Discover Luck

Luck offers different points of interest to help you choose where to stay: lakes and wetlands, trails with clearly described features, and local history connected to Duncan Yo-Yos. If you’re looking for a hotel, consider whether you’d like to focus more on nature and outdoor activities or on the area’s history. You can plan around different themes according to your interests, without combining them into a single excursion itinerary.

Lakes, Wetlands, and Trails

Big Butternut Lake in the Village of Luck covers 384 acres and is up to 19 feet deep. Nearby Straight Lake State Park lies northeast of Luck. It offers views of lakes and glacial landforms, ten hike-in campsites, boat launches for carry-in boats, and a section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. If campsites or boat launches are important to your plans, check current State Park conditions before your visit.

In the Town of Luck, the Chippewa Trail winds around numerous ponds and wetlands. The three-mile route is a state Rustic Road. In winter, it offers opportunities for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Along the trail, hikers, cyclists, and motorists can spot wildlife such as turkeys and opossums. The winter reference applies to the winter sports mentioned; wildlife viewing is another feature of the route.

Luck and Its History

From 1946 to 1965, Luck was home to the Duncan Yo-Yo Company. During that time, almost every family in town was involved in making yo-yos from abundant hard maple. The products were sold nationwide and even worldwide. The history thus extends beyond the company’s headquarters to local families and production: the connection between the material, manufacturing, and far-reaching sales is a particularly tangible historical aspect of Luck.

The Luck Historical Museum contains information and artifacts about the town’s history. It is home to the Polk County Genealogical Society, which helps interested visitors research their family history. The local museum in the Village of Luck has an extensive collection of Duncan yo-yos. Another cultural stop is the Hanne Ravnholt Pavilion, an outdoor museum exhibit in Luck. These topics offer different ways to explore the past: from local history and family research to the yo-yo collection and an outdoor museum exhibit.

Trails, Running Event, and Golf

The Gandydancer Trail in the Town of Luck follows a former railroad route that is now surfaced with crushed limestone. Its former use and present-day surface are two distinct features of the same trail. The Chippewa Trail has a different focus: its three-mile length, winter activities, and landscape of ponds and wetlands are highlighted.

The Gandy Marathon in Luck includes a 5K relay, as well as 13.1- and 26.2-mile races on a limestone trail. You can compare the three formats by their stated distances. If you’d like to plan a trip around the event, check dates and details in advance. The Luck Golf Course offers 18 holes of golf. The activities described therefore differ in type: a trail, a running event, or golf. Which of these matters for your stay depends on how you’d like to spend your time in Luck.

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