Fort Ripley is approximately 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis. It was a United States military installation from 1849 to 1877, when it was vacated after 28 years. The fort, now part of Camp Ripley, was located on the opposite side of the Mississippi River from Morrison County, where the current city in Crow Wing County is situated. The town of Fort Ripley was incorporated in 1927 and took its name from the fort, which was named for Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, an American soldier and politician.
I was unable to find any information on the team's history.
Parking
The Town of Forest Ripley is small. Once off the main highway, you travel three blocks on gravel roads to Fort Ripley Park. There is a large grass field next to the park that I assumed would provide plenty of parking. However, the teams were well-supported, with nearly 100 people, but no parking was available. I parked beside the access road.
Spectator Options
There are three sets of bleachers. The main bleacher behind home plate has over 120 seats, with an additional 40-seat bleachers on each side of the concession stand. There's also plenty of space for lawn chairs if that's preferred seating.
Concessions (I prefer a hot dog with root beer)
Unfortunately, no root beer was available. They offered Von Hanson’s hot dogs for $3.00. While better than typical store-bought hot dogs, they are average at best. Soda, which I had as a Dr Pepper, was $2.00. There were no popcorn or other hot concession options. Limited candy and small snack bags were available.
Summary
This was a game! The Buckman Billygoats beat the Fort Ripley Rebels 7-6 in 16 innings! Even though it was a warm day, there were shaded seating options. The field had an average sound system and, when appropriate, played uplifting music. The field has no lights, so evening games are not possible. There was a small electronic scoreboard in right field that provided the basic information.
I enjoyed the setting and the welcoming atmosphere for the game. While the field was simple, that small-town feel and team support made the trip worthwhile.
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