Walker, Minnesota Lake Home and Cabin Living

Walker, Minnesota

The Name that Didn’t Work

The village of Walker, Minnesota, was founded on the shores of Leech Lake on March 10, 1896, shortly after the railroad came from Brainerd. It was named in honor of lumber baron, Thomas B. Walker. The idea was that Mr. Walker would be so overwhelmed with gratitude that he would build a sawmill there and make it the next big town of the North. The ploy didn’t work. Rumor has it that Walker did not appreciate the presence of brothels and bars in a town bearing his name. So, he set up instead in nearby Akeley, Minnesota. However, the town prospered even without the business of its namesake, attracting other logging operations, and later, tourism.

The Hub for Leech Lake

In 1990, the Walker Chamber of Commerce was renamed “The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.”  This was to reflect the fact that Walker is more or less the hub and gateway to Leech Lake and everything it has to offer.

Leech Lake is without a doubt one of the premier bodies of water in Minnesota. It is the state’s third largest lake.  Boasting 111,000 acres of water and 640 miles of shoreline, the possibilities for recreation here are endless. It is known for excellent Walleye and Northern Pike fishing. Of course that doesn’t mean you are required to ignore the bass, crappies, bluegill, perch and muskie that inhabit the lake.

If there is something you want to do in the water, you can do it on Leech Lake: cruising, swimming, water-skiing, canoeing, sailing or renting a house-boat. If you like water of the hard white variety, you can ice-fish, snow-shoe, cross country ski or snowmobile.

One of the great things about Leech Lake is the feeling of seclusion you can find. Many miles of the lake shore are part of the National Forest, so it’s not hard to find a quiet spot with no houses or people around. As Bill Hansen, of Bill Hansen Realty in Longville says, “It’s like you’ve been dropped off on a fly-in trip to Canada – only it’s a lot cheaper, and you’re just a three hour drive from Plymouth.”

The Town

Walker itself is right on Leech Lake. “It’s a perfect tourist town,” says Israel Moe, of Cedar Point Realty in Walker. With about 1,000 year round residents, Walker has one of those solid, old-fashioned looking downtowns, and boasts restaurants and hotels right on the water. There are many unique stores, including one-of-a-kind gift shops. There are enough eating establishments in town, so that if you wanted, you could dine out every day of your vacation and never have the same thing twice.” While good food, fun shopping, and water sports are plenty to satisfy a lot of folks, there is much more. Two bike trails meet near Walker: the Paul Bunyan Trail and the Heartland. The result is 150 miles of paved bike riding in three different directions. 

The calendar of events for Walker and the surrounding area is stuffed, with over fifty-eight events from July through the end of the end of the year, including Crazy Days, fish fry’s, golf tournaments, arts festivals, regattas, and even Community Theater. Nearby is the Casino with frequent big-name live music and comedy acts.

If you’re looking to stay for awhile, in addition to the hotels in Walker, there is a beautiful forest service campground right on Leech Lake, as well as other very nice private campgrounds. Also, there are several year-round resorts in the area, offering full modern amenities. The newly remodeled Chase is one of the most progressive resorts in the state, offering both resort living and ownership opportunities.

Looking for that Cabin at the Lake?

Cedar Point Realty has been in business in Walker for ten years. Israel Moe acknowledges that properties are moving slowly right now, but that is exactly what makes it a good time to be a buyer. “Lake-front properties that were $500,000 a few years ago are $350,000 today,” says Moe. He feels it is unlikely that prices and interest rates will stay this low. “Now is the ideal time to get into the market. All across the area a variety of properties are available.” Moe advises people to think about what they really want, and what sort of activities they enjoy, when selecting a location and property.

The Leech Lake tourism bureau claims that the area is Minnesota’s “Original ‘Up North.’” What they mean is that this is the sort of place your parents and grandparents found when they went to the lake: small towns, old-fashioned hospitality, a lot of trees and a lot of quiet – the real Minnesota Northwoods experience.