We had a mini-tour to Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes with our band Wings Over America: A Tribute to Paul McCartney & Wings over the weekend of October 14 & 15, 2022. I was very fortunate to be able to stay at a friend’s house in Fergus Falls, a beautiful mansion dating from 1883. I had the entire third floor to myself, which is usually the owner’s home theater, and was greeted in the most amazing way, my own marquee!
The next morning my hosts suggested a nice back roads way up to Detroit Lakes, and I used that as a jumping off point to turn what would normally be a drive of about an hour into an adventure that took four hours. Of course, that meant stopping at a bunch of cemeteries.
Starting at Pioneer Cemetery just north of Fergus Falls (8 graves, 1880-1890), I started planning my trip by using the Find a Grave app on my iPhone, and picking another cemetery, and then another, with a general direction of “towards Detroit Lakes” as my guide.
On my way I traveled back roads, dirt roads, and even had to hike into one stop. The area is covered by oak forests, open prairies, farmland, and is studded with lakes and ponds like jewels, and the fall colors were amazing. It was quite awesome, and I mean that in its truest sense. I didn’t take pictures everywhere I stopped, what follows will be where I did.
East Lida Lake Cemetery, Lida Township, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.
The cemetery is located near Lake Lida east of Pelican Rapids, MN. According to my GPS I was supposed to park on the road and walk to my destination. I learned that that’s not the case later, but had a nice short walk into the woods. The cemetery is very small, and according to the sign at the entrance it is still active, and a grave costs a mere $400. I’m assuming that’s pretty cheap, although I really don’t know having never priced one out before. I doubt $400 would get you an ashcan in Minneapolis.
East Lida Lake Cemetery has 69 graves and markers dating to 1881.
West Dora Cemetery, Dora Township, Pelican Rapids,
MN
A short ways away is West Dora Cemetery, also known as Claypool Cemetery, is very small with only 22 graves dating to 1892. It is located along a dirt road. Several of the markers show signs of having been recently cleaned and maintained. Whoever did the work did an amazing job.
Dora Catholic Cemetery, Dora Township, Pelican Rapids, MN
Dora Catholic Cemetery is a very small plot with only 14 graves dating to 1880. It’s located in a very pretty spot along a crossroad.
St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Candor Township, Vergas, MN
St. Paul’s is a cemetery with 481 graves and markers dating back to 1886. It is at the top of a long sloping hill. I was struck by how the graves were so crowded together, and how treeless the area was. It was simultaneously cramped and lonely. At the top of the hill you are presented with a sweeping vista, with a view that goes for miles across farmland and hills. It was simply beautiful.
I did re-visit Oak Grove Cemetery in Detroit Lakes before I finally called my adventure to a close, but first I went to someplace that wasn’t a cemetery at all.
Dunton Locks County Park, Detroit Lakes, MN
Spoiler alert: DL is in Becker County.
Dunton Locks County Park is a 53-acre park nestled on the shores of Muskrat Lake and Lake Sallie just south of Detroit Lakes. I went for an hour-long hike here along the shores of Muskrat Lake through a maple forest that was teeming with color. It also featured something I’d never seen before: a boat tramway. During the summer season you can get your boat moved to either Muskrat Lake or Lake Sallie.
So that’s what I’m calling my one-hour-four-hour adventure. I really love autumn, and this trip was worth every mile of dirt road I drove on.
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