St. Croix 360

River stories to inspire stewardship.

  • Share News
  • Event Calendar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Support

Railroad tycoons’ estate along St. Croix will open for holiday season family fun

Once a retreat for powerful St. Paul businessmen, Big Rock Creek Farm is now hosting a unique winter festival.

By Greg Seitz | November 19, 2021 | 4 minute read

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Telegram
All photos by Greg Seitz/St. Croix 360

In 1886, wealthy businessmen turned the valley of Big Rock Creek, a few miles north of St. Croix Falls, into a vast fishing and hunting estate and trout hatchery. A few decades later, it became a family retreat for two wealthy St. Paul brothers in the railroad and construction business.

Claude and Allen Siems operated this paradise tucked into the bluffs as an “Up North” outpost. Their father, Peter Siems, had come to the United States in 1865 and built a business in building railroad embankments, working closely with James J. Hill on his Great Northern Railroad. His sons took over the business upon his death and expanded into construction.

Big Rock Creek was their summer retreat, a short train ride from home on Summit Ave. in St. Paul. After the brothers’ deaths, Big Rock Creek was owned and cared for by their children and grandchildren until 2015.

It is now owned by another family, who are writing a new chapter in Big Rock Creek’s story. They continue to use it for hunting and fishing, and are opening parts of it for events, craft fairs, short-term rentals — and now, a unique holiday festival.

The month-long event called Miracle at Big Rock will offer picturesque lighting, winter activities, a holiday market, and more, with options to walk, drive, or ride a horse drawn wagon or sleigh through light displays boasting 10 million bulbs. The market will be in the massive barn, called The Lyon, a centerpiece of the property, and is history itself.

Family patriarch and co-owner Brad Hansen says the beams are from a railroad trestle originally located in Boston, Mass., which was taken apart and shipped west to the estate 100 years ago. When it was moved, the bridge was already at least 150 years old. That means the wood is likely old-growth New England oak that started growing around the time of the Pilgrims.

Unlike many aging barns with swaying spines and leaning walls, this one stands tall and straight thanks to those timbers. The structure is emblematic of the estate, where there is history in the woods.

Big Rock Creek Farm has been largely hidden from view for most of that history, a refuge for the rich and powerful. During “Miracle” and other events, it is open to all. The festival is based on one of the founding principles of Big Rock Creek Farm: family fun. Just as it was once a retreat for the Siems, Hansen says it’s now an opportunity to enjoy old-fashioned amusement, like simply sitting around a blazing fire, cooking s’mores, and sledding.

“We want to create a magical place for people to come and enjoy,” Hansen says.

The 1,000-acre property remains largely natural, except for some long lasting signs of people. The Siems Brothers, who bought Big Rock Creek estate in 1992, specialized in building railroad embankments. Today, a web of narrow roads weave through the valley, often elevated on berms identical to railroad lines.

Big Rock Creek remains full of trout — brook, brown, and rainbow — all naturally reproducing. Signs of the old hatchery abound. There are cement sluice ways and tanks with trees growing through them, original oak piping, and hydrological manipulations. At one place, a 100-year-old enamel cup hangs upside down atop an iron pipe with a steady stream coming out of it, and a passerby can quench their thirst the same as a century ago. The water is the consistent 55 degrees of groundwater, which the fish also love.

The main cluster of buildings, including The Lyon, surround a five-acre impoundment, also reportedly densely populated with trout. The lake is held back by a 20-foot dam with water rushing through it. The creek originates on the property from springs far up the valley. After the dam, it spills another few miles to the St. Croix.

One day this fall, the farm was abuzz with activity. Workers — mostly members of the family — were building and decorating. There was a sense of simply working steadily toward a firm deadline. Almost everybody was working with someone else, as a family.

Hansen emphasizes that the festival will be an experience first and foremost.

“You might see photos, but you have to feel the place,” he says. “It’s almost a secret, you have to come here to understand.”

