Quarry Park

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[edit] Getting There

From Highway 23 in Waite Park, turn south onto 10th Avenue (you'll pass Menards and Bernick's Pepsi). Turn right at the stop sign, onto 7th Street South / County Road 137.

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is 7/10 mile from that intersection, on the left.

[edit] History

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, formerly known as "Hundred Acres Quarry," is a great addition to the Stearns County Parks System.

A group enjoys the view at Quarry ParkGranite - formed by intense heat within the earth - was the foundation of a major Minnesota industry. The first granite quarry in Central Minnesota was opened in 1863 by two Scotsmen. In the 130 years to follow, Central Minnesota granite became an international commodity gracing buildings as far away as Singapore.

About 100 years ago, a type of stone known as Saint Cloud Red Granite was quarried from land which is now part of the park. The Landmark Center and the James J. Hill House in St. Paul, Minnesota both contain Saint Cloud Red Granite in their structures.

Though private ownership of the land by local quarry companies continued until 1992, quarrying operations in the present park area ceased in the mid-1950's. Companies operating quarries on the site during this period were Holes Bros., Delano Granite, Melrose Granite Co., Empire Quarry Co., and C. L. Atwood.

Over the years, the land gradually reverted back to a more natural state. In 1992, Stearns County purchased this site from Cold Spring Granite Company and added the land to its County Park System. The park opened on January 1, 1998.

[edit] The Details

Park is open from 8:00 a.m. to one-half hour after sunset. Daily permits: $4.00, Annual permits: $14.00

[edit] Land Manager

[edit] Overall Impression

Quarry Park is the most unique county park in the United States. It features:Sign at entrance to Quarry Park

   * Granite reflecting pools
   * A swimming hole 112 feet deep
   * Scientific and Natural Areas
   * Mountain bike paths over billion-year-old bedrock
   * Trout fishing
   * Rock Climbing
   * Cliff Jumping
   * Scuba Diving

The park currently contains 643 acres. The park has much to offer for those who love the outdoors. Natural features include scenic woodlands, open prairie, wetlands, and un-quarried bedrock areas. Plant life includes everything from oaks and aspens to yellow ladyslippers, Indian paintbrush, prickly pear cactus and the tubercled rein orchid.

Man-made features include sizable hills composed of quarried rock remnants (grout piles), and 30 granite quarries, most of which are now filled with water and form picturesque rock-fringed ponds. The State of Minnesota has been a major partner in the establishment and improvement of this park.

[edit] Trail Maps

[edit] Pictures & Multimedia

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