Bicycling and creative arts combine to revitalize Lanesboro, MN
In the Field

By Amber Travsky

Members of the National Bicycle Tour Director's Association spend and afternoon on the Root River State Bike Trail in southeast Minnesota.

The paved bicycle trail wound through the woodland. Most of the trees had given up their leaves for the winter, but there were a few still hanging on boasting some color. 

It was a lovely mid fall day, although the temperature was on the cool side at about 40 degrees. The forecast for 50 degrees was likely a bit more optimistic than we were going to get, but the lack of any significant wind made it feel warmish.

I slowed to a stop to look through the bare branches, ogling a pair of bald eagles. They took off and soared in easy circles above the river. I made two tally marks on my mental wildlife checklist. The eagles were added to chickadees and scads of white-tailed deer. Other wildlife I hoped to see included wild turkeys and a few lingering songbirds. In the spring the trail is likely a birder’s delight with all the foliage and variety of habitats.

When I think of Minnesota, the scene I envision is rolling farmlands in the south, and then lots of lakes in the north. This route along the Root River fit neither image. Instead, there were thick hardwood woodlands with pine forests higher up on the hillsides. Patches of cultivated farmlands broke up the views while sandstone bluffs hovered above. 

I was four days into my five-day stay in the small town of Lanesboro, Minn. With a population of 750, it is an unlikely gathering site for our annual meeting of the National Bicycle Tour Director’s Association. Rather than meeting in some metropolis, we opted this year to head for Lanesboro and spread out through the town. 

The town abounds with history. My comfy accommodations at the Stone Mill Suites Bed and Breakfast started out in 1885 as a cold storage facility. Ice, cut from the nearby mill pond, was stored in the lower levels while an egg and poultry receiving and processing plant were housed in the upper levels. The building was converted to a bed and breakfast in 1999.

Lanesboro was initially a farming community. With the decline of farming in the 1970s and 1980s many of the small farms in the vicinity were in jeopardy and the town itself was dwindling. Then came the Root River State Bike Trail. Once the route of the Milwaukee Railroad, the rail was vacated and construction of the trail began in 1985. Today the trail, managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, parallels the river valley for over 60 miles and plans are underway to add even more miles. The trail is a magnet for cyclists, inline skaters, hikers and cross-country skiers who flock to the area from across the region.

Lanesboro is the “hub” of the Root River Trail System and all of its associated activities. Prior to the trail opening the town had 17 rooms for rent for overnight travelers. Today that number is over 150 with most in bed and breakfast settings. The downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and no Best Westerns, Holiday Inns or McDonalds are allowed since city leaders passed an ordinance forbidding franchised businesses within town limits. The goal was to ensure lodging, restaurants and stores were locally owned. The result is a homey and friendly atmosphere, bolstered by the warm hospitality of the local residents.

While many trail users could easily enjoy the trail during the day and return home in the evening, Lanesboro has another hook to encourage overnight and weekend outings. The Commonweal Theater opened in 1989 and provides year-round entertainment. The professional theater company recently moved from its former location to a new theater where the acting troupe performs for more than 20,000 people each year.

The previous evening I witnessed the local acting first hand in the form of the Over the Back Fence, a radio variety show. While the show I watched wasn’t going out on the wire, in the summer the show broadcasts live each Sunday night. 

With all it has going for it, Lanesboro was named one of 100 Best Small Art Towns in America by author John Villani, and one of the 50 Best Outdoor Sports Towns by Sports Afield magazine. In 2004, Outside magazine featured Lanesboro as one of the 20 Best Dream Towns in America to live and play. Our own Lander, Wyoming also made the list that year.

Lanesboro is a wonderful example of how bicycling – along with an active arts program – can revitalize a town. Biking the trail in early November just wet my whistle to return and explore the area again – hopefully when temperatures warm up a bit.