A small parcel along the railroad and near the campground that was notched out of the first project P&TC added to the park, was later acquired.

This property was owned by a farmer who wanted to see the land become part of the park. Part of the land was an in-holding within the park and the other was outside the statutory boundaries and required legislative action to be incorporated. In December of 1994 P&TC purchased the full 80 acres but eventually, after easement and other issues were worked out, four acres were sold back to the landowners.

More farmland was acquired. This land is located in the middle of the park with much of the surrounding land already within park ownership. This acquisition began to close that gap.

This property was owned by Joan Grant, who acquired it from her father-in-law. He purchased it in 1940, when it was known as the “17 Springs Farm” and was used as a trout farm. The upper springs and the stream are natural spawning areas for native brook trout. A home on the property was built in 1850 and qualifies for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. An arrangement allows the owner to retain control of the home until her death, at which point the home could potentially be retained by the park for historical interpretation, or it may be removed from the site.

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota bought this incredible property and conveyed it to the park in a series of transactions ending in 2023. It was previously owned by a man who was born there and spent 80 years of his life enjoying the idyllic setting. When it was time to move on he entertained numerous offers but ultimately sold to P&TC knowing that we would preserve it for the park.

This property also provides a preferred route for the Gateway State Trail to connect to the state park.