Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
A 1936 poster highlighting the accomplishments of the Minnesota Works Progress Administration during its first fiscal year featured a drawing of the Park Rapids bathhouse to represent Hubbard County. Built using locally gathered fieldstone the budget for construction was anticipated to be less than $1,000.

While this field-stone bathhouse was built in 1936, this spot has provided year-round entertainment to Park Rapids residents and visitors alike for more than a century.

The village government bought this parcel of land in 1893 to provide public access to the river for recreation. Small boathouses and swimming facilities were constructed during the early twentieth century, but most were short lived. A dock and diving tower were available for public use.

During the 1930s, the city applied for funds from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to build a new and improved bathhouse at the river. Plans called for a Rustic Style building that would use existing local materials to save money.

Construction began late in 1935 and the bathhouse was finished in May 1936. The original interior included locker rooms for men and women, an open multi-use space, and quarters for the supervisor on duty. Teachers from the local school served as lifeguards at the beach. The WPA also held classes for children in the building.

In the winter, though there were fewer tourists, the bathhouse got plenty of use. The Park Rapids Fire Department made an ice rink on the river and the bathhouse was used as a warming house, helping keep skaters cozy. In 2011, Park Rapids conducted a study to determine whether the historic structure could be reused. It would be ideal to restore it as a welcome center for the Heartland State Trail that passes next to the building.

175 Beach Road
Park Rapids, MN 56470

Open Site Location on Google Maps
46.9234162699251, -95.0571220365446