Siren, Wisconsin Lake Home and Cabin Living

Siren, Wisconsin: A Place For All Seasons

Tucked away in northern Wisconsin, just a stone throw from the Minnesota border, the Village of Siren is a hidden treasure cherished by those who live there. 

Only ninety minutes from the Twin Cities, Siren is one of those perfect places to plan a romantic getaway. The serene beauty creates memories that last a lifetime. There’s plenty to do, and the people are wonderful. Visitors remark time and again that the people in Siren are friendlier than most anywhere. In Siren you still find the warm-hearted small-town experience that is so rare in today’s hectic world. French fur traders first arrived in this Ojibwa territory in the early nineteenth century. Swedish immigrants began settling in the area in the 1880’s. The first postmaster, Charles F. Segerstrom, set up the post office in his home. He applied for the name “Syren”, the Swedish word for “lilac”, after the bushes which grew abundantly in the area. Presumably the postal department thought this was a misspelling. On the granted application, they wrote the spelling as “Siren”. When Edwin Nelson became postmaster in 1895, the post office was moved to his store on Little Doctor’s Lake. In 1912, it was moved a mile east to its present location, when the Soo Line railroad had been extended through the area all the way up to Duluth. The village eventually grew to just over one square mile, the railroad bed became a nature trail, and Siren became one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the Northwoods.

In 2001, a tornado devastated parts of the village. Three people died, 175 buildings were destroyed, and many more damaged. The residents rallied together in a remarkable feat of restoration and renewal. The memorial at Crooked Lake Park stands as a testimony to the strength and unity that lies at the heart of this remarkable community. 

The Lilac Festival is the first celebration of spring. The air is filled with the rich scent of flowers, mixed with the sweet smell of freshly baked Scandinavian food. Art shows, flower shows, and a golf tournament all add to the excitement. 

Siren’s Fourth of July Celebration is an all-time favorite for young and old. Local royalty are crowned at the Grand Parade. Youngsters of all ages compete in the annual three-on-three basketball tournament. Everyone enjoys the outrageous decorations and complete wackiness of Siren’s annual Bed Race.

Summer Fest, in the first week in August, features sidewalk sales, and arts and crafts in Crooked Lake Park plus the thrills and spills of the annual Waterskiing Show. Auto enthusiasts enjoy the style and beauty of the Classic Car and Truck Show. The day ends with a delicious Bar-B-Q Dinner put on by the local Lions. 

Celebrate the bounties of the harvest, and the beginning of a new school year, with Harvest Fest in September. Festivities include homecoming, a royalty coronation, the local farmers market, pumpkin carving, a mini golf tournament and a sweat-poppin’ chili cook-off.

The year comes to a perfect close with the glittering beauty of the Holiday Season. Shops and boutiques are filled to the brim with gifts, sweets and rich smells, decorations and smiles. Local lodges and restaurants are ablaze in holiday lights, and nothing beats a fresh blanket of white, fluffy snow to mark the joy of Christmas.

In the winter, there’s cross-country skiing and snowshoeing amidst the quiet, pristine beauty of a fresh snowfall in the woods. Ice fishing houses dot the frozen landscape on lakes all around Siren. Snowmobilers enjoy hundreds of miles of groomed trails in the area. The annual Kitty Kat race on Crooked Lake is a family favorite, along with the Snow-Cross competition held each year. And, of course, the Gandy Dancer Recreational Trail is the perfect place to spend a warm day sledding. Afterwards, you can prop your feet up by a warm, cozy fire at one of the area’s lodges. 

In the summer, you can spend endless days boating, water skiing and tubing on area lakes. At the annual WaterCross Competition, snowmobilers actually take their passion to the open water. For something more peaceful, wind your way in a canoe or kayak down one of several rivers that meander around Siren. 

In the fall, hunters love the abundance of wildlife. Nature enthusiasts find a haven to view bird migration patterns across a spectacular blaze of fall colors set against the waning fall sunshine. And, contemplatives find Siren the ideal place for a spiritual retreat. 

Nature’s Bounty

Step back in time at Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, where the rich heritage of the fur trade comes to life. Costumed interpreters interact with visitors in an Ojibwe village setting, fur trade post and four trader’s cabins. 

Catch a glimpse of elusive birds and wildlife at the Crex Meadows Nature Preserve. This thirty thousand acre wildlife area features wetlands and prairies filled with nearly three hundred species of birds and other animals, including eagles, loons, and sandhill cranes. 

Fishing is a universal favorite pastime, from the first drop of the hook during annual spring opener events to the very last day of the season, Siren area lakes are renowned for some of the best fishing in the country. 

While the overall market is down seven percent in terms of total market sales for the year, waterfront property is holding strong. 

We’re busy on our recreational property! Says Joe Bell, of Coldwell Banker Lakeside Realty.

Prices are holding level, there’s a wide array of choices for buyers to choose from, because of that, it’s a really good time to buy.  

Wanda Bolden, Broker at Century 21, is happy with the current market: 

The situation is lot fairer for everyone involved. Buyers once felt at a disadvantage in the whirlwind frenzy. Now the deals are more solid. A balanced market gives them time to think about it. So everyone is happy in the end. 

She explains her well-reasoned optimism: 

We just did our six-month statistics. We’ve just come to a place where the average sale price of waterfront property is closer to the average list price of properties on the market. That’s a really great place to be. Buyers are able to get a more accurate picture of what a property is really worth. It’s brought buyers and sellers closer together which makes for a balanced, healthy market. 

Cook-up some burgers and brats on the grill, or just enjoy an evening outside, telling ghost tales and roasting marshmallows over an open fire. A number of area parks offer boat and canoe rentals. At Clam Dam Park you can even rent a paddle bike for unique water fun. 

Golfers will delight in the Siren National Golf Course. This championship course has eighteen unique and secluded holes, in addition to a driving range, and practice greens. For more leisurely play, or practice, you can try several nine-hole courses in the surrounding area. For the littlest “Tigers” in the family, there’s plenty of fun and excitement at Moose Mulligan’s Adventure-style mini golf. 

For shoppers, there’s an abundance of unique retailers and boutiques throughout the city. At the antique and gift stores on Main Street you can buy everything from fudge, to bike trail passes, and all kinds of unique gifts in between. Or, try the prize-winning, world-famous cheese at the Burnett Dairy Cheese Factory. 

Siren hosts several regional baseball and youth hockey tournaments each year. Residents love to show off their new ice arena.  And teenagers get some extreme action at the new state-of-the-art skateboard park where they can push their athletic abilities to the max while engaging in fun, wholesome activity. 

Siren – It’s a great place to play, and a great place to stay!