Flandrau State Park Cottonwood Group Center

About

Located in a secluded wooded valley along the Cottonwood River, the Cottonwood Group Center at Flandrau State Park offers a unique blend of history and modern amenities. This historic facility, originally constructed as a WPA camp in the 1930s and later used as a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II, has been transformed into a comprehensive group camping facility. The property includes eight bunkhouses with electricity, each accommodating 12-14 people in a combination of single and bunk beds. The spacious dining hall features a commercial kitchen equipped with two ovens, six burners, a griddle, walk-in cooler, upright freezer, and full dishwashing facilities, plus tables and chairs for 96 guests. The group center is separated from the main park by the Cottonwood River State Water Trail, providing privacy and a peaceful setting. Two shower buildings offer a total of ten flush toilets and six showers. Outdoor amenities include fire rings, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and cornhole. The dining hall, cabins 1 and 2, and one shower building are ADA accessible. Reservations must be made by calling the park directly, as the group center cannot be booked through the standard Minnesota state park reservation system.

Directions

Flandrau State Park is located at 1300 Summit Avenue, New Ulm, MN 56073. From the Twin Cities, take I-35W S, then I-494 W, merge onto US-169 S, and follow MN-15 S to reach the park. From Rochester, take US-14 W, then MN-68 W, and follow Co Highway 26 to the park.