Fresh sand graces Lake Hanska beach

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

HANSKA -- Never mind the ice and a thin layer of snow covering the water, sand castles on Lake Hanska beach got a step closer to reality this week as truckloads of golden sand began arriving at Lake Hanska County Park.

Associated Finishing of Mankato donated the sand that is being removed from the firm's property.

Lake Hanska County Park Manager Gary Olson said the sand was "exceptional looking." It replaced beach sand taken from the bottom of the lake 20 years ago.

"The sand will really enhance the park," Olson said.

The $6,000 project earmarked to renovate the park beach is geared to attract more park visitors. Brown County matched $3,000 donated for the project. The Lake Hanska Area Improvement Association contributed $2,500 and Canyon Outback Leather Goods of New Ulm donated $500.

The park, located 17 miles southwest of New Ulm, includes shaded, level campsites with electric hookups, a large tent camping area, rest rooms with showers, a sanitary dump and firewood for sale.

Park historical highlights include a log cabin built in the 1850s, an old fort site, and interpretive signs. There is also a DNR public lake access and fishing pier, playground, hiking and cross country ski trails and several picnic areas.

Tree picnic shelters can be reserved at a nominal fee for family or large group gatherings.

Archeologists determined from excavations that pre-historic hunting people occupied the area about 500 B.C. to 1000 A.D. Agricultural tribes occupied the area from that time until the first contact with Europeans.

In the late 1950's, Norwegian immigrants moved to the area after the Dakota Indians were moved to reservations.

The highest hill in the park became an ideal place for a fort to protect settlers. Soldiers of the Ninth Minnesota Regiment were stationed there for many years.

Ole Synsteby bought land in 1879. He planted many of the trees that still grow in the park. Synsteby opened Fort Hanska Amusement Park in 1900. It was a popular amusement park for 25 years. The Synsteby family kept the land until it became a park that was dedicated in 1978.

The DNR attempted to reclaim the lake in January 2001 by using reverse aeration. Thousands of rough fish were killed and the lake was restocked with walleye, northern pike, large mouth bass, black crappie, bluegill and yellow perch.