ralph samuelson
Improved landscaping to surround Ralph statue
Jun 17, 2026
The Lake City Marina Board recently approved the proposed landscaping improvements by Destination Lake City (DLC) to the surrounding area of the Ralph Samuelson statue at Ohuta Park.
According to Eric Meier, DLC’s president: “After several proposals and modifications, the Marina Board and DLC...
Ralph dons hat
Apr 24, 2024
The statue of water skiing pioneer Ralph Samuelson in Ohuta Park wearing a hat that has pretty much gone out of season.-Photo by Mama Drone, LLC
Samuelson plaques installed
Jul 5, 2023
On June 30 Brodin Studios of Kimball, Minn., installed plaques at Ohuta Park which describe the event (beginning of waterskiing) of July 2, 1922 and recognize the donors who made the statue and the plaques possible.
According to John Hutchinson, Destination Lake City’s (DLC) president, “It’s...
Ralph dons a green cap
Jan 4, 2023
The statue of “Father of Water Skiing” Ralph Samuelson got a little gift to help it survive its first winter at Ohuta Beach in Lake City, a cozy-looking green knitted hat. The statue went up in July, just in time for the 100th anniversary of Samuelson becoming the first person to water ski, a feat...
Water skiing celebration brings locals to St. Paul Saints game
Aug 3, 2022
Baseball may be America’s pastime, but on Sunday in St. Paul, it shared it with water skiing.
About 8,166 people attended the minor league baseball game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs, and more than 50 of those fans were from Lake City and were there cheering on Lake City, the “...
Threinen speaks about Samuelson documentary to Rotary Club
Jul 27, 2022
The guest speaker at Lake City Rotary Club on July 25 was Ben Threinen. “He brought his wonderful movie, Ralph Samuelson. If you haven’t seen it, please visit the Lake City Area Arts at 105 West Center Street. You can see it there and it is worth it. Ben told us how he made the movie which took a...
Walkers visit Samuelson statue
Jul 20, 2022
On Wednesday, July 13, “Walking Lake Pepin” walkers met at Ohuta Park to welcome and celebrate the Ralph Samuelson stature that was dedicated on July 2, 2022 at 4:11 p.m., 100 years from Ralph’s first successful attempt of water skiing on Lake Pepin.
John Hutchinson from Destination Lake City (...
Lions donate $500 to Samuelson statue effort
Jul 13, 2022
The Lake City Lions Club donated $500 to the campaign to fund the statue of Ralph Samuelson, the inventor of water skiing, now on display at Ohuta Park in Lake City. Above, Lake City Lion Jerry Jensen presents a check to Destination Lake City President John Hutchinson.
Samuelson documentary now free to watch on YouTube
Jul 13, 2022
The documentary film “Ralph Samuelson: The Father of Waterskiing” can now be viewed for free on the Lake City Historical Society YouTube channel, https://youtube.com/channel/UC_UPjwXLzJST_iogSEuvCPg. Based on the book “A Daredevil and Two Boards” the 33-minute film by Lake City filmmaker Ben...
Many to thank in Samuelson statue campaign
Jul 13, 2022
It is with a collective sigh of relief that we dedicated the new bronze life-size statue of Ralph Samuelson at 4:11 pm on July 2, 2022 at the newly redeveloped Ohuta Park. Or did we? More on that later.
There are so many groups, organizations and individuals to thank, I don’t know where to begin...
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