Cobden MinnesotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Cobden, Minnesota.
1. Cobden City Park
COMMUNITY GATHERING SPOT
Cobden City Park serves as the central community gathering spot in this small Minnesota town. The park hosts annual events like Cobden Day, featuring tractor pulls, kids games, and various family activities. Visitors can enjoy the peaceful rural setting while participating in community festivities throughout the year.
2. Crusher's Corner Bar
LOCAL WATERING HOLE
Crusher's Corner Bar is a cherished local establishment in Cobden where residents and visitors gather for refreshments and socializing. The venue often serves as an information hub for community events and hosts entertainment during town celebrations. Visitors can experience authentic small-town Minnesota hospitality while enjoying drinks with locals.
3. Cobden Day Festival
ANNUAL TOWN CELEBRATION
Cobden Day Festival is a beloved annual celebration that has been bringing friends, family, and tractor pull enthusiasts together for nearly 40 years. The festival features tractor pulls, bean bag tournaments, craft and vendor fairs, and live entertainment from bands like IV Play. Visitors can enjoy the food stands, kids' activities, and the chance to experience authentic rural Minnesota culture during this cherished community event.
4. Flandrau State Park
SCENIC RIVERSIDE RECREATION
Flandrau State Park offers visitors a beautiful natural escape with hiking trails, camping facilities, and a sand-bottom swimming pool fed by spring water. The park is situated along the Cottonwood River, providing opportunities for fishing, wildlife viewing, and peaceful contemplation of nature. Winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trails through the scenic woodland landscape.
5. Hermann Monument
HISTORIC GERMANIC LANDMARK
The Hermann Monument stands as a proud 102-foot copper statue commemorating the Germanic hero Hermann the Cheruscan, overlooking the city of New Ulm. Visitors can climb the spiral staircase to the observation platform for panoramic views of the Minnesota River Valley and surrounding countryside. This National Register of Historic Places landmark symbolizes the strong German heritage that influenced Brown County's development.
6. Schell's Brewery
HISTORIC CRAFT BREWING
Schell's Brewery, established in 1860, holds the distinction of being Minnesota's oldest operating brewery and a beloved attraction near Cobden. Visitors can tour the historic brewery grounds, sample craft beers in the tasting room, and explore the beautiful gardens that include roaming peacocks. The brewery's museum details the fascinating history of German brewing traditions in Minnesota through multiple generations of the Schell family.
7. Brown County Historical Society Museum
REGIONAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION
The Brown County Historical Society Museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and exhibits chronicling the region's rich history, including the settlement period and the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The museum occupies a magnificent 1910 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, featuring original stained glass, marble, and terrazzo floors. Visitors can explore multiple floors of exhibits that bring to life the stories of those who shaped Brown County, including Cobden and the surrounding communities.
8. Sleepy Eye Depot Museum
RAILWAY HISTORY SHOWCASE
The Sleepy Eye Depot Museum preserves the history of railway transportation that was vital to the development of Brown County communities including nearby Cobden. Housed in a restored Chicago and Northwestern Railway depot, the museum features original artifacts, photographs, and exhibits about local history. Visitors can step back in time to experience the era when the railroad was the lifeline of small Midwestern towns.
9. Harkin Store
LIVING HISTORY TRADING POST
The Harkin Store is a remarkably preserved 1870s general store that offers visitors a glimpse into 19th-century rural Minnesota life near the Cobden area. Original fixtures and merchandise remain on the shelves, creating an authentic time capsule of a once-thriving riverboat community. Costumed interpreters share stories of the store's history and the West Newton settlement that disappeared after being bypassed by the railroad.
10. Searles Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch
SEASONAL FALL FUN
Searles Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch offers a quintessential fall experience for families in the Brown County area near Cobden. The attraction features an intricately designed corn maze, a pumpkin patch where visitors can select their perfect Halloween pumpkin, and various seasonal activities. Hayrides, corn pits, and farm animals provide additional entertainment for visitors of all ages during the autumn harvest season.
11. Comfrey Historical Museum
SMALL TOWN HERITAGE
The Comfrey Historical Museum preserves the cultural heritage of this small community located near Cobden in southern Minnesota. The museum houses photographs, documents, and artifacts that tell the story of the area's agricultural traditions and pioneer settlement. Visitors can gain insight into the rural lifestyle that characterized Brown County's development throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
12. Kiesling House
CIVIL WAR ERA LANDMARK
The Kiesling House stands as one of the few structures in New Ulm to survive the Dakota Conflict of 1862, making it a significant historical landmark in Brown County. This limestone house offers visitors a glimpse into the tumultuous period when settlers sought refuge during the conflict that affected the entire region including Cobden. Guided tours provide fascinating historical context about frontier life and the complex relationships between European settlers and the Dakota people.
13. Way of the Cross Shrine
SPIRITUAL HILLTOP SANCTUARY
The Way of the Cross Shrine features a series of striking bronze statues depicting the Stations of the Cross along a peaceful hillside path in Brown County. Visitors can walk the contemplative route that culminates in a panoramic view of the Minnesota River Valley from the hilltop. The shrine reflects the region's strong religious heritage and provides a serene setting for both spiritual pilgrims and those seeking a quiet moment of reflection.
14. Bockfest at Schell's Brewery
WINTER BREWING CELEBRATION
Bockfest at Schell's Brewery is a lively winter festival that draws visitors from across the region, including nearby Cobden, to celebrate the release of the brewery's seasonal bock beer. The outdoor event features beer sampling, German music, food, and the quirky tradition of searching for seven commemorative wooden Bock figures hidden throughout the brewery grounds. Revelers brave the Minnesota winter weather to participate in this unique celebration that honors the area's German brewing heritage.
15. Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway
RIVERSIDE NATURAL BEAUTY
The Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway offers travelers breathtaking views and historical stops along the majestic river that shaped communities like Cobden. The route passes through Brown County's picturesque landscape, revealing a tapestry of forests, prairies, and farmland that changes with the seasons. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing opportunities, access to fishing spots, and connections to the area's rich natural and cultural history.