News

Think Grafton’s only about river views and cold drinks? Think again. Tucked along Main Street, the Grafton Art Gallery is quietly reshaping our town's cultural scene. Drop in to browse zero-pretension fine art, catch rotating local exhibits, or jump into an interactive workshop around 6:30 PM. Whether you're planning a girls' trip or a weekend road trip down the bluffs, this hidden gem is your next must-visit stop. Read the full story on the blog!

Three-peat champions! Grafton took home Best Day Trip Destination at the 2026 STL Headliner Awards... plus a $10,000 grand prize package. Grab a cold drink, feel that bluff breeze, and see why the future is brighter than ever along the confluence. Tap the link to read how our town pulled off the win!

There’s a moment almost every visitor experiences when driving down the Great River Road toward Grafton. You look out your window, trace the majestic limestone bluffs on one side and the sweeping Mississippi River on the other, and spot cyclists gliding effortlessly along the paved Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail. Naturally, the thought hits: “I wish we brought our bikes.”

What happened throughout the morning wasn't just a ceremony. It became a collective, deeply emotional experience that left every person in attendance completely blown away...

Let’s be real: we’ve always known Grafton is a crown jewel of the Great River Road. But come Summer 2026, the stakes are being raised. We aren’t just talking about a few new parking pads and a fresh coat of paint. We’re talking about a massive, multi-dimensional expansion at Raging Rivers WaterPark that turns a "day trip" into a "full-blown residency." Riverland RV Park and the Lumberjack’s Resort are officially landing, and if you thought this was just going to be a plac

We all gathered ’round for the official ribbon cutting of the Grafton Ferry, and let me tell you... this isn't just a seasonal "maybe it’s running" situation anymore. We are officially moving to a 7-day-a-week, year-round operation.

We’ve all seen "themed" rentals that look like a movie set, but the Crimson Caboose is the real deal. It’s a 20-ton slice of railroad history that Danny personally scouted, transported, and painstakingly restored.

In a town like Grafton, we see a lot of people come and go, but business owners like Jacqi and Nathaniel are a rare breed. They don’t just "own" businesses; they invest. They invest their own sweat, their own hands, and their own hearts back into the properties and the community we all love.

Nestled on the rugged west side of Calhoun County, a massive transformation is underway. Driven by a $50 million federal investment through the Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) program, the area surrounding Red’s Landing and Gilead Slough is being reimagined.

From yellowed newspaper clippings of the May 3, 1973, edition of the Democrat News to a beautifully preserved tourism brochure from the late 1980s, these finds are a love letter to the grit, heart, and spirit of Grafton.

The future of the Grafton Ferry took center stage at City Hall Thursday night as residents and officials gathered for a public hearing to review a proposed 20-year operations agreement. The deal, which could see the City of Grafton take ownership of the vessel, aims to transition the ferry from a seasonal weekend attraction to a year-round, seven-day-a-week regional transit link.