Rapidan Dam Store faces uncertain future after severe flooding

While on vacation, I was following the weather in Minnesota. Seeing the destruction caused by the Rapidan Dam, the water rushing around the 100+ year old dam and encroaching on the land, broke my heart. About 100 feet from the “new” bank of the river is a famous pie stand. I hope this is not the end of the Rapidan Dam Store.

The Rapidan Dam Store is known for its pies and once the store opens for the season in the spring, you generally see a steady stream of cars and people passing by.

The store hasn’t posted on social media since the 23rd, and many people in southern Minnesota are spreading the word that when it reopens, when no one knows yet, it will take a lot of effort on people’s part to keep the store open, and hopefully not far from its current location.

The store holds a special place for me personally, as I would always stop there on the way to the weekend softball or baseball games in Mankato when I worked in Albert Lea. I understand that it sounds odd to show up to a baseball or softball game with a cake, but the folks up in the booth were happy to receive the sweet treat brought by the visiting TV network team.

I hope the business survives and can stay where it is now, but that’s not how it always works in real life and I suspect the business will have to relocate away from the flood site and dam one way or another.

If and when they reopen and you are in the Mankato area, stop by and grab a slice or better yet a whole pie and create some new/special memories.

Come with us and visit Canelake’s Candies in Virginia, Minnesota

Come with us and visit Melrose, MN in pictures