St. Croix State Park has three group centers, each available seasonally from mid-May through the end of September. The buildings are all historic, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 and 1939.
These group centers cannot be reserved through the Minnesota state park reservation system. To make a reservation up to one year in advance, call the park at 320-280-7881.
Head of the Rapids Group Center
Head of the Rapids Group Center
Download Head of the Rapids Group Center map
Maximum overnight capacity of 125 people.
Features
- Dining hall: This building includes one fireplace, a restroom and a commercial kitchen. Maximum capacity for the dining hall is 80 people.
- Commercial kitchen: The kitchen includes plates, cups and eating utensils for 125 people. Expand the general group center information tab to see additional kitchen amenities.
- Cabins: Ten rustic cabins in three villages. There is no electricity or heat in these cabins. Please do not move beds between cabins.
- Cabins A1, A2, B1, B2 and C2 - sleep nine.
- Cabins A3 and C1 - sleep ten.
- Cabins B3, C3 and C4 - sleep eleven.
- Support buildings: These buildings all have electricity.
- Staff quarters - sleeps nine.
- Infirmary - sleeps eight, and includes a private restroom/shower.
- Office - sleeps six.
- Cook's quarters - sleeps four.
- Bathroom/showers: Each village has its own bathroom/shower building. A Village is accessible. B Village is not in service - people in B Village should use the A or C Village bathrooms.
- Craft building: This building has electricity, with work benches down the middle and along the sides to be used as work stations.
- Other features: There is lots of space for other activities.
- Ball field: Bring your own equipment.
- Sand volleyball court: Net provided. Bring other equipment.
- Swimming beach.
- Four fire rings. Two are located outside cabins in A and C Villages, a third is outside the dining hall, and the fourth is across from the ball field, with benches set up around it like a council ring.
- Picnic tables.
- Large grill with cooking grate.
Fees
Overnight use: $400 per night plus tax. Utilities included.
Day use: $240 per day. Utilities included.
Extra time before and/or after camp, for program leaders to set up or take things down: $100 per night, including utilities.Accessibility
Accessible buildings include the A-Village restroom, Cabin A2, and the dining hall and the infirmary.
Norway Point Group Center
Norway Point Group Center
Download Norway Point Group Center map
Maximum overnight capacity of 236 people: 206 in cabins, plus 30 in the support buildings.
Features
- Dining hall: This building includes two fireplaces and a commercial kitchen. Maximum capacity for the dining hall is 100 people.
- Commercial kitchen: The kitchen includes plates, cups and eating utensils for 225 people. Expand the general group center information tab to see additional kitchen amenities.
- Cabins: 28 rustic cabins (no electricity) in four villages. Most cabins sleep eight people; a few only sleep two. Total capacity for all villages is 206 people.
- Cabins A2, C5 and D6 - sleep two.
- All other cabins sleep eight, in twin bunks.
- Support buildings: These buildings all have electricity.
- Staff quarters - sleeps thirteen in five cabins, with a dedicated bathroom/shower.
- Infirmary - sleeps six.
- Counselor cabin - sleeps five.
- Cook's quarters - sleeps three.
- Office - sleeps three.
- Bathroom/showers: Each village has its own bathroom/shower building. A-Village and the central latrine are both accessible.
- Craft building: This building has electricity, with work benches down the middle and along the sides to be used as work stations.
- Other features: There is lots of space for other activities.
- Ball field: Bring your own equipment.
- Sand volleyball court: Net provided. Bring other equipment.
- Swimming beach.
- Two fire rings, one on the back of the mess hall and the other near the ball field.
- Large grill with cooking grate.
- Picnic tables.
Fees
Overnight use: $600 per night plus tax. Utilities included.
Day use: $360 per day. Utilities included.
Extra time before and/or after camp, for program leaders to set up or take things down: $100 per night, including utilities.Accessibility
Accessible buildings include the A-Village restroom and the latrine, dining hall and infirmary.
St. John's Landing Group Center
St. John's Landing Group Center
This group center is not currently available to reserve.
Maximum overnight capacity of 125 people.
Features
- Dining hall: Maximum capacity is 100. The hall includes a commercial kitchen and a restroom.
