There are more than 20 lottery retailers in and around Mankato. Stop in to gas up, grab a cold drink and some snacks, and stock up on your Road Trip! scratch tickets. Then head out of town on Hwy 169 to find Minneopa State Park.
In 2015, with the help of lottery proceeds distributed through the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, a small herd of 11 American Bison were introduced to Minneopa Park. Upgrades to roads and interpretive exhibits and the restoration of wetlands were made to the park. Today, 330 acres of unbroken prairie are home to a herd of more than 20 happy and healthy American Bison. Bring your binoculars for your drive along Bison Road to get the best view of these magnificent creatures.
In the Dakota language, Minneopa means “water falling twice”. Minneopa State Park also features two beautiful waterfalls, one of them is the largest waterfall in the southern part of our state. Take a walk through tall prairie grasslands on trails that circle the falls and then hike down the limestone stairways for some stunning views of the Minnesota River Valley.
