Minnesota has more than 60 state parks — 62, in fact — and each is as beautiful as can be. Most are filled with sparkling lakes, thick woods, raging waterfalls, or waving prairies — or maybe a little of each. But there’s one state park that is a little different from the rest. There’s one Minnesota state park that used to be a town, and you don’t want to pass it up. Read on to learn about Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, its stunning beauty, and its fascinating history.
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park is a beautiful spot in southeastern Minnesota, about 125 miles southeast of Minneapolis. You’ll find it at 21071 County Rd. 118, Preston, MN 55965.
Denise B/TripAdvisor
The Mystery Cave portion of the park is quite beautiful in its own right. It’s home to Minnesota’s longest cave, a 13-mile expanse that houses with a stunningly still blue pool.
MN Photos/Flickr
But it’s the Forestville half of the park that is actually an entire town. You’ll find it just down the road from the Mystery Cave. To get there, you’ll have to cross an old truss bridge that dates back to 1899.
Historic Forestville/TripAdvisor
The town is full of beautiful scenery, from the hilly landscape surrounding it to the lush trees within the town’s limits.
Tony Webster/Flickr
Many buildings from the old town still stand. The town was first settled in 1862, its population quickly grew to upwards of 100 people.
PurpleMN/TripAdvisor
Thanks to the town’s growth, many houses and businesses were erected. Sadly, Forestville began to decline after a railroad bypassed the area. People left, and Forestville became a ghost town.
Tony Webster/Flickr
Still, some of the old buildings stand today. They preserve a forgotten part of Minnesota’s early history.
goldmeh/TripAdvisor
Tourists can walk freely through the town. An old barn gives visitors a glimpse of the machinery used back in the 19th century. There are even old horse-drawn carriages.
ablairr/TripAdvisor
You can peek inside buildings, too. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to go shopping centuries ago, check out the Forestville general store.
thorignlclmityjn/TripAdvisor
Forestville is a fascinating part of Minnesota history. This old ghost town is preserved as a state park, and it’s well worth the time to travel there.
ablairr/TripAdvisor
Have you ever been to Forestville? What did you think? To learn more about the cave portion Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, check out our article about Mystery Cave.
Denise B/TripAdvisor
MN Photos/Flickr
Historic Forestville/TripAdvisor
Tony Webster/Flickr
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goldmeh/TripAdvisor
ablairr/TripAdvisor
thorignlclmityjn/TripAdvisor
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Address: 21071 County Rd. 118, Preston, MN 55965