- Commercial kitchen: The kitchen includes plates, cups and eating utensils for 125 people. Expand the general group center information tab to see additional kitchen amenities.
- Cabins: 28 rustic cabins in four villages. Most cabins sleep eight people; a few sleep two or seven. There is no electricity or heat in any of these cabins. Total capacity for all villages is 195 people.
- Cabins C7 and D2 sleep two.
- Cabin B6 sleeps five.
- Cabins A1-A6, B1-B5, B7, C1-C6, D1 and D3-D7 sleep eight.
- Cabins A2 and D3 need some construction work and are not available for use.
- Support buildings: These buildings all have electricity.
- Staff quarters - sleeps four.
- Cook's quarters - sleeps two.
- Director's cabin - sleeps two.
- Infirmary - sleeps two.
- Bathroom/showers: Each village has its own bathroom/shower building.
- Craft building: This building has electricity, with benches down the middle and along the sides to be used as work stations.
- Other features: There is lots of space for other activities.
- Ball field: Bring your own balls for the volleyball court and ball field.
- Two fire rings, located by the dining hall and the river.
- Picnic tables.
Fees
Overnight use: $400 per night plus tax.
Day use: $240 per day plus tax.
Extra time before and/or after camp, for program leaders to set up or take things down: $100 per night plus tax.Accessibility
Accessible buildings include the dining hall and the infirmary.
General information (applies to all three group centers)
General information
All the following information is true for each of the park's three group centers:
Arrival and departure
Check-in: 3 p.m.
Checkout: 1 p.m.
Checkout inspection: Each group is responsible for cleaning their group center before checking out. Cleaning directions are posted on the kitchen bulletin board. Park staff will inspect that everything is clean before you check out. Please contact the park office approximately one hour before you are ready to check out, to have someone come out to inspect the area. This process takes approximately one hour. Make sure everything is clean and personal items have been removed from the buildings before the inspection.
Checkout extension: With an additional day use charge, you may arrange different check-in and checkout times, if the group center is available.
Emergencies: In case of an emergency, call 911 first! If an emergency occurs during park office hours, please also alert office staff at 320-280-7881. If someone needs to reach you in an emergency, they may call the park office during office hours. For outbound calls, AT&T tends to have the strongest cell phone coverage at the group centers.
Firewood: Firewood bundles are available for sale at the park office. To arrange a large delivery, call prior to your stay. Don't move firewood! Burning non-local firewood can spread invasive species, and it's against Minnesota state law. Buy your firewood from the park or bring in only approved firewood.
Naturalist programming: Groups of ten or more may request naturalist programming. Programs are free and depend on staff availability. For information and to schedule, call 320-280-7890.
Party tents: If you are planning on having a large party tent, contact the park prior to arrival to see where it may be placed.
Pets: Only service animals are allowed in state park buildings, lodging, tours or in beach areas. Emotional support, therapy, comfort or companion animals do not meet the ADA definition of a service animal and are prohibited from entering any park buildings. Service animals may accompany their owners unrestricted. In areas where pets are allowed, they must be kept on a leash six feet or shorter and personally attended at all times.
RVs: Recreational vehicles (RVs) are allowed only if needed for medical or accessibility reasons, and only with prior approval. Sleeping tents are not permitted at any of the group centers.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available at the Norway Point mess hall, the park office and at the visitor center in the main campground.
Kitchen amenities
Each group center has a commercial kitchen with the following amenities:
- Commercial gas stove and ovens.
- Walk-in cooler, upright freezer and double refrigerator.
- Commercial dishwasher. Detergent is provided.
- Microwave.
- Pots, pans and kitchen utensils.
- Plates, cups and eating utensils.
- 101-cup coffee pot.
- Two-pedestal charcoal grill.
- Storage room.
- Half bath. (Only at Heart of the Rapids and St. John's Landing group centers.)
- Brooms, dustpans, mops, buckets and cleaning supplies.
Remember to bring
- Sleeping bags or other bedding.
- Towels and toiletries.
- Hand soap, dish cloths and towels.
- Flashlight.
- Matches.
- Fans.
- Bug spray.
- Yard games.
- Bikes.
- Volleyballs, baseballs/softballs, soccer balls, beach balls.