There are a lot of things that people born in Minnesota can share. Our ability to talk endlessly about the weather, our love-hate relationship with the Mall of America, and our love for our 10,000 lakes are just a few things that bind us all together. But there is another, more unique experience that is common among Minnesotans. Anyone who grew up in Minnesota from the 1950s to the present day may have taken a trip or two to the most quintessentially Minnesotan theme park: Paul Bunyan Land.

Paul Bunyan Land began in Baxter, Minnesota, in 1950.

Jan R/TripAdvisor The theme park started as - and still is - an ode to the mythical giant lumberjack who made his home among Minnesota’s woods.

The park quickly grew to include more than 40 rides and other attractions.

seniordad/TripAdvisor It became Minnesota’s most well-known amusement park, a title that is now held by the much larger Valley Fair. But still, Paul Bunyan Land is a Minnesota classic that many fondly remember.

Besides the rides, the highlight of the park is the large Paul Bunyan statue that would somehow greet visitors by name as they stepped up to meet him.

BarbK55311/TripAdvisor The awe of Paul Bunyan know your name is a commonly held memory of many Minnesotans who visited Paul Bunyan Land as kids. The tradition continues today, but at a new location.The original Baxter location closed up shop in 2003. But the park was moved a few miles down the road to Brainerd shortly after that. You can still visit to ride the rides and see the animals and old time buildings at Old Farm Pioneer Village.

Whether you visited when Paul Bunyan Land first opened in 1950 or more recently, you might get a kick out of this rare footage from the old amusement park. It was filmed in the late 1950s or early 1960s, and it is full of nostalgia. Take a look:

Jan R/TripAdvisor

The theme park started as - and still is - an ode to the mythical giant lumberjack who made his home among Minnesota’s woods.

seniordad/TripAdvisor

It became Minnesota’s most well-known amusement park, a title that is now held by the much larger Valley Fair. But still, Paul Bunyan Land is a Minnesota classic that many fondly remember.

BarbK55311/TripAdvisor

The awe of Paul Bunyan know your name is a commonly held memory of many Minnesotans who visited Paul Bunyan Land as kids. The tradition continues today, but at a new location.The original Baxter location closed up shop in 2003. But the park was moved a few miles down the road to Brainerd shortly after that. You can still visit to ride the rides and see the animals and old time buildings at Old Farm Pioneer Village.

What do you think? Have you ever visited Paul Bunyan Land? What was the amusement park like when you went?

If you’re looking for more Minnesota nostalgia, check out our list of 11 things that will always make Minnesotans think of home.

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