Camp Ripley

Camp Ripley
Morrison County, Minnesota, USA
NOREX Troop Exchange at the Camp Ripley Main Gate
Site information
OwnerState of Minnesota
Controlled byMinnesota National Guard
Open to
the public		Yes
Location
Coordinates46°04′33″N 94°20′51″W / 46.0759°N 94.3474°W / 46.0759; -94.3474
Site history
Built1930
In useYes
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO: KRYM, FAA LID: RYM
Elevation350 metres (1,148 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
13/31 1,859 metres (6,099 ft) asphalt
15/33 1,219 metres (3,999 ft) asphalt
132/312 1,219 metres (3,999 ft) gravel

Camp Ripley is a 53,000-acre (210 km2) military and civilian training facility operated by the Minnesota National Guard near the city of Little Falls in the central part of the state. The location of the camp was selected in 1929 by Ellard A. Walsh, Adjutant General of the State of Minnesota. The site's winter warfare training course is the primary facility used by the National Guard for winter combat exercises. Camp Ripley also hosts the training academy for the Minnesota State Patrol and is a popular site for athletes training to compete in winter biathlons. Most Minnesota Guard soldiers train at Camp Ripley during two-week annual training periods.

The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Little Falls is located adjacent to Camp Ripley.

History of Camp Ripley

See also: Fort Ripley (Minnesota fort)

The site for Camp Ripley was first approved following World War I in 1929. The State of Minnesota purchased 12,000 acres (49 km2) of land to be used for military training. The site was officially named Camp Ripley in December 1930. It was named after Fort Ripley, a frontier fort that had been closed by the Federal Government in 1877. The fort was named for Brigadier General Eleazar Wheelock Ripley, a hero of the War of 1812. The remains of Fort Ripley are contained within the camp's property boundaries. The first soldiers that came to train at Camp Ripley stayed in tents, thus, training was only possible in the summer months. The government started to see that it was not beneficial to use tents year round while training, so they constructed buildings. There are now many historic buildings at Camp Ripley. An example is Valhalla, the governor's lodge. President Harry S. Truman stayed there twice, as did Senator Eugene McCarthy. When the lodge is not being used by the governor, it is used for other VIP guests.[1]

In 1951, the Minnesota Legislature approved the purchasing of more land by Camp Ripley. After the purchase they then had 45,000 acres (180 km2) of land. Camp Ripley slowly bought more land and now has 53,000 acres (210 km2).

Airfield

A C-130 landing at Camp Ripley

The Miller Army Airfield is also located at the camp. It was built in 1933.[1] Named for Raymond S. Miller, it includes a 6,100-foot (1,900 m) paved runway capable of accommodating C-130 aircraft. Construction on the asphalt runway capable of landing C-130 aircraft began in 1980 and was completed in 1981.[2] There are also five drop zones for training for the release of cargo and personnel from aircraft. The airfield's FAA identifier is KRYM.[3]

The original hangar, now used as an event space and the Viking Club restaurant and bar, was built in 1932.[1]

Camp Ripley State Training Facility

Camp Ripley is the training site for the National Guard, Minnesota State Patrol, Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, Minnesota DNR, Minnesota State Fire Marshal (Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education), and Foreign exchange programs. The Army Reserve often trains at Camp Ripley during the summer.

The camp is a state game refuge with resources managed cooperatively by the Department of Military Affairs and Department of Natural Resources. It also houses the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, a museum that is open for the public and military personnel.[4] Also on the grounds is the site of Fort Ripley, a military post established in 1848—the second ever built in Minnesota—to keep the peace among the Dakota, Ojibwe, and Ho-Chunk peoples.[5]

One of Camp Ripley's ranges
An Observer/Controller-Trainer conducts a formal After-action review for a Reserve unit
Unit photo at the entry to Camp Ripley

National Guard training

Camp Ripley has small arms and tank ranges, maneuver training areas capable of supporting heavy brigade, and special operation training facilities. Examples of the special operation training facilities are: Three drop zones, rappel tower, confidence course, water training areas, two prisoner of war compounds, and many more.[6]

Camp Ripley has a fully equipped winter training area. It is the National Guard's premier cold weather training site in the United States. There are: Biathlon courses, groomed cross country ski paths, special cold weather equipment, down hill ski slopes and all-weather ranges.[7]

Foreign exchange program

In addition to being used by the United States military, it sees regular visitors from Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Norway.[8] The Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange, or NOREX, began as "a handshake" in 1973. Each year, troops of the Norwegian Home Guard train at Camp Ripley and troops from the Minnesota National Guard train at Værnes Air Station.[9][10]

DNR, State Fire Marshal, Transportation and State Patrol training

Camp Ripley houses the Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Center. DNR Conservation Officers are trained year-round in Camp Ripley's diverse habitat. They train by practicing controlled burns and studying the habitat.[11]

Camp Ripley hosts many State Fire training classes; including response, live fire burn exercises, apparatus driving maneuvers, and fire investigations throughout the year.

Camp Ripley hosts the Minnesota Department of Transportation Snow and Ice snow plowing training each summer.

Camp Ripley has been the host for the Minnesota State Patrol Academy since 1996. The men and women who train to become state patrol officers practice their shooting skills on one of Camp Ripley's ranges and practice driving maneuvers.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sandra Alcott Erickson. Camp Ripley 1930-1960. Arcadia Publishing, 2007.
  2. ^ Ruff, Gwen (August 9, 1980). "Runway". St. Cloud Times. p. 4C. Retrieved July 15, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "AirNav: KRYM - Ray S Miller Army Airfield". Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  4. ^ "Camp Ripley". Minnesota National Guard. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  5. ^ "Fort Ripley". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "Camp Ripley". Minnesota National Guard. Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  7. ^ "Winter Warfare Training". Minnesota National Guard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  8. ^ "Camp Ripley Little Falls, MN". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  9. ^ Chapman, Reg (February 1, 2023). "The growing partnership between the citizen soldiers of Minnesota and Norway". CBS News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  10. ^ "Walz signs Letter of Intent, celebrating 50-year military partnership between Minnesota and Norway - CBS Minnesota". CBS News. February 4, 2023. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "DNR Enforcement Center". Minnesota National Guard. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
  12. ^ "State Patrol Training Academy". Minnesota National Guard. Archived from the original on July 1, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2009.
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