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The Latest from Lanesboro & Whalan

Round black-and-gold Coffee Street Inn sign in Lanesboro, Minnesota, featuring graphics of a fisherman and cyclists, hanging outside the inn against a backdrop of trees and blue sky.

Stay Local, Stay Welcomed: Inside Lanesboro’s Coffee Street Inn

September 9, 2025

Coffee Street Inn offers more than lodging—it’s a welcoming hub in downtown Lanesboro. With pet-friendly rooms, rich history, and hosts who treat you like family, it’s the perfect home base for biking, theater, and exploring Bluff Country.

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Community members and leaders gather inside Driftless Fiber Arts Collective for a ribbon cutting ceremony, surrounded by colorful fiber art and quilts on display.

A Ribbon Cutting for Creative Community: Driftless Fiber Arts Collective Weaves a New Chapter

September 3, 2025

The Driftless Fiber Arts Collective has officially been welcomed to the community with a ribbon cutting in downtown Lanesboro. Following the closing of the Violet Collective exhibition, DFAC continues to grow as a welcoming hub for creativity—offering weekly gatherings in fiber arts, writing, games, and more.

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Fall colors overlooking Lanesboro from the Church Hill Overlook

How to Plan Your Fall Visit to the Lanesboro Area Around Fall Colors

September 2, 2025

Fall in the Lanesboro area isn’t just a week of peak color—it’s a whole season of beauty and small-town charm. From the first leaves turning in September to golden oaks in late October, discover the best ways to plan your trip around Bluff Country’s fall colors, with help from the MN DNR Fall Color Finder and festive local events.

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Aerial view of Big Springs Farm Pumpkins & Corn Maze

Fall Family Fun at Big Springs Farm Pumpkins & Corn Maze – Opening Sept. 13, 2025!

September 2, 2025

Get ready for fall 2025! Big Springs Farm near Lanesboro opens its gates on September 13, boasting a brand-new Paul Bunyan & Babe–themed corn maze, an expanded pumpkin patch with nearly 150 varieties, sunflower fields, and all the family fun—from hayrides and mini-ziplines to duck races and cozy fall treats.

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Smiling child wearing a helmet and harness at the Eagle Bluff high ropes course in Lanesboro, with other participants navigating rope bridges in the background.

Discover Fall at Eagle Bluff: Astronomy Hikes, Foraging Fun, and High Ropes Challenges

August 25, 2025

Autumn in Lanesboro is a magical time—crisp nights, colorful bluffs, and endless opportunities to get outside. This season, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center is offering a lineup of unique fall events designed for families, friends, and adventure-seekers alike. From stargazing to high ropes thrills, there’s something for everyone!

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Aerial view of the Old Barn Resort and Rivers Bend Golf Course near Lanesboro, Minnesota, surrounded by rolling green hills, tree-lined fairways, a winding river, and a small pond under clear blue skies.

From Floodwaters to Fairways: Rivers Bend Golf Course is Back!

August 22, 2025

There’s nothing quite like a round of golf at Rivers Bend, where the fairways wind along the Root River and the bluffs rise in the distance. After several days of heavy rain and high water, the course faced an unexpected challenge this week — but true to form, the crew and community rallied. Today, Rivers Bend is fully open again, ready to welcome golfers back to one of Bluff Country’s most scenic courses.

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Stairway inside Niagara Cave surrounded by rushing floodwater after heavy rainfall

Niagara Cave Reopens After Flooding – A Hidden Wonder Awaits!

August 20, 2025

Niagara Cave has reopened after historic flooding. Explore the underground waterfall, stunning formations, and family-friendly tours near Harmony, MN.

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Downtown Lanesboro, MN with historic buildings, American flags, and a truck hauling kayaks and tubes—set against lush green bluff country under a blue sky. Photo by Explore Minnesota / Ryan Taylor.

Make the Most of Summer in Lanesboro, MN—Before School Starts!

August 14, 2025

Summer isn’t over yet—there’s still time to sneak in one last adventure! Before the school bell rings, gather your family or friends and head to Lanesboro, Minnesota, the heart of Bluff Country, for unforgettable fun, food, and fresh-air experiences.

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Three people toast drinks in a small-town bar, with liquor bottles and neon signs in the background.

Why Opening Night at the Commonweal Theatre Is the Best Show in Town (And the Perfect Excuse for a Lanesboro Getaway)

July 15, 2025

There’s something undeniably electric about an opening night performance. The anticipation, the buzz, the first time the actors feel the energy of a live audience—it all combines to create a one-of-a-kind experience. At the Commonweal Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Lanesboro, that electricity doesn’t stop when the curtain falls.

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Black and white vintage photo of four men from the late 1800s, all wearing wide-brimmed hats and suits. Two are seated and two are standing behind them. The man on the left is wearing a light-colored suit and cowboy hat; the others are in darker suits. They have mustaches and long hair, styled in the fashion of the Old West. The background features an arched doorway.

What’s the Connection Between William “Buffalo Bill” Cody and Lanesboro, MN?

July 1, 2025

If you’ve spent any time in Lanesboro, you’ve probably heard Buffalo Bill’s name come up once or twice (or a dozen times). From a bluff named in his honor to the town’s biggest summer celebration, Buffalo Bill Days, his legacy looms large here. But what exactly is the connection between this legendary Wild West showman and our scenic little town in bluff country? The answer is a fascinating mix of fact, folklore, and frontier-sized personality—and it all starts in the late 1870s.

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