Fort Ridgely

4.5
96 reviews

About

Historical LandmarkTourist Attractions
The grounds are open daily, from dawn until dusk.

Location

Fort Ridgely
72404 County Road 30, Fairfax, MN
55332, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.5
96 reviews
5 stars
63
4 stars
22
3 stars
9
2 stars
2
1 star
0
  • LW
    Logan West
    5 days ago
    3.0
    Amazing piece of Minnesota history. Much of the fort only has its foundation standing today, but the Commissary and a lot Magazine building have been reconstructed. There is a lot of interpretative signage, including rare artwork from David Geister depicting life at the Fort as well as the battles fought in 1862. However, the commissary is closed, nothing inside. Many of the signs are almost unreadable. The MNHS or State need to repair and replace them, maybe restore some more buildings. Much potential is wasted in this very important site. Would still recommend visiting.
  • HH
    Heather
    Nov 1, 2025
    4.0
    Amazing groomed trails,great flushable bathrooms in the chalet, only 4/5 due to the state of some of the signs at the statepark. If they can update the signs easily 5/5
  • TM
    Terri Mercier
    Oct 8, 2025
    3.0
    Nice camp ground, wish it had a playground for the kiddos. Nice hiking trails.
  • ES
    E Sven
    Sep 19, 2025
    5.0
    FYI the Fort Ridgely Historic Site is a completely separate entity from Fort Ridgely State Park. The Historic Site is managed by the Minnesota Historical Society, and the park is managed by the MN Dept. of Natural Resources.
  • MM
    Marilynn Miller
    Sep 13, 2025
    2.0
    Learning about the history of this fort would have been easier if half of the placards weren't degraded to the point of being illegible. It also seemed like there was a narrative to the self-guided tour but we couldn't figure out if the narrative was meant to read clockwise or counter-clockwise on the walk. This site deserved better upkeep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Ridgely

What are the operating hours of Fort Ridgely?

Fort Ridgely grounds are open daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, from dawn until dusk.

Is there an admission fee to visit Fort Ridgely?

Admission to Fort Ridgely is free of charge.