Balaton

[joshvanklomp]

Originally Posted by Jenny979

I googled it and a grocery store closed down. Is it that small of a town and not much going on?

Population is 630. Yes, it is that small.

[cindylou77]

I currently live a short drive from Balaton. Most of the towns around here are really small with nothing to do. I've been here for almost six years and am really looking forward to moving to the metro soon. That being said, I second the Pipestone comment. It only has 4,000 people, but Sioux Falls, SD is about an hour drive with much more to do and see.

[Radical_Car]

Originally Posted by jmgg

Sad truth is that the closest town of any size is Marshall. Most boring city of it's size I've ever had the unfortunate necessity to have to go to for business.

Originally Posted by mn shutterbug

That's pretty harsh. Problem is, I can see your point.

jmgg is 110% correct and spot on with his assessment of Marshall. Can't speak for Balaton specifically (not that any of those small towns with populations <1000 people actually differ) My mom grew up on a farm outside of Wabasso, and when I was growing up my grandma lived in Lucan until like, almost 10 years ago she moved to Wabasso. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh And Lucan has less then 200 people, smaller then Balaton and Wabasso. I have spent wayyyyyyyyyyy too much time in Lucan growing up visitng my grandma (and grandpa before he passed away long time ago)

Though I agree children trump everything, and I wish you luck with your move. Theres not much to say, you'll be traveling to Marshall for just about anything and everything. Looking at Balaton on Google Maps, looks like theres a restaurant called KirPatrick’s Pub and Grill and a liquor store, a Sinclair gas station, 5 churches (If I counted correctly), a bed and breakfast, a used car dealer, a post office, and a bank. So thats what the town has to offer. Everything else, such as grocery shopping, or anything you can't buy at the only gas station in town, you'll need to drive about 17-18 miles to Marshall.

Looks like the Pub and Grill has 99 cent slices of pizza on tuesdays and 99 cent tacos on thursdays.
https://locu.com/places/kirpatricks-balaton-us/#menu

And just keep in mind, rural roads in the winter are not good. Nothing gets plowed or salted in a timely manner.

Originally Posted by CCbaxter

I've driven highway 14 many times from New Ulm to Brookings and I used to live not far from there when I was a kid. It was mostly dying towns then. Don't imagine anything is looking up since then.

Nothing has changed, and probably never will.

Looking at Balaton on Google earth, the roads and buildings look more run down and depressing then Brooklyn Center and North Minneapolis.