How Lanesboro earned the score
Population 739 (US Census 2020)
Situation A milling town in the Root River valley that lost 20% of its population the decade its railroad stop closed in 1970.
Action The city, local nonprofits, and individuals adopted a collaborative plan to preserve the historic town, build an artist community, and tie into the paved Root River State Trail.
Result Hundreds of thousands of visitors, thriving storefronts, and recognition as one of the nicest outdoor towns and Main Streets in the country.
Let’s meet Lanesboro, MN
Lanesboro is a small town that is thriving in southeastern Minnesota, the Root River valley. Nestled in the town’s natural beauty, it is sometimes called the “Magical Hamlet”. This is no accident however. Starting much like our other stories (Leavenworth, Washington), Lanesboro’s success comes from the closing of a railroad stop.
How the town found its identity
The town was founded on milling like many communities in Minnesota. When the stop closed in 1970, the community was determined to make the town great again because that decade they had seen a 20% drop in population. They bought up the old depot and together the city government, local nonprofit organizations, and individuals adopted a collaborative plan to preserve the historic town and the region’s beauty. Both were in abundance in Lanesboro. They would also focus on developing Lanesboro into an artist community.
At the same time the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources bought the rights to the track and planned a paved path which was to run between the town. The Root River State Trail. With the limestone bluffs and rolling hills, Lanesboro and other small towns in the area were soon to attract bikers. (I swear this isn’t just another Cuyuna, Minnesota!)
How Lanesboro built it
As throngs of bikers started showing up the town started to see a revitalization. A museum was put up. Restaurants and hotels were made to accommodate bikers. The long struggling art collective took over the old general store.
Then a native of the town, long thought gone, returned with his wealth buying the Commonweal Theatre and starting a Theater Company. They host 9 different shows a year.
The town started several festivals. In June, they have the Rhubarb Festival and Art in the Park. In August, Buffalo Bill Days, named for the showman who hosted his show there for a while in the 1900’s.
A local delicacy they have become known for is “Spring Grove Soda”, which is a locally made soda in several different flavors.
Storefronts that line the street now thrive. The city has had hundreds of thousands of visitors. It has been voted one of the “nicest outdoor town in the country” and one of the nicest “Main Streets” in the US. It gives business owners an opportunity to thrive and continue giving back.
A nod to the Amish of Lanesboro
The Amish even back the idea of creative city developments. I doubt they will ever read this blog but shout out, well done Amish of Lanesboro. They started letting curious visitors come and visit their estates and letting them shop at their shops.
The results, season by season
The town has become a local stop for trout fisherman looking to fish the banks of the Root River.
Hunters of all kind visit and stop through Lanesboro. Their biggest season is turkey hunting in early May.
One of the more unusual hunters that visits in May is the Morel Mushroom Hunters. Well known as being a great area to find these mushrooms, it brings in a surprising amount of visitors.
Today the draw of everything happening in Lanesboro, from the Main Street, to the natural beauty, to the thriving arts, draws tourists who paddle, drive, bike, cross country ski, and snowmobile to get there even though they are on no major roads.
Why other towns should follow Lanesboro’s lead
Just a quick drive from nearby Rochester, Minnesota, a high end medical community, Lanesboro is doing well at bringing in tourism. Their collaborative action to drive the arts, preserve the historic downtown, and surround themselves with natural beauty has paid off.
Lanesboro is a great example of a community that took and ran with developing their community creatively.