Waterville Minnesota - 'Bullhead Days' an annual tradition. Hart's lake shore property on Lake Tatonka
It all started for me in the June of 1994 when I was invited to "Mike's Cabin" on lake Tatonka in Waterville MN for a weekend event celebrating their annual "Bullhead Days". Did you know they are the "Bullhead capital of the world" so their city sign proclaims.
I was pumped to stay the weekend in the cabin. Turns out there was no cabin. Just a parked camper and it was full. So, I slept in the back of a pick-up truck. That next morning, I officially re-named it "Hart's lake shore property" so as not to mis-lead anyone else. Truck beds are brutal.
For 14 years I have spend the 2nd week of June in Waterville. I started to collect their celebration pin-back buttons. I am grateful to the Hart family for having us all down year after year. If you know of anyone who might have buttons from prior years, please let me know!
Following is a list of traditional activities (some of which I do and do not partake in).
- Lighting off fireworks. Some legal and some no-so-much.
- Boating on Tatonka and watching Mike do cannon-balls into the green water.
- Taking the boat through a small, shallow channel that I named "Appacolypse Now" after the familiar scenes in the afore mentioned movie.
- Playing catch with a ball and glove with the guys. We once had an 8-way going.
- BBQing
- Going "into town" to watch locals eat disgusting deep-fried bullheads. (those are rough fish...bottom feeders).
- Singing karaoke at the "Corner Bar".
- 2008 was the 44th year of the celebration.
So, here it is. Almost every photo that I've ever taken of the lake festivities. It's fun to watch everyone change through the years. Notice a crew of faithful that never change while the yearly guests change. Click the mosaic.
Or, you can click here to view my collection of Bullhead Days Buttons.


