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LUVERNE — American bison herds roam free at Blue Mounds State Park, which is a short drive from Pipestone on the King of Trails.
The herd grazes on prairie lands at the facility, which covers 1,567 acres in Rock County.
So, how did Blue Mounds become a place where “the buffalo roam?”
A lone runner traverses the Eagle Rock Vista, one of the premium natural settings found at Blue Mounds State Park in Luverne, typically less than a 30-minute drive from Pipestone. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Bison were first brought to Blue Mounds — which was found to be a suitable area for them — in 1961. The herd began with one bison cow and two bulls from the Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska.
A little more than a decade ago, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources entered into a partnership with the Minnesota Zoo based in Apple Valley to develop a conservation herd.
Here’s the entrance sign to Blue Mounds State Park on 161st Street north of Luverne. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
In 2017, a bull with Yellowstone genetics was added to the herd, which allows for healthier park populations — as noted in a Worthington Daily Globe story written by Julie Buntjer. Two bulls also were transferred to the park from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma in Oct. 2012.
Typically, the herd ranges from 65 to as many as 100 bison in the summer when calves are born. Yearlings are sold during the fall at an auction to keep the population sustainable.
The buffalo herd at Blue Mounds State Park consistently tops 100 animals per year. (Contributed photo from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
The bison range is fenced off, so please stay clear of the area. Visitors are warned not to approach the animals when they are near the fence line.
James Derr, a geneticist with Texas A&M, in a story written by the Minnesota DNR, noted Blue Mounds’ bison are a valuable genetic basis for future herds.
There is an observation deck to see the bison using a spotting scope, there also is a naturalist-led tour which takes people into the range on a 12-passenger open-sided vehicle.
The original 195-acre Mound Springs Recreational Reserve opened in 1937, with trees planted around the lakes and campground during the 1950s. Land was annexed in both 1955 and 1961, and the park’s name was changed to Blue Mounds.
Wildflowers adorn the foreground in this photo of the point of entry at Blue Mounds State Park in rural Luverne. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Four structures and one building in the park, built by the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
One of the interesting facets of Blue Mounds is the preservation of a 1,250 foot long line of rocks aligned by the Plains Indians — which marks where the sun rises and sets on both the spring and fall equinoxes.
There’s also a small reservoir for swimming, the only lake of its kind in Rock County.
The department is planning on redeveloping the Eagle Rock Vista area of the park, which includes the Manfred House interpretative center. It had been closed since 2015 due to structural concerns.
Here’s another vantage point of the quartzite cliffs as part of Eagle Rock Vista. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Blue Mounds is working with architects and engineers to develop possible concepts, which may include a parking area, renovations, trailhead amenities like bicycle racks, shelters and gathering spaces. There is a bike trail which links the main portion of Luverne with the park.
A bike trail connects the city of Luverne to Blue Mounds State Park north of the Rock County community. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
DNR would like visitors to know the state park now has an all-terrain track chair available at no cost. The electric-powered chair allows visitors with mobility disabilities to explore trails and access park points that cannot be accessed using a regular wheelchair.
Native grasses and wildflowers dominate the scene at the Touch The Sky Prairie. (Photo by Eric Viccaro)
Blue Mounds is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the office open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A one-day vehicle permit costs $7, with a year-round permit $35.
For information, call Blue Mounds at 1-407-283-6050 or email, bluemounds.statepark@state.mn.us.
Editor’s Note: This is the fifth installments in an eight-part series on regional state parks. The sports editor is writing stories to showcase what our area has to offer.