Located in the driftless area of southeastern Minnesota, Lanesboro is nestled between beautiful bluffs along the scenic Root River. The area was settled by Norwegian and Irish immigrants nearly 160 years ago. Investors from the east coast built the historic Lanesboro Dam more than 150 years ago, who envisioned the area as a place of respite for tourists. That vision became reality due to the conversion of an abandoned rail line into a paved bicycle trail. A step back in time, the town of just under 750 people is reminiscent of a time long ago, where all the businesses are locally owned and operated. The quietness of the community gives visitors a sense of calmness and relief from the business of their regular lives. The town includes an historic downtown and a collection of beautiful Victorian homes and churches. The natural beauty of the landscape has beckoned several artists to the region. The town is known for its welcoming community and thriving art focused activities. Once in town, it’s an easy walk to the theatre, the art galleries and unique shops, the local history museum, farmers market, and restaurants or local drinking establishments. Lanesboro enjoys a diverse economy based on agriculture, manufacturing, retail businesses, and the arts. Today, people bike or cross-country ski along the Root River State Trail. They kayak, canoe, tube or fly fish along the river. Birding also is a popular activity, with many interesting birds, including bald eagles. The Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, located just outside of Lanesboro, provides outdoor learning opportunities for school children, with hiking trails and other programs for the public. A drive through the agricultural area outside of Lanesboro provides visitors the opportunity to see the beautiful rolling landscape of Fillmore County, dotted with many farms and rural businesses. Home to many small diversified farms, the area boasts production of organic products, corn, soybeans, alfalfa, dairy, pork and beef in addition to other crops and produce. 

Top 5 Attractions

The Commonweal Theatre established more than 30 years ago, provides five different productions of professional theatre each season, from April through December. The beautiful Root River is prime for fly fishing and other river sports including kayaking, tubing and canoeing. The Old-Order Amish settled in the Lanesboro-Canton-Harmony area in the 1970s and open their shops with unique hand-made items to visitors year-round except Sundays and holidays, with guided tours available. The 60-mile long Root River Trail provides biking enthusiasts a beautiful paved trail along the river and through the bluffs in the warmer months, and groomed cross-country ski trails (weather permitting) in the winter. During the summer and fall, visitors to the region can tour two beautiful caves just miles from Lanesboro: Mystery Cave located at Forestville State Park near Preston and Niagara Cave, located near Harmony.