15 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Granite City

I was born and raised in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Some of these stories I've known since I was a young child--some of them I found out as an adult. Here are 15 facts that you probably didn't know about our beloved town.

1. The 1992 Mighty Ducks movie's courthouse scene was filmed in St. Cloud at the courthouse.

2. Lake George used to be a lot bigger than it is today. In 1855 the lake was  7 1/2 blocks. Today, it's about half that size.

3. Herb Brooks coached hockey at St. Cloud State University after he coached the US Olympic hockey team in 1980. They ended up beating the Russian Red Army Olympic hockey team. That event was turned into a 2004 Disney movie called "Miracle."

4. St. Cloud is home to at least two forgotten graveyards. City records from the Stearns History Museum show a photo from the 1800’s of a drawing of the cemetery where Lake George can also be seen. It’s undeniable proof that the graveyard did in fact exist. Homes currently sit on top of the site today.

5. The St. Cloud Prison wall is the second largest wall in the world built by prisoners. It's ranked second next to the Great Wall of China. The wall stands about 22-feet high and 1.5 miles wide.

6. St. Cloud had a shout out in the Stephen King movie "1408." The film claims that St. Cloud is one of the most haunted places in the world. The Stearns History Museum has reached out to Stephen King looking for an explanation. He has yet to respond.

7. Country music singer Trishia Yearwood who is married to Garth Brooks put St. Cloud on the map with her song, "On A Bus To St. Cloud." The lyrics are, "On a bus to St. Cloud, Minnesota I thought I saw you there/ With the snow falling down around you /Like a silent prayer."

8. Twins baseball play by play announcer Dick Bremer graduated from St. Cloud State University in 1977.

9. Kim Kardashian's former fiance Kris Humphries has ties to St. Cloud. His parents own Five Guys Burgers And Fries in St. Cloud.

10. St. Cloud has its very own superman. His name is John Fillah and he's been seen around town for more than 20 years dressed up as superman. He can usually be found in the summer months standing outside of the Dairy Queen on Division.

11. The 1989 film "Catch Me If You Can" was filmed entirely in St. Cloud. The director, Stephen Sommers, grew up in St. Cloud and filmed some scenes at Cathedral and Apollo High Schools.

12. The 2007 movie "Juno" made reference to St. Cloud when Juno makes a trip to visit the adoptive parents of her unborn child.

13. George Bush made a trip to St. Cloud's MAC in Sept. 2004. He was the first sitting duck president to visit the town.

14. St. Cloud's Beaver Island Trail was the site of the infamous Vampire Murder. It was a national story about three teenagers who were involved in the murder of a homeless man. One of the teens allegedly licked the blood from the knife used in the murder the man.

15. St. Cloud's Barden Park is the oldest park in St. Cloud. The park received a cannon that was from a Spanish ship during the Spanish American War. The cannon was on display in the park until World War II. During the war metal and iron were in short supply so the cannon was melted down and donated to the war effort.

Are there any facts you think should be included on this list?