Chatfield offers relaxed, outdoor living south of Rochester
Chatfield, dubbed “the Chosen Valley” by New England settlers in the 1800s, is a small town about 20 miles outside of Rochester. With Mill Creek and the Root River flowing through the area, Chatfield offers many opportunities for water sports like kayaking and fishing. In addition, city parks, hiking trails and local wildlife make outdoor recreation readily accessible, and the city’s many sporting events and tournaments make the community a draw for those seeking an active, outdoor lifestyle. “Chatfield is a very small but vibrant town that offers lots of great things,” says Alison Bentley, Chatfield’s community development director. “The river offers great trout fishing, and we have over 19 miles of ATV trails and a great art center that provides plays and musicals."
Single-family and townhouses in Chatfield
Chatfield’s cityscape follows a gridded pattern, with houses sitting on linear, tree-lined blocks. Houses range from historical late-Victorian homes and workers cottages to post-1950s ranch-style homes, Colonial Revivals and split-levels. Single-family homes start around $165,000 and can go up to $350,000, with some larger properties or big land parcels reaching over $650,000. Townhouses are between $150,000 and $280,000. “The city currently has the Hilltop Estates Building Incentive Program,” Bentley says. “It has incentives like grants for down payments, up to $10,000 of credit for closing costs and things like waiving water and sewer fees.”
Outdoor opportunities surround the city
The 47-acre Mill Creek Park anchors the community with ball fields, sand volleyball courts, a horse arena and a skating rink. In the winter, people can go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing at the park. The Lost Creek Hiking Trail is over 6 miles long and hosts events like the Fall Trail Run. Four-wheeler enthusiasts can explore the Chatfield ATV Trail, and the nine-hole Chosen Valley Golf Club is open to the public. For water recreation, people can go to Chatfield Swimming Pool in the summer or fish in Mill Creek or Root River.
Chatfield Public Schools has an elementary and a high school
The city is served by Chatfield Public Schools. Chatfield Elementary School teaches prekindergarten through sixth grade, and Chatfield High School covers seventh to 12th grade. The schools rate a B-plus and a B from Niche, respectively. Chatfield High offers an extensive fine arts program, with choral, instrumental, theater, studio and broadcasting programs.
Shopping and dining along Main Street
A handful of local restaurants and bars are concentrated along Main Street. Jac's Bar & Grill offers classic pub food, and La Cantina Arcos serves casual Mexican fare. People can also go to Shari's Sports Saloon & Lanes to enjoy a game of bowling with burgers and beer. For groceries and daily essentials, residents can stop by Sunshine Foods and Dollar General. Additional dining and shopping options are in Rochester.
Community celebrations in Chatfield
For over 50 years, Wester Days has been the city’s annual festival, featuring Western-themed entertainment, sports races, eating contests, a parade and a fireworks show. Growers Market takes place on Fourth Street and is held every Thursday from May to October. The event has food trucks, live music, fresh produce, baked goods and artisan items by local vendors. February’s ChillFest has a variety of activities including yard games, sports tournaments, races and a chili cookoff.
Distance to Rochester
U.S. Route 52 and Minnesota Highway 30 pass through Chatfield. "A fun fact is that we have the only stoplight on Route 52 between the Twin Cities and the Iowa state border," says Bentley. Rochester, about 20 miles away, is home to Olmsted Medical Center and Rochester International Airport. Residents who need public transportation may call Rolling Hills Transit, which operates in Fillmore County, to schedule a ride.
