Little Falls: A Place of Stories

Most people come to Little Falls just for our events or to grab a quick bite; nothing wrong with that. But when you just come by in passing, you miss some of the small things: hidden gems, old tales partially forgotten, the beauty and majesty of an old logging town. Most people come for events, but here are some things outside of those, for folks who want to delve deeper into the lore of Little Falls.

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Saturday – Hidden Canyons & the Shadowed Depot

Deep beneath the now-ancient building of Little Falls hides a secret that not many know about, with some still believing those tales to be myths. Not to mention the old roots this town has had in many industries, from railroading to logging, to mill work now left in abandoned ruins or transformed into workspaces. What can you find in this old town?

Morning: The Sealed Canyon

9:00 am – Fletcher Creek Parking Lot (1st St. & 1st Ave.)

“Over 100 years ago, there was a dark, 20-foot dirt canyon right here with a rushing creek. Stand in the middle of the lot and look across the pavement. You can easily spot how the ground dips down like a big shallow bowl where the creek used to run. Local legend says on damp spring mornings, people used to swear they could still hear water rushing under the asphalt.”

10:15 am – Butler Block (101 E Broadway)

“Walk one block south along 1st Ave SE to this old red-brick building built in 1891. Look at the basement windows along the side of the building. Because it was built right on the steep edge of the old canyon, some cellar doors sit strangely low below the sidewalk level, giving the alleyways a shadowy, sunken feel.”

Afternoon: Rail Station Legends & Burnt Ruins

1:00 pm – Cass Gilbert Train Depot (200 1st St NW)

“Head over to this brick and stone train station built in 1899 by Cass Gilbert (the architect who designed the Minnesota State Capitol). Check out the giant pink granite rocks at the base of the building and step under the heavy, dark wooden roof beams. Old train workers used to tell stories of eerie echoes and phantom footsteps along the empty tracks long after the trains stopped running.”

3:00 pm – Mill Park Ruins (Along the Mississippi River)

“Walk down to the park by the river, on the West Side of town. Walk through the towering, burnt stone walls and arches left behind after a massive fire destroyed the paper mill in 2002. Fun fact: this mill used to make all the paper wrappers for Crayola

crayons!”

 

Sunday – Forgotten Woods & the Empty Prairie Town

As your weekend comes to a close, why not take a walk somewhere where the rocks tell stories, and the memories of those long gone now sing from the lilacs. It’s sometimes hard to remember, but don’t forget: the town may change, but the people have been here forever.

Morning: Old Stone Trail Ruins

9:30 am – Lindbergh State Park Ruins (1615 Lindbergh Dr S)

“Drive to the park and head onto the shaded trails near Pike Creek. Find the tall, hand-built stone water tower from the 1930s. As you walk deeper along the quiet wooded paths near the river, look for old, crumbling stone walls hiding in the trees where the forest is slowly taking back old buildings.”

Afternoon: The Disappearing Town

1:00 pm – The Old Townsite of Vawter (103rd St off Co Rd 35)

“Drive 6 miles south of Little Falls. In 1908, this was a busy little town with stores, a post office, and train tracks. When the train stopped coming, everyone packed up and left, leaving behind a ghost town. Park safely on the side of the road and look into the

grassy fields. You can spot mysterious mounds of dirt, crumbling stone

foundations in the weeds, and random rows of old lilac bushes that

mark where people’s front yards used to be over a century ago.”