Touch the Sky Prairie

Touch the Sky Prairie Touch the Sky Prairie is part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge managed by the US Fish & Wildlife Service.

This prairie is located north of the city of Luverne in Rock County, Minnesota. Heavily grazed for over a century, this area is bring restored to a healthy native prairie. Touch the Sky Prairie currently covers over 1,000 acres of federally-owned land. The Brandenburg Prairie Foundation has been instrumental in securing land and promotion of the unit. With their help, an additional 54 acres of habitat has been secured for permanent protection under a Fish and Wildlife Service grassland easement.

11/14/2025
07/31/2025

Hey!!! Rock County is listed as having one of Minnesota's "Best Views!" No kidding, really! I mean, we already knew - but it ISN'T at the Blue Mound State Park - it is at Touch the Sky Prairie.

The staff at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune scoured the state for its best vistas, and using knowledge gleaned from past visitors to sites, sent journalist Jp Lawrence and photographer Anthony Soufflé our way.

I really recommend reading the entire article (might require a subscription, sometimes if it is your 1st time in a while you can read one story):

https://www.startribune.com/what-are-the-best-views-in-minnesota/601341602

A snippet:

"Why we like it: Walking along the trails at Touch the Sky Prairie allows you to imagine what the vast prairies might have been like before combines and Walmarts. There’s a rugged beauty in the landscape at the 1,000-acre preserve, the legacy of internationally renowned wildlife photographer Jim Brandenburg..." ~ Jp Crawford

It also lists: The Stone Arch Bridge (near St. Anthony Falls), Split Rock Lighthouse (naturally), Aiton Heights Fire Tower, and more.

Lots to add to my list of places to see in Minnesota! Hopefully, many others reading this see Touch the Sky Prairie in this story and say the same thing about wanting to come visit here.

Another legacy of Jim Brandenburg, and yet another reason to remember he and his son this coming August:

"Please join us this summer in celebrating the lives of Jim and Anthony Brandenburg.

When: SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH
Where: TOUCH THE SKY PRAIRIE
NORTHERN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
171ST ST – LUVERNE, MN

8:30 AM PRAIRIE WALK WITH USFWS
10:30 AM SHARING OF MEMORIES & MUSIC AT CENTRAL KIOSK

Please bring your own chair

In case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the Palace Theatre."

**Photo courtesy of Anthony Soufflé of the Mpls Star-Tribune

05/31/2025

Please join us this summer in celebrating the lives of Jim and Anthony Brandenburg.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2025
TOUCH THE SKY PRAIRIE
NORTHERN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
171ST ST – LUVERNE, MN

8:30 PRAIRIE WALK WITH USFWS
10:30 SHARING OF MEMORIES & MUSIC AT CENTRAL KIOSK
Bring your own chair

PALACE THEATRE (inclement weather)
507-283-1884

_________________

SUNDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 2025
2-4 PM
OPEN HOUSE
BRANDENBURG GALLERY
11 E SHERIDAN STREET
ELY, MN
218-365-6563

Both events are open to the public
For more details please call

04/17/2025

Share memories & support the family

04/05/2025

Dear Friends and Family of Jim,
We come to you with great sadness to announce that Jim Brandenburg passed away peacefully in his Medina MN, home on Friday, April 4, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was being treated for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma the past 7 months, with additional complications from pneumonia this year. He was preceded in death on Feb. 24, 2025, by his son Anthony. Please hold his wife Judy, daughter Heidi and her husband Nels Pierson, grandchildren Olivia, Liam and Lindsey, and all those who loved Jim in your hearts by taking a walk in nature, looking up at the clouds and feel the transformation of Jim’s energy back into the Universe. Jim’s Obituary and information on his Celebration of Life to follow later.

Address

171st Street
Luverne, MN
56156

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