Established in 1947, William O’Brien was the first metro area state park. It’s eastern border runs along the St. Croix River, which is a migratory pathway for birds and important habitat for many mammals. The river offers canoeing and kayaking opportunities.
In the 1970s the park expanded westward into the grasslands and forests. Many miles of hiking and skiing trails and camping grounds lie here. The visitor center is named for one of the leaders of Parks & Trails Council, Samuel H. Morgan, who was instrumental in the expansion effort.
Prior to white colonial occupation, Dakota and Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) peoples called this area home. Fur traders used the river for transport in the 1600s, followed by lumberjacks in the mid-1800s. The park’s namesake comes from a lumber baron who owned the land prior to passing it on to his daughter, Alice. She donated the first 180 acres that formed the nucleus of the park.
In 1971, the MnDNR began a major expansion effort for William O’Brien State Park, with the intent to add a rolling, partly wooded area. However, as the DNR waited in limbo for the Legislature to authorize the expansion, a housing developer began purchasing portions. P&TC responded by launching a major fundraising campaign and securing buyer agreements within the proposed expansion area. At the same time, we lobbied the Legislature to pass the boundary expansion bill. Thanks to generous support from individuals and foundations, we acquired nearly all the land in this area in seven separate land deals. By 1973 the Legislature authorized the expansion and P&TC conveyed the land to the state. More details are recounted in Samuel H. Morgan’s Environmental Recollections book.
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.
Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota purchased 5.4 acres of undeveloped land on a bluff overlooking the St. Croix River on Nov. 19, securing a rare opportunity to protect property adjacent to William O’Brien State Park. The two-year acquisition process involved resolving survey and easement issues. The land includes grasslands and bluff terrain. P&TC will hold the property in trust while working with the MNDNR to add it to the park’s statutory boundary.
