even more abandoned or lost towns in Minnesota, check out our road trip through 9 Minnesota ghost towns.
Red Wing is a small city on the Mississippi River southeast of the Twin Cities. Over recent years, this bustling community has seen steady growth while maintaining its vibrancy. If you ask me, I think Red Wing is an up-and-coming Minnesota city that's "just right" in many respects, from size and location to its history and proximity to the incredible natural beauty of Minnesota's Bluff Country.
You'll find Red Wing about an hour southeast of St. Paul on the banks of the Mississippi River. This historic town is home to around 16,700 people, and with all its red brick exteriors, it looks like something right out of a Norman Rockwell painting - especially in winter.
In the mid-19th century, settlers arrived by steamship to farm on land that belonged to the Mdewakanton band of Dakota. Today, in fact, the Prairie Island Indian Community - a federally-designated reservation - lies mostly within the Red Wing city limits.
Nevertheless, the city sprung up, as did important institutions and industries. Hamline University, the state's oldest college, was founded in Red Wing in 1854 - two years before Minnesota statehood. It moved to St. Paul in the 1870s after enrollment declined due to the Civil War. Capitalizing on the area's rich clay deposits, the company now known as Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery was established in 1877, and the brand is known - and collected - around the world.
Even more renowned, however, is the respected Red Wing Shoes brand, which was founded in the city in 1905. Still going strong, the headquarters and a good portion of the company's manufacturing facilities remain in Red Wing.
In 1946, a former Red Wing Shoes employee, Paul Riedell, founded Riedell Shoe, Inc., in Red Wing. Today, Riedell is a leading manufacturer of ice and hockey skates, as well as roller skates. It, too, continues to call Red Wing its home.
Tourism is also a big deal in Red Wing. A truly beautiful city with historic charm, folks flock to the community for weekend getaways at the St. James Hotel, which was built in 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or Frontenac State Park on the Mississippi River bluffs just south of town. Red Wing is also a popular destination for weddings and leaf peeping. And few towns do the holidays as well as Red Wing. No matter when you go or what you go for, though, don't pass up a stop at the amazing Hanisch Bakery.
Getting to Red Wing is pretty straightforward: It sits at the intersection of U.S. Routes 61 (the Great River Road) and 63. Plus, two daily Amtrak trains run between Chicago and St. Paul and make stops at Red Wing -- so you don't really have an excuse not to visit!
Towns in the Land of 10,000 Lakes don't get much more charming than Red Wing, and with all it's got going for it, I think this up-and-coming Minnesota city is definitely worth keeping an eye on. What are some other thriving, perfectly-sized cities in the North Star State? Let us know in the comments.
What town gets the most snow in Minnesota? Although Duluth may be the snowiest city of consequence in the state, the snowiest town in Minnesota is almost always a community tucked against the Lake Superior highlands along its north shore. Lutsen, for example, regularly receives more snow (not counting what is made at the eponymous ski resort) than most other places in the state, making it one of the state's snowiest towns - and a great place for a winter getaway in Minnesota.
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It will come as a surprise to almost no one who lives here that the township of Lutsen is one of the snowiest places in Minnesota. This area of the state - the North Shore Highlands - is the snowiest part of Minnesota, thanks to Lake Superior's "lake effect."
The area around Lutsen regularly receives more than 100 inches of snow. In 2019, the folks who live in the area were blessed with more than 124 inches of the white stuff, and in 2022-23, more than 150 inches were reported in inland areas near Lutsen. So, it's definitely a wonderful place for a winter getaway.
Consider a stay at Cascade Lodge. It's adjacent to a state park, offers in-house dining at its restaurant, and affords spectacular Lake Superior views. Situated outside of Lutsen, proper, the lodge is a perfect jumping-off point for your winter adventures or a quick trip into Grand Marais. Book one of the resort's cabins to use as your base camp. You won't be disappointed by the lodge's amenities or its proximity to so many awesome things to do in winter in Minnesota.
Jumpstart your day with a steaming cuppa joe from Fika Coffee. After you've fueled up, hit the trails. You can access more than 36 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails from Cascade Lodge. There are hundreds of additional miles of trails in the area. Snowshoeing is also a fun way to explore this wintertime wonderland.
Fat bikers are welcome at Cascade Lodge and on many of the adjacent trails, and snowmobile enthusiasts will also appreciate the miles and miles of North Shore trails. Cascade River State Park is right next door to the resort, so be sure to take a short hike and visit the park's waterfalls.
If you prefer a little more adrenaline in your day, Alpine skiers and snowboarders flock to Lutsen Mountains, the largest ski resort in the Upper Midwest, for skiing and boarding with a view.
In late January or early February, racers in the annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon mush their way through Lutsen. You can learn a little more about these intrepid mushers and their amazing dogs in this YouTube video from PBS North:
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And as always, keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights.
While you're spending time in the snowiest town in Minnesota, don't forget to stop by the Lockport Marketplace and Grill to grab a tasty breakfast or lunch. We sure think that this is one of the best places to spend winter in Minnesota. Don't forget - as the Scandinavians say, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad preparation, so be sure to pack all the winter essentials you'll need before you head up to Lutsen. Along the same lines, if you're heading out on the trails - whether snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, winter hiking, or snowmobiling - be sure to download AllTrails Plus, so you'll have offline trail maps available for navigation.
Have you made it up to Lutsen in the winter? Do you agree that it's the snowiest town in Minnesota? What are some of your other favorite snowy destinations in the North Star State? Be sure to tell us all about them in the comments!
