Minnehaha Regional Park, Minneapolis
Besides the obvious reason to visit -- 53-foot waterfall -- Minnehaha Regional Park is the home to several historical sites. There are lovely paths that overlook the falls and meander close to them. It also has a family-friendly outdoor dining spot - Wabun Picnic Area -- that's fun in pleasant weather and a free 9-hole disc golf course.
Wabun Picnic Area & Pool
Wabun Picnic Area has a wonderful, popular wading pool (with a cool spraying rock structure) and terrific playground equipment. My youngest loves the updated tot lot with a shaded sandy play area and the swaying vintage camper trailer, a nod to the park’s roots as an auto tourist camp. Read more about a visit to Wabun Picnic Area within Minnehaha Regional Park here.
Disc Golf at Minnehaha Regional Park
The park has a FREE 9-hole disc golf course with the following features:
- Par 3
- 57 to 83 yards
- Concrete tees
- Flat layout and tree obstacles
Minnehaha Regional Park's Longfellow Gardens
Found on the northwest side of the park, Longfellow Gardens is attempting to go natural and pesticide free. The gardens are so beautiful in the summer that many people choose to have weddings at this location. It has a mix of annuals and perennials and MPRB gardeners are working with the natural setting to choose plants. Visit anytime between June and September to view the peak growing season.
Historical Sites within Minnehaha Regional Park
John H. Stevens House
This house was originally owned by the early settler it is named after. While it originally sat on St. Anthony Falls, it has since been moved to to Minnehaha, where it is maintained by the parks department. It is open to the public from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays and Holidays from Memorial Day to Mid-September. Admission is $1 for adults and free for children.
Princess Depot
Princess Depot was once part of the first railroad line. Now it is part of the transportation museum. It is free and open to the public on Sundays between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 pm. from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day.
Longfellow House
The Longfellow House was built in 1906 as a replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is free and open to the public on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Interestingly, it is air conditioned, which doesn't seem very historical, but is good to know on those 90 degree days.
Birthday Parties at Minnehaha Regional Park
This park has 8 picnic shelters (mostly in the Wabun Picnic Areas) that could be rented for birthday parties or other events. Prices range from $75 for a half-day in a smaller shelter to $450 for a full day in the largest shelter. All of the listings and more details can be found HERE.