Due to COVID-19 my hours at work have shifted, and I’m now off work earlier in the day, which allows me to go places and see things I couldn’t always squeeze into the weekends.
This week my fiance Cory and I took a quick afternoon trip to the sleepy little town of Holdingford, Minnesota. The small town boasts a population of just over 700, and claims to be “The Gateway to Lake Wobegon”, the fictional central Minnesota town created by author Garrison Keillor.
The 65-mile-long Lake Wobegon Trail winds through the tiny town, and under the longest covered bridge in the state of Minnesota. No need to let the trail length scare you, there is a trail head in the middle of the town where guests can park, and the bridge is within a very short walk of the lot.
The 186 foot bridge was built in 2008 by the town’s Lions Club, and since there is no motor vehicle traffic on the trail, guests checking out the bridge can enjoy it at their own pace.
Along the poles supporting the roof there are stainless steel plaques sharing the history of the Holdingford area. One of them details how the area was once known as the Moonshine Capital of Minnesota, specializing in “Minnesota 13”, local moonshine made from corn during prohibition.
There is a calming charm to hearing the flowing water below it, and the picturesque fields you look out upon. The covered bridge might be on the newer side of history, but it has definitely left it’s mark in the record books as the longest structure of its kind. At least in Minnesota.
Even Norman enjoyed seeing the longest covered bridge in Minnesota. 
During a Stay at Home Order it felt good to be out of the house and seeing a new site. 
The Small Town Tourist 
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