MUSEUMS & HISTORICAL SITES:

BLACK CAT SPORTS BAR & GRILL

1080 Hwy 32 South, Thief River Falls

Phone: (218) 681-8910

Over 40 years of Arctic Cat snowmobile memorabilia.

CARNEGIE PUBLIC LIBRARY

102 Main Ave North, Thief River Falls

A city historical site, dedicated in 1914.

PEDER ENGELSTAD PIONEER VILLAGE

825 Oakland Park Road; PO Box 127

Thief River Falls, MN  56701

Phone: (218) 681-5767

Email: pchstrf@mncable.net

Open everyday Memorial Day through Labor Day

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Admission: $3.00 (children 12 and under free with paid adult)

Memberships available.

Guided tours available by appointment.

The Pennington County Historical Society, which was chartered in 1938, owns and maintains the Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village. The Village was dedicated on August 8, 1976. Located on the edge of Thief River Falls, Minnesota, the Village offers the public a unique opportunity to walk through a replica of a northern Minnesota pioneer town with vintage gardens, as it might have been 100 years ago.

Peder Engelstad Pioneer Village, named after a local Norwegian immigrant, houses many artifacts from the past displayed in nineteen buildings. The buildings include a museum, two railroad depots, a one-room schoolhouse, a church, log houses, a general store, a two-story Victorian house, a blacksmith shop, and a barber shop. Many pieces of farm machinery are also on display, and an extensive research collection of print materials is available for use.

SOO LINE RAILROAD DEPOT & STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

405 3rd St East; PO Box 128

Thief River Falls, MN  56701

Phone: (218) 681-2500

The Historic Soo Line Railroad Depot, located on Hwy. 59 downtown, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From completion of construction in 1914 until 1967, when passenger train service terminated, the Depot was a hub of community activity almost 24 hours a day. At the height of its use, the Depot saw 13 passenger trains arrive and depart each day. Following a successful "Save the Depot" fundraising campaign in 1994-1995, the City decided to renovate and remodel the building for use as City Hall. The completed project retained most of the building's significant interior features, including the terrazzo floor and wood trim and doors in the main passenger terminal area. 

Steam Locomotive No. 1024, a Soo class I-4, 2-8-2 MIKADO, is on permanent display outside the depot.  The locomotive was one of the largest steam engines operated in the mainland U.S. It was donated to the City in the early 1950's and restored as a reminder of the era when smoke and steam ruled the nation Capable of hauling 80 freight cars compared to the 200 for modern locomotives, this is one of the 3000 steam locomotives on display in the nation.

HISTORICAL RIVERWALK
7.3 miles of walking, biking, and cross country ski trails through town along the Red Lake River & Thief River. Passes through 6 city parks, 2 forest trails, recreational areas, historical points and the dam.  Maps are available at the Chamber of Commerce and the Parks and Recreation Department. Phone 1-800-827-1629.

RANCHES:

WILD S RANCH
2 1/2 miles west on Hwy. 1 to mile marker 42. Phone 218-681-2110 or cell: 218-689-5625. This is your chance to be a real cowhand! Riding lessons, horse boarding, outdoor riding arena. Call for special events. 

WILDLIFE AREAS:

AGASSIZ NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
22996 290th St NE

Middle River, MN 56737

Phone: (218) 449-4115

Directions from Thief River Falls: go 12 miles north on highway 32 and 11 miles east on Marshall County Road 7.

Habitat: Large pools; marshes; grassland; brushland bog; aspen woodland.

Features: Agassiz's 61,500 acres are a haven for many wildlife species.  A Globally Important Bird Area, the refuge supports over 280 species of birds - 7,500 pairs of nesting ducks, 20,000 pairs of Franklin's gulls and four pairs of bald eagles.  There are numerous species of mammals including moose, deer, eastern gray wolves, amphibians and reptiles.  The refuge provides foot trails, a self-guided automobile route, an observation tower, and an observation desk, all of which provide great opportunities to observe wildlife!  Wildlife displays and a book shop are in the office.

Best Times to Visit: April through November.

Notes: Refuge Office open 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Auto tour route open May - October.  

