A photographic tour of Moose Lake, Minnesota - the ideal small town? (Minneapolis: apartments, credit)

[tvdxer]

Moose Lake is an idyllic lakeside town located about 40 miles south of Duluth or 115 miles north of Minneapolis on I-35. As of 2010, the population of the incorporated city was 2,751, although this does not take into account the populations of the adjacent rural communities of Sturgeon Lake and Willow River. It was one of the communities hit hardest by the June 2012 floods. Against all odds, though, Moose Lake has came back, as evinced by my pictures, taken in the afternoon and early evening hours of October 16th and the late morning hours of the 17th.

Getting into Town

Moose Lake is accessed from either the 216 exit (if you're coming from the north) or the 214 exit (if you're coming from the south) on Interstate 35, which in Minnesota north of the Twin Cities is a reliable, very uncongested 70 mph freeway.

The urbanized area of Moose Lake is approximately 1.5 miles beyond the exit from the southbound lane.


I-35 Offramp, Moose Lake, MN exit by tvdxer, on Flickr


Rustic Windmill by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Horn River by tvdxer, on Flickr


Jguss Peace by tvdxer, on Flickr


2 ml river4 by tvdxer, on Flickr


Rail Bridge by tvdxer, on Flickr

(If I remember correctly, this bridge is part of a bike trail)

Moose Lake's "main drag" is Arrowhead Lane, which is signed as Minnesota State Highways 27 and 61. The first things you see entering the urbanized zone:


Veteran's Park by tvdxer, on Flickr


In-town power plant by tvdxer, on Flickr


Rusty Old Light by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake Co-Op by tvdxer, on Flickr

(I went into this store with my mother, who bought bird feeder and a guinea pig. They gave her a really good deal, she said)

Downtown

The (historic) city seems to be oriented around the Elm Ave. and Arrowhead Lane intersection. The town center is home to a variety of businesses, ranging from to auto shops to a credit union to a movie theater to a pizzeria.


Downtown Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


Downtown Moose Lake Overview by tvdxer, on Flickr


Downtown Theater by tvdxer, on Flickr


Downtown Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


Responsible Older Sister by tvdxer, on Flickr


Jitters Cafe by tvdxer, on Flickr


Florist and Tan by tvdxer, on Flickr


Downtown Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


ML DT Businesses by tvdxer, on Flickr


Lonely Terazza by tvdxer, on Flickr


Busy by tvdxer, on Flickr


Thru a Window by tvdxer, on Flickr


Night Intersection by tvdxer, on Flickr


Night Shot by tvdxer, on Flickr


The Other Part of Downtown by tvdxer, on Flickr


Small town urban core by tvdxer, on Flickr

Just beyond the "core city" on Arrowhead Lane is a typical dense highway strip.




Highway Strip Development in Moose Lake, MN by tvdxer, on Flickr


Highway strip development in Moose Lake, MN by tvdxer, on Flickr

One of the reasons I fell in love with Moose Lake the time I camped there in 2006 was this alley, which backs Arrowhead Ave. and the businesses along the highway.


Beautiful Alley in Moose Lake, Minnesota by tvdxer, on Flickr


Beautiful Alley in Moose Lake, Minnesota by tvdxer, on Flickr


Beautiful Alley Panorama by tvdxer, on Flickr

My sister (than a middle school student) and her friend rode their foot-scooters through that Dairy Queen drive-thru.

The side of town north of Arrowhead Lane has a somewhat grittier feel to it. There's a little industrial district, as well as a trailer park and some apartments:


Moose Lake's Industrial District by tvdxer, on Flickr


Apartments in Moose Lake, MN by tvdxer, on Flickr


Hillside Terrace by tvdxer, on Flickr


Homes in Hillside Terrace by tvdxer, on Flickr


Dilapidated by tvdxer, on Flickr

Residential Areas

Moose Lake is a very walkable city, not only in the commercial districts, but also from many of the residential districts to the commercial district. The section of town between Arrowhead Lane and the Moosehead Lake seems particularly so, with residents enjoying a two-to-10 minute walk to the amenities of downtown.

Here's a family I spotted hanging outside their home from the business district (notice the parked truck bed):


Just Hangin' by tvdxer, on Flickr


Residential Street by tvdxer, on Flickr


ML RA House by tvdxer, on Flickr


Triking by tvdxer, on Flickr


Another Pretty House by tvdxer, on Flickr


Fall Colors by tvdxer, on Flickr


Streets of Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr

A "long" house:


Long House by tvdxer, on Flickr

Another "long" house. This house actually had a sign saying "Private Household".


