Menahga has two major claims to fame, priding itself as being ” The Home of St. Urho” & ” The Gateway to the Pines.” The name “Menahga” was derived from the Indian word blueberry. The wild fruit grew in abundance throughout the area and Native Americans and pioneers alike used to sell and trade blueberries through local merchants in the early days of the town. The area of Menahga was settled by immigrants of Scandinavian and European descent, as land was cleared by loggers.

The name “Gateway to the Pines” was coined in 1916. When the Jefferson Highway, now Hwy. 71, made of dirt, was completed, linking New Orleans to Winnipeg, a large group of dignitaries, including Louisiana’s governor, traveled the road and visited Menahga. The governor announced in a speech that he had traveled “from the palms to the pines,” and that Menahga be known as “The Gateway to the Pines.”

Park Rapids is home to the Headwaters of the Mississippi at Itasca State Park. Since our lakes and woods never close, there are plenty of year-round activities; from silent sports such as hiking, biking, and cross country skiing to motor sports enjoying water recreation,  ATVs, and snowmobiles. Savor the flavors of Dorset, the “Restaurant Capital of the World,” or stroll through the shops on Main in scenic Downtown Park Rapids.