TWIN LAKES WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

202 Main Ave St North

Karlstad, MN  56732

Features: The Twin Lakes WMA, located in Kittson County, is comprised of over 50 percent wetlands with the remainder in aspen forest, oak savannah and dry prairie.  The site is managed by the Minnesota DNR and is over 8,000 acres in size.

Best Time to Visit: May through October

Notes: Watch for birds, moose, wolves, bobcat and river otter.

THIEF LAKE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

42280 240th Ave NE

Middle River, MN  56737

Phone: (218) 222-3747

Habitat: Lake; marsh; deciduous woods; alder thickets; fields.

Features: This large wildlife area, managed by the Minnesota DNR, contains a large shallow lake as well as several thousand acres of upland forested ridges.  All told, the unit is 55,000 acres in size and provides habitat for 232 different species of birds.  A small elk herd can be sighted in the vicinity.  

Best Time to Visit: April through October

Notes: There is a handicapped accessible wildlife observation mound located east of the headquarters and spectacular views of the lake can be found from the mound.

WETLANDS, PINE AND PRAIRIE AUDUBON SANCTUARY
27453 190th St NE

Warren, MN  56762

Phone: (218) 745-5663

Features: The site is 800 acres in size and includes wetlands, waterways, tree plantings, trails and an interpretive center located on the ancient Lake Agassiz beach ridge.  Sightings of native wildlife and migratory birds.  The center is staffed by a director and tours are available to individuals and school groups.  Call for hours and availability.  the site is owned by the Agassiz Chapter of the National Audubon Society.

Best Time to Visit: May through June; August through October.

GLACIAL RIDGE

Nature Conservancy

31077 State Highway 32 South

Mentor, MN  56736

Phone: (218) 637-2146

Features: 24,700 acres.  Tallgrass prairie (dry, mesic and wet); aspen woods; sedge meadows; calcareous fens; oak savanna; and cropland.  When completed, largest tallgrasss prairie restoration area in region.

Best Time to Visit: April through October

Notes: Waterproof foot wear is recommended.  No trails available.  Access is by foot only.  Please visit the headquarters upon arrival.

RYDELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

17788 349th St SE

Erskine, MN  56535

Phone: 800-841-0172

Email: rydell@fws.gov

Habitat: Marshes; deciduous woodlands; fields.

Features: This new National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992.  It includes 2,200 acres with over seven miles of accessible trails, four of which are paved.  A 500' bog boardwalk is also featured, as well as a wetland overlook platform.

Best Time to Visit: May through June; August through October.

Notes: Refuge Office is open 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Universally accessible trails.  Call ahead for visitor center and trail access hours.

TOURS 

ARCTIC CAT, INC.
601 Brooks Ave. South

Thief River Falls, MN  56701

Phone: (218) 681-8558

Arctic Cat, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all terrain vehicles (ATV's) and snowmobiles under the Arctic Cat brand name, as well as, related parts, garments and accessories.  Tours are offered at 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Please call ahead to arrange a large group tour.

DIGI-KEY CORPORATION
701 Brooks Avenue South, 

Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Phone: (218) 681-6674

One of the largest distributors of electronic components in the United States. Tours are offered 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. by appointment, Monday through Friday and are approximately one hour in length.

FROSTY LANE FARMS
17549 220th Ave NE

Thief River Falls, MN  56701

Phone: (218) 681-5703

Tours for up to 40 people are given by appointment on evenings and weekends. Tours give information on both llamas and Belgian Blue cattle including backgrounds, care uses and demonstrations. Contact Larry or Laurie Panek. 

GOOD-VUE AYR FARMS
21625 330th Ave NE

Goodridge, MN  56725

Phone: (218) 378-4380

Dairy and small grain operations. Tours offered June 1 - September 15 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

TWO FOOLS VINEYARD & WINERY

12501 240th Ave SE

Plummer, MN  56748

Phone: (218) 465-4655

Explore Minnesota's Northern most vineyard.  Tours, free tasting, gift shop.  Open Noon - 5:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, June through Mid-October.  A hidden treasure worth the visit!