Another long house by tvdxer, on Flickr


Another long house by tvdxer, on Flickr


Streets of Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr

The sidewalk was covered in leaves:


Leafy Sidewalk by tvdxer, on Flickr


Lakefront Houses by tvdxer, on Flickr


The life? by tvdxer, on Flickr


Lake Walkers by tvdxer, on Flickr


Tower across Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


Lakeside deritius by tvdxer, on Flickr


Ready for Next Summer by tvdxer, on Flickr


In Perspective by tvdxer, on Flickr


The Streets of Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


The Good Life by tvdxer, on Flickr


The Good Life Zoomed In by tvdxer, on Flickr


Snowmobile Route by tvdxer, on Flickr

Parks and Campgrounds (and a bit more)

Moose Lake's main city park is located on the west side of town. It is combined with a campground (where we stayed for a couple of days in 2006), and interestingly, they both face the city's high school! (The elementary school, and some playing fields, are behind the high school) I don't know when camping ends, but I would imagine that the close proximity of high school students and campers creates a pleasantly awkward situation.


Moose Lake City Park Entrance by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake City Park Panorama by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake City Campground by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake City Park Panorama 2 by tvdxer, on Flickr (you'll probably have to view it full-sized on Flickr to make any sense out of it)


Halloween Decorations by tvdxer, on Flickr


Halloween Decoration Installation by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake School by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake School by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moose Lake School by tvdxer, on Flickr

Across the lake is Moose Lake State Park:


Moosehead Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


Across the Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr

Moose Lake also has a small park on the east side of town where a river (which I do not know the name of) meets Moosehead Lake (the same lake that abuts the other park), with a walking / biking trail and scenic outlooks:


Honorary Plaque by tvdxer, on Flickr


Division between River and Moosehead Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


2ml lakepark 5 by tvdxer, on Flickr


Totem in Moose Lake, MN Park by tvdxer, on Flickr


Moosehead Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr

The Outskirts

In most towns large and small in the United States, development of all sorts has followed a more isolated model in recent decades, with offices, businesses, and hospitals leaving the streets for the suburbs. Here are some pictures of "suburban" Moose Lake.

Probably one of the largest providers of employment is the Moose Lake State Prison, which is visible across the lake from the town proper and actually has some impressive architecture - not that you are allowed to see it up close, however.


MCF Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


MCF Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr


MCF Moose Lake by tvdxer, on Flickr

Something I found interesting was typical single-family houses right next to the prison, separated from it only by a wall. I suspect that many of the prison wardens reside here. A house that had a shed with a large sheriff's star on it was among the homes:


State prison and private homes by tvdxer, on Flickr

Other development right outside town includes a hospital (Mercy Hospital; not pictured here) and an ALCO discount store, among other businesses:


Highway 73 Businesses by tvdxer, on Flickr


ALCO Store, Moose Lake, MN by tvdxer, on Flickr


View from the ALCO parking lot by tvdxer, on Flickr

Hope you enjoyed my tour of Moose Lake!

[1stpontiac]

Possibly the longest post ever?

:P Great pics, though. Looks like you captured the town well!

[shotz90s]

Thanks for the great pics although I'd be careful taking pictures of high school kids. You may end up getting a talking too HAHA.

[slamont61]

Great post - Moose Lake appears to be a nice place. Tragic looking event occurred in 1918 as a forest fire took much of the town and several people.

Pics from Moose Lake's past:

Moose Lake Minnesota Gallery

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by slamont61

Great post - Moose Lake appears to be a nice place. Tragic looking event occurred in 1918 as a forest fire took much of the town and several people.

Pics from Moose Lake's past:

Moose Lake Minnesota Gallery

Interesting. Looks like the prison used to be a state hospital and then a treatment center.

And yes, a huge fire swept the entire region in 1918. In fact, the site on which my house stands used to be a Red Cross refuge for evacuees from that fire. There is a museum dedicated to the fire right in Moose Lake, though I haven't been there yet.

A fascinating article about the story is here: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2010/1...f-1918-museum/ . Also, Wikipedia has an article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_Cloquet_Fire .

[dober1]

Looks nice.

[asitshouldbe]

Everytime I drive past Moose Lake, I think about that poor girl who was murdered and burned up in the fire pit.

[AndreaSoup]

Beautiful pictures!
And yes, I think of Katie Poirier (sp) each time I hear Moose Lake, too

[french paris]

Good job !! it seems so quiet

[Mplsite]

I'm guessing the thread title is ironic. I'm in no rush to ever find myself over there.