Historic Calumet Inn

We stopped in for a late-​ish (1:30pm) lunch only to find that the restaurant was closed for the Memorial Day holiday. Bummer. But we talked to the young lady at the desk and she offered soup and salad if we were interested. We said sure! So she leads us in to the restored dining room, which was very interesting: lots of little nooks and corners, but also nice light through the windows and a piano (which of course wasn’t being played). I got the soup and salad. The young lady apologizes that the salad was only iceberg lettuce. So when it comes out BAM! There was a large bowl of DELICIOUS soup, really almost a stew, with chicken, vegetables, and even a garnish on top. The iceberg lettuce was served with ripe tomatoes, red onions, and croutons. Plain, but fresh and definitely more than «just iceberg.» Right when my traveling bud said, «You know this is pretty good food for a closed restaurant,» the same young lady came out and said «How about carrot cake for dessert?» Duh, yeah! We each got a slice, and the size was huge — and it was delicious stuff. … So this was our best restaurant in our week-​plus long trip throughout 9 states. It was indeed «pretty good for a closed restaurant» and it would have been pretty good for an open one too! On the way out, we met the proprietor, and we were singing the praises of the young lady who filled in for the missing chefs and servers. Turns out she was the proprietor’s daughter! By the way, we got all that for $ 25 plus a $ 5 tip, which I considered to be a great bargain. I didn’t eat again until 8pm, and that was just a snack.

We stayed the in a room on the third floor. It was somewhat clean, but the bathroom wasn’t very nice. Peeling texture and wallpaper all over.
The second night was awful. Sleep was impossible and the bass was so loud that dust and grit were falling on the bed that I was attempting to sleep in. The first call to the desk was placed at 11:30 and they told us it was the pub they would try to quiet it down. Two more calls later and they told us they couldn’t do anything about it. Basically «deal with it, the pub closes at one.»
Now it’s 2:00 and the music is still going strong. Finally on the 5^th call and a visit downstairs someone decided to look into it. They then realized «oops, it’s coming from another room» we finally got to sleep at 2:45 in gritty dusty beds.
Not impressed at all with the hotel customer service, but the food in the restaurant was great.

We had great food and friendly service. Our party had filet, walleye and cashew chicken stir fry all were prepared as requested. Thanks for the great dining experience.

Loved the ambiance. Stopped in for one night as I was in the area for work. Did not know about their amenities. Will be back with my wife to enjoy the restaurant, bar, etc. and the fantastic, comfortable room. Reminded me of a certain Jack Nicholson movie and love it.

If you’re a history fanatic like me, you’ll absolutely fall in love with the romantic, historic Calumet Inn in downtown Pipestone. The rooms are charming, the service is top-​notch, and the restaurant serves simple yet satisfying dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s a fun dive-​y bar, too, which offers happy hour and provides a little entertainment in this quaint town.
The Calumet is absolutely worth the trip, is smack dab in the middle of Main Street (although, like so many rural towns, the majority of downtown shops have been replaced by gargantuan, soul-​sucking Wal-​Mart stores), and provides the perfect weekend get-​away. Stop by the Pipestone National Monument on your way out of town for a nice walk and beautiful, nature-​filled sightseeing.