Minneopa State Park

08 APR 2012; Park #3, 2.7 miles

Minneopa State Park is a state park on the Minnesota River west of Mankato, Minnesota.

Pedestrian bridge between Upper and Lower Minneopa FallsThe word Minneopa translated into the Dakota language means, "water falling twice".[1] This is because there are two falls, one short and one long falling near each other. The scenic splendor of the falls and surrounding area had made it a tourist attraction as early as 1870. A railroad depot, with a surrounding townsite, sprang up around the falls. In the late 1870s, three years of grasshopper plagues wiped out the crops, and the town disappeared. The park was created in 1905 to preserve the area around Minneopa Falls, and as such it was Minnesota's third state park. The Seppmann Windmill, in the western area of the park, was a wind-powered grist mill built by Louis Seppmann, a German immigrant. The windmill is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, several rustic style structures built by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

February 2012

Minneopa State Park, Mn

Published on Oct 31, 2013

Favorite Sites: A-2, 14, 16, 18, 26, 32, 34 B-1, 6, 8, 20, 24

Published on Mar 25, 2013

I love Minneopa State Park in Minnesota, I grew up coming here, so I decided to make a video. These are all the pictures that I have taken over a few years. I am still missing a bunch but this is a good start! :)

Published on Feb 10, 2014

I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator

Uploaded on Jul 3, 2011

Lots of rain this spring made for some great waterfalls at Minneopa State Park just outside of Mankato, Mn. This was also 3 days before the govt. shutdown.

Published on Jul 19, 2013

On July 18, 2013 I rode my bike to Minneopa State Park near Mankato, MN. I was stunned to find the waters of Minneopa creek were nearly as green as the surrounding greenery. For many years the DNR has posted a warning sign about high levels of e-coli in the water. I believe it's time something is done about the pollution sources, mainly agricultural, that are tainting the creek. People from all over Minnesota and the country stop by to visit the falls, and this is what they see. We shouldn't stand for that. If you want to see this fixed once and for all, contact your State legislator and voice your concern. Share this video with them so they can see for themselves what tourists are seeing when they visit what should be a jewel of the State Park system.