Scenic Byway gets national status

Designation

seen as boost

for tourism

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The 300 miles of highway and gravel roads that wander past rich, rolling farmland, woodlands and towns steeped in Minnesota history between Belle Plaine and Browns Valley are now a National Scenic Byway.

The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway earned national status at an awards ceremony recently in Washington, D.C.

With national designation, the byway gets increased opportunity to preserve special places and attributes on its route. National partnerships will increase dramatically with monthly telephone conferences with other byways across the nation.

The Minnesota River Scenic Byway, which begins in the east, southwest of Belle Plaine on Sibley County Road 6 and ends in the west on State Highway 7/28 in Browns Valley, offers many natural and cultural features to motorists and bicycle travelers.

The designation came about thanks to two years of work by the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway Alliance, a 25-member board chaired by Terry Sveine of the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce.

Sveine voiced optimism about the designation.

"It's slowly but surely growing," Sveine said. "Each year, more and more people come in with maps, asking us where historical spots are. I'm totally convinced it will increase tourism throughout the byway."

Sveine was especially excited about what the designation can do for New Ulm, which was cited for having the best-developed tourism of any city in the byway.

"It'll help us, especially with our close proximity to the Twin Cities," Sveine said. "There are so many wonderful and interesting things in our own backyard. I grew up in New Ulm and thought I knew everything there is around here. Looking at the map of the river scenic byway, I realized I didn't."

Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway brochures, entitled "Search the river of stories ... are available at the New Ulm Chamber office, 1 N. Minnesota.

Maps include an historical account written by Carol Erpelding of the 1862 Dakota Conflict. The story centers on Susan Brown and her dramatic, escape via wagon to Fort Ridgley.

Suggested itineraries, travel tips, discovery sites, parks, wildlife areas, historic sites and maps of byway communities are on the map.

Suggested trips include:

* Catching the big one on Big Stone Lake between Browns Valley and Ortonville.

* Watching 250,000 Canadian geese at Lac qui Parle refuge between Ortonville and Montevideo,

* Charting the steamboat course between Mankato and Belle Plaine.

Earlier this year, Sveine spoke to Brown County commissioners about a funding request. Commissioners approved a $250 appropriation to be used towards the cost of printing the brochure.

The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway Alliance is also working on securing a marketing company to bring in 15-20 writers and photographers to give the byway national publication exposure.

Another prospect is adding a bike trail along the scenic byway that could be connected to local trails.

For more information, visit: www.mnrivervalley.com or call 1-800-473-3040 or write to St. Peter Tourism and Visitors Bureau, 101 S. Front St, St. Peter, MN 56082-2500.