The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-06-27
Red Wing as a Summer Resort.

article enumeratipg the natural adj
vantages possessed by Red Wing
for a summer resort, and the Ques.
ton is asked why do not the pleas
ure seekers OF the large cities avail
themselves of these opportunities for
enjoyment One and the principal
reason, we suppose, is the lack Of
facilities for their accommodation
which has existed till within the last
year. We must not forget that, I'M
til the St. James Hotel was opened
by the Messrs. Blood, there was re-
ally no desirable hotel in this city
for the class OF customers alluded
to; not because they think them
selves too good to put up with the
inferior conveniences of the other
houses,i but because these were re-
ally destitute of comforts which peo-
pie in pursuit Of pleasure require and
ought to have. The opening of the
St. James has attracted hither quite
a number OF pleasure seekers, and
this number will be continually in
creasing as the information extends
that there is a house here Of this
class.
But a first class hotel IS not the
only requisite to constitute a sum-
mer resort. Good roads in the vi
cinity are necessary and improved
groves, driving parks, comfortable
rural hotels, lakes with row and sail
boats, &C., are, also, essential. Red
Wing IS still lacking in these partic-
ulars. The only driving park we
have is badly located and unattract-
i've, and there is really no hotel in
the vicinity of the city where parties
may rest and obtain meals during
short excursions made with the view
of varying the monotony Of a life of
leisure. If we would secure the pa
tronage of pleasure seekers these
things must be provided, for when
people go away from home to enjoy
themselves it is reasonable for them
to seek such places only as afford
the means for enjoyment.
The vicinity Of Red Wing possess
es natural facilities, which require
very little Improvement to make
them unsurpassed by those of any
other locality in the west. In the
valleys OF Hay, Spring and Wells
creeks and Cannon river are several
places susceptible Of being converted
into the handsome pleasure resorts
The creek bottoms could be graded
down and overlooked by the con
struction Of dams, and made into
artificial lakes for boating on the
table lands driving tracks could be
easily built, and the little groves
Astounding in these secluded dells
might readily be converted into
shady parks. On the neighborln@
heights summer houses could be
erected, from which extensive an6
pleasant prospects could be OBJ
tanned.
Adjacent to all these ought to bt
a hotel, occupying a desirable site
and sufficiently large to accommo
date a considerable number O
guests, as many, for instance a
might be expected to compose ;
private pleasuring party. It ough
TO have a good hall connected will
it, susceptible of being used as ;
dancing room or for meetings Q
fairs, conventions, or associations
Sufficient stabling to accommodate
the horses of visitors, with plenty Q
provender would, also, be nee
essary. Such a place, within tw'
or three miles of the city, with
good pleasant road leading to
would, we think, be literally patron
lied, and attract thither pleasure
seekers from all parts of the country