New Trail Center addition

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News Releases
New Trail Center addition to be unveiled at Glendalough State Park on Saturday, April 24
(Released April 15, 2010)


The grand opening of the long-awaited addition to the Trail Center at Glendalough State Park will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24.
The opening will be held in conjunction with the 14th annual Walk for Glendalough, a special event organized by the Glendalough Park Partners. Participants in the walk event should meet at the Trail Center at 9 a.m.

Other grand opening events for park visitors of all ages will include lodge tours, eagle nest viewing, food, and prizes, all provided by The Friends of Glendalough State Park.

The Trail Center, located next to the historic lodge on the north shore of Annie Battle Lake, looks out over a sandy swimming beach and provides a starting point for three of the park’s wooded hiking and skiing trails. It was built in 1950 as the kitchen and dining hall for the Glendalough Camp that hosted presidents Eisenhower and Nixon, as well as numerous other influential individuals.

Trail Center addition
The center was remodeled for public use in 1999, but until now, had no restroom facilities.

“We’re very grateful to the Glendalough Park Partners for funding the new restrooms with money raised at previous Walk events,” said Park Manager Jeffrey Wiersma. “The indoor facilities, which replaced a portable toilet, will be open year-round and are a welcome addition for the park’s hikers, skiers, picnickers, and campers.”

For more information about the addition, the new kitchen updates added during the recent construction, and about the use and rental of park facilities, call the park at 218-864-0110.

The Trail Center addition is the latest of many improvements that the Walk has funded since it started in 1996. Past Walk events have funded prairie plantings, tree plantings, camper cabin heat and electricity, bird-feeding stations, rental canoes, a picnic shelter, a hiking bridge, and the restoration and furnishing of the park lodge.

Future plans for the Trail Center include the additions of a large trail m  ap and a touch-screen computer for visitors to access park information. In a few years, the building will also serve as a trailhead for the recently funded bike trail, which will loop through the park and connect to the city of Battle Lake.

Glendalough State Park is located in Battle Lake, which is about 20 miles east of Fergus Falls.

Grand Opening

Refreshments will be served at the Trail Center. Those who want to join in a virtual scavenger hunt can bring their own GPS or check one out at the park for free (limited quantity available). Those who can’t hike can ride a park shuttle down the trail to the eagle nest or take a tour of the 100-year-old Glendalough Lodge.

A bratwurst lunch will begin at 11 a.m., when those returning from the Walk for Glendalough will gather at the old tennis court to hear the latest park news, the total funds raised, and, if they’re lucky, choose a prize.

Park admission will be free on April 24, but the Friends’ group requests a small registration fee ($5 minimum) for the Walk and a freewill donation for morning coffee and lunch. Free posters will be available to all.

The event wraps up by noon, but visitors can extend their day with a canoe trip, a hike to see the blooming pasque flowers, or an overnight stay in the campground. Call the park for more information at 218-864-0110.