ROSEMOUNT
U approves $13M sale of UMore Park land
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents this month approved the sale of 435 acres of UMore Park in Rosemount to Minneapolis-based Maplewood Development for $13.1 million, said Kim Lindquist, the city's community development director.
Maplewood's plans for the site include housing, but Lindquist said Rosemount officials will meet in July with the developers to get more information.
Newland Communities, based in San Diego, had planned to build 1,500 homes at UMore Park but canceled that purchase agreement last fall after financing fell through.
The 4,800-acre UMore parcel was the site of a federally owned munitions plant that produced gunpowder during World War II before the U obtained it.
Erin Adler
Taylors Falls
Wild Mountain opens its summer season
After a delayed opening due to the pandemic, summer activities at Wild Mountain will begin Saturday and continue daily through Sept. 7, according to the park's new owner, Sara Larsen.
Larsen, originally from Hopkins, took ownership of the 48-year-old alpine ski operation near Taylors Falls earlier this month after working in the ski industry at resorts across the country. "It's a great family business, and we're hoping to keep things the same as usual," she said.
Wild Mountain offers an outdoor water park, alpine slides and go-karts in the summer. Larsen said the layout of the water park makes it easy to accommodate social distancing rules. Park staffers will take other precautions, like wiping down the alpine slide sleds between each use.
