We rented the Red Rock Center for the Arts, in Fairmont, Minnesota, for my daughters graduation…read moreparty. The staff were 100% professional, and 100% helpful. The venue was amazing and beautiful!!!

Beautifully restored historic building dedicated to the arts. Always clean and very well kept…read more Great variety of musical performances, an ever changing art exhibits, and art classes for adults and youth. The facility is also available to rent -- great for receptions, reunions, graduations, anniversary birthday and more. The lower level conference room is perfect for small gatherings and meeting.

Dickinson County, the smallest Iowa county in land area, is named in honor of Daniel S. Dickinson,…read morea lawyer and senator from New York. Starting with Rowland Gardner, this area was first settled in 1856. The first courthouse was partially completed in 1860. At that point it was used as a barracks for Civil War troops, was completed in 1868, and destroyed by fire 1872. A second courthouse was constructed using the salvageable bricks of the first courthouse. However, it was soon deemed unsatisfactory and condemned in 1880. In September 1889 a $15,000 bond issue was passed for the construction of a 3rd courthouse that was completed in 1891. This Courthouse (including the 1957, 1976, and 1978 additions) was the one I saw when I was growing up at the Lake and coming back during my College summers. But all good things must come to an end, as and old and tired Courthouse III was eventually condemned. Courthouse IV is now just a few years old and during our last trip to Spirit Lake, Gayle and I walked from the Cabin to take a look. Actually the Building itself was closed, so we admired the Veteran's Plaza that honors those who served (and returned) and the others who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Country. There's also a Tower in front of the Main Building which honors the previous 3 Courthouses, and features an interior that tastefully provides Lakes Area information for visitors. It's a beauty of a place and Gayle and I were both impressed. Later on we obtained a booklet commemorating the grand opening of the new Courthouse. We'll be back to finish our tour with an interior walk. Now if the good folks in Spirit Lake could work on restoring that lovely old Carnegie Library across the Street?

I was struck by the classic beauty of the Freeborn County Courthouse, a Romanesque-style building…read moredesigned in 1888. The red brick, sandstone and limestone building is definitely impressive and worth a visit. Freeborn County was created in 1855 with territory separated from Blue Earth and Rice counties. Freeborn County was named for William Freeborn, an early Minnesota pioneer, merchant, and territorial legislator. The county is in southern Minnesota and has one border with neighboring Iowa. Albert Lea is the seat of, and the largest city in, Freeborn County. [Review 17161 overall - 76 in Minnesota - 678 of 2022.]

County of what? County of good government, justice, mercy and proper administration of the people's…read moreresources. I've been to a lot of counties and a lot of county government administration buildings and rarely am I called on by my conscience to rate them. In this case, I couldn't get my thumbs moving quick enough. And, if I can let you in on a secret, I really think this is a five star location, but people never read the five star reviews, they think five stars is probably some shill, some county employee boosting their local stats. Guess what, I'm none of those. I'm just a careful observer of what works and what doesn't in county and city administration buildings and this place works in a big way.