Lanesboro Talking Trail Coming in 2025

LANESBORO — Tourism is big business in Minnesota. After a dip caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people exploring the state has rebounded and is expected to keep growing. More than 75 million visitors annually fuel a $16-billion industry and provide multiple opportunities for family photos next to a Paul Bunyan statue (in towns like Akeley, Bemidji, and Brainerd).

Minnesota tourism is more than Paul Bunyan, of course. It’s boating, fishing, hunting, lake and river fun, canoeing, golfing, birding, biking, hiking, camping, and skiing. Our state has a well-deserved national (even international) reputation for natural beauty and outdoor recreation. People — millions of them — take full advantage of that year ‘round.

Lanesboro, Minnesota, will give all those tourists still another reason to consider setting their GPS on bluff country next spring. The new project, “Lanesboro Talking Trail”, will target not just local residents but the growing number of tourists who enjoy history—and storytelling—as part of their vacation and getaway fun.

Heritage tourism

“This is called heritage tourism, and it’s a growing trend,” says Joe Goetzke, Executive Director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce. “It happens when people intentionally plan trips to learn about the history and culture of a town or a certain area. We hope to encourage and expand that trend locally through Lanesboro Talking Trail.”

Joe Goetzke, Executive Director of the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce, believes “…Lanesboro Talking Trail will strengthen heritage tourism” in this area. (Photo submitted by Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce)

The Trail, a joint effort of the Lanesboro Chamber and the Lanesboro History Museum, will create a network of 30 mobile-based audio sites located around town that will tell the story of each site, including its history, interesting people connected to it, and its local cultural significance. The sites — free and accessible 365 days a year — are scheduled to be in place and functional by late spring of 2025.

How the trail will work

“Maps and signs will direct people to each site where they’ll use their phones to hear a 3-minute story about what they’re seeing,” says Val Tindall, Executive Director of the Lanesboro History Museum.

“There are so many interesting places to see and stories to be told here, like our rare stone-arch dam built in 1869; the original brick, 19th-century downtown storefront buildings and neighborhoods with beautifully preserved Victorian architecture.

“We also have fascinating stories about people like Buffalo Bill and many others who have visited or lived here,” according to Tindall. “Lanesboro Talking Trail will be a creative way for visitors and local residents alike to learn about and enjoy the history of our town and bluff country in general.”

Lanesboro Talking Trail is made possible through grant funding, including support from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC), and is being developed and installed through a company called “Talking Trail” based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Nearly 50 communities across the country, including a number in Minnesota, already have similar projects

Val Tindall (back row, right), Executive Director of the Lanesboro History Museum, pictured with friends on the museum’s deck. The History Museum is a joint partner in the Lanesboro Talking Trail project. (Photo submitted by Val Tindall)

Complementing current efforts

Goetzke sees Lanesboro Talking Trail as advancing already-existing local heritage tourism efforts.

“From live, period-based storytelling to our great museum, to books published about the area, many folks in Lanesboro do a wonderful job promoting our history” Goetzke says. “Lanesboro Talking Trail will complement all of those efforts. Both visitors and locals will have still another way to learn about and appreciate the stories of Lanesboro.”

Steve Harris, a local resident, freelance writer and author of the book “Lanesboro, Minnesota” believes a talking trail is a perfect fit for Lanesboro. “This little town has a rich and unique history,” says Harris, who is writing and developing content for the story-sites.

“Lanesboro was originally settled more than 160 years ago by a handful of German, Irish and Scandinavian settlers,” Harris explains. “But around the time of the Civil War a group of entrepreneurs from New York and New England heard a railroad was coming to this area. They started to plan the creation of a tourist destination in bluff country on what was then the western edge of America’s frontier.

“The Lanesboro Landsite Company bought land, platted a town, built roads, put a dam on the Root River and erected a luxury hotel called ‘The Phoenix.’ Their dream came true as this soon became a 19th century Minnesota boomtown. A talking trail here will have many great stories to tell; the challenge will be limiting them to 30!”

Help choose the stories to be told

Trail sites to be included in the tour are actively being researched and added. Members of the community, past and present, as well as visitors to the area can help choose sites through this online survey.