Martin County: Lakes, Culture and Recreation

For planning your trip to Martin County, you can focus on several different things: the lakes and trails in Fairmont, as well as nature, recreation and cultural attractions in other named locations. This can help you decide whether you’d like to include time by the water, outdoor activities, or architecture and history in your trip.

Lakes, Trails and Outdoor Activities

Fairmont’s Chain of Lakes includes Budd, George, Hall, Sisseton and Amber lakes. Four of the five lakes are connected by channels. The Fairmont Trails run along the Chain of Lakes and are suitable for biking, walking, jogging and hiking. Together, the waterways and trails offer a focus for outdoor activities.

If you’d like to get out on the water, the Fairmont Lakes Foundation rents kayaks and paddleboards. Paddles and personal flotation devices are included. Check in advance to see whether rentals are available for your planned dates.

Fairmont’s park system covers nearly 400 acres and includes parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, green spaces, flower gardens and disc golf facilities. In winter, there are areas for sledding, ice skating and cross-country skiing. The variety of facilities and activities offers different ways to spend time outdoors.

North of Trimont, Cedar Hanson Park is located on Cedar Lake and is the largest county park in Martin County. Cedar Hanson Park Campground has 37 well-equipped sites with water and electrical hookups, as well as several basic tent sites. This provides a choice of sites with hookups and basic tent sites.

Architecture, Art and History

In Fairmont, the Chubb House combines architectural history with guided tours: built in 1867, it is the oldest surviving brick house in the city. Private tours with volunteer staff are available by appointment. The Military Room at the Pioneer Museum displays artifacts from Fort Fairmount and the Civil War.

Heritage Acres is an agricultural interpretive center that tells the ongoing story of agriculture. The site covers 40 acres of prairie in Martin County and overlooks Lake Sisseton near Fairmont. Its focus differs from the architectural history of the Chubb House: here, agriculture and the prairie landscape take center stage.

The Martin County Courthouse in Fairmont features Renaissance Revival architecture, with symmetrical brickwork, arched windows and a distinctive clock tower. Inside, visitors can see original metalwork and stonework, as well as murals on the third floor and in the dome. If you’re interested in architectural styles, you can take in both the building’s design and details of its interior.

The Red Rock Center for the Arts is a historic building dating from 1898 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each month, the Center features a new visual artist; admission is free. Its program also includes musical performances such as big band, swing, jazz, cultural music, and string and piano concerts. The Fairmont Opera House hosts local and professional theater performances.

Memorial sites are also part of Fairmont’s cultural landscape. The Martin County Veterans Memorial Park honors men and women from Martin County who have served in the armed forces. The Martin County Veterans Memorial features an 80 × 8-foot black granite wall bearing the names of veterans from Martin County. A Bell-Cobra combat helicopter, designated AH-1-66-F-15327, is also on permanent display there. The Freedom Rock in Fairmont honors all Martin County veterans, past and present, and is part of artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II’s 50 State Freedom Rock Tour.

Recreation and Events

For water activities, Fairmont Aquatic Park offers water slides, a climbing wall, a diving board, a six-lane swimming pool and splash areas. Disc golf enthusiasts will find three courses for different skill levels at Cedar Creek Disc Golf Complex in Fairmont. The two attractions offer different experiences: swimming and water fun are the focus at the Aquatic Park, while the Disc Golf Complex offers several courses to choose from.

The Martin County Fair takes place annually. The program includes musical performances, the Open Ranch Rodeo, a carnival and livestock shows, as well as 4-H, FFA and open-class exhibits. If you’d like to plan your trip around the Fair, check the event dates in advance.

Fairmont’s location along Interstate 90 is a helpful point of reference when planning your arrival. Whether your trip is shaped more by the lakes and trails, by art and architecture, or by an event date, the places and activities listed here offer different starting points for planning your stay in Martin County.

Discover more destinations: Fairmont, McLeod County, Mower County, Beltrami County, Murray, Polk County, Faribault, Chippewa County.

For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.