One can imagine the railroad tycoons and their powerful friends saying the same thing to each other in between spanning the continent with steel.

Miracle at Big Rock

Monday – Wednesday: 4:30 – 10 p.m. | Drive thru only | $35/car
Thursday – Sunday: 4 – 10 p.m. | walk thru ONLY & full experience | $12/kid (3 and under free), $17 Adults

More Information

Related

Comments

  1. Greg Gentle says

    November 19, 2021 at 12:35 pm

    Am I correct in thinking this is the same family that purchased property on the St Croix River north of Somerset, made “improvements” to the property in violation of the Scenic Rivers Act, illegally altered the landscape, ignored local zoning ordinances, and then tried to get local legislators to submit a bill on their behalf to change the Scenic Rivers Act to accommodate their individual interests?

    • Greg Seitz says

      November 19, 2021 at 4:26 pm

      I was unaware of that until now, unfortunately. It seems this location and event center will not violate any Wild and Scenic regulations, as the farm is not located directly on the river.

      Here’s St. Croix 360’s coverage of that issue:
      https://www.stcroix360.com/2017/07/legislation-would-exempt-somerset-event-center-from-st-croix-river-rules/

      • Katie Conley says

        November 21, 2021 at 8:38 am

        The property in that article is in Somerset and the Siems estate is north of St Croix Falls. It is definitely a different property.

  2. Deb Barth says

    November 20, 2021 at 9:14 am

    I love this place!! Nice story, we visited for a wedding this past summer and it’s just gorgeous there. We will be at their Miracle At Big Rock festival!

  3. Michael says

    November 20, 2021 at 11:22 am

    It’s a beautiful place no matter what history has evolved of its struggles (that’s just something insecure people have time to point out GG,lol). My wife has already been fortunate to vending one Avent and we will enjoy the Miracle ” and many more as well! Thanks to all of the nice people who made this happen and like-minded people in the world that makes things happen to make it a more positive family environmental place!
    – The Block layer’s husband

  4. Denise Flaherty says

    November 20, 2021 at 3:42 pm

    Can’t believe you are using the Pilgrims as a reference to the age of trees growing on Native American land

Follow

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

St. Croix 360 is 100% supported by readers.

Click here to contribute →

 

Latest stories

  • No wakes allowed on lower St. Croix due to high water
  • Snake River Canoe Race sees fast times and smooth paddling
  • Developer proposes 12 new ‘cabins’ on St. Croix River

More news

  • Residents resist St. Croix Falls riverside development proposal
  • Birds, Bugs, and Blooms: A St. Croix 360 spring Saturday
  • Tribal officials applaud plan to change derogatory names for places
  • Stillwater teen drowns in St. Croix River while helping save friend
  • Afton State Park phenology May 13 to 19, 2022
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

About

St. Croix 360 builds support for river stewardship, and connects people and organizations. It is an independent news source produced by Greg Seitz, with past support from the St. Croix River Association.

Donate to St. Croix 360 today »

Story of 360

One of the biggest challenges facing the St. Croix River is harmful blooms of algae in in the lower river, due to excess nutrients in runoff. The goal is to restore the river by reducing phosphorus levels to 360 tons/year. Learn more »

Share Your News

St. Croix 360 is powered by a broad community of St. Croix River-loving people. Please visit our submission page to send tips, press releases, and other news.

Submit an Event

Lower St. Croix: St. Croix 360 partners with online calendar St. Croix Splash.

  • Submit your events to Splash.
  • Share it with St. Croix 360 for promotion.

For events elsewhere in the watershed, contact St. Croix 360 directly.

St. Croix 360 Syndication

To help increase awareness of the St. Croix River, news organizations and other outlets are free to share St. Croix 360 content, as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Republish St. Croix 360 stories »

Partners

  • St. Croix River Association
  • St. Croix Watershed Research Station
  • ArtReach St. Croix
  • You and all St. Croix 360's readers!
Handcrafted in May Township, Minnesota. Please contribute today »
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
 

Loading Comments...