Devils Lake is a year-round fishing hotspot for tourists and locals
Stretching over 160,000 acres, Devils Lake is the largest natural body of water in North Dakota. Tourists and locals alike are often out on the water for a day of boating, swimming and fishing. “Devils Lake is one of the biggest fishing tourist attractions in North Dakota,” says Tanner Komrosky, a real estate agent with Nikolaisen Land Company who also lives in the area. “People come year-round for open-water fishing and ice fishing.” The lake shares its name with a small town on its shores, home to just over 7,000 people. Nearby resorts and campgrounds outside of town typically accommodate the tourists, allowing residents to enjoy the small town restaurants and parks.
Days spent on Devils Lake and outdoor activities at community parks
Life in Devils Lake centers on the lake, regardless of the season. Local organizations host long-running fishing tournaments, and restaurants are likely to feature walleye on the menu. Along with northern pike, yellow perch and white bass, the aquatic ecosystem also includes various types of waterfowl. Grahams Island State Park has its own bait shop, fish-cleaning station, and boat ramps for anglers and others just looking to get out on the water. Beaches are open for swimmers, but many lakegoers jump straight in from their boats. In the winter, hiking paths transform into cross-country skiing trails, and the frigid temps draw out ice fishermen. “Once the ice starts to form, it’s busy every weekend throughout the winter, as long as the ice is thick enough to fish,” Komrosky says. In town, Rugar Park is the city’s biggest park, offering five baseball diamonds, volleyball and basketball courts, a playground, plus an outdoor pool in summer. In the winter, locals head to the outdoor skating rink, followed by a quick defrost in the warming house. Roosevelt Park has a skate park, and the bandshell is popular for local events.
Residential streets lined with Nationals and bungalows
Home prices in Devils Lake typically range from $140,000 to $280,000. Nationals, American Foursquares, Cape Cods and bungalows line the wide streets in town, where concrete steps and front walkways lead to neighborhood sidewalks. A mix of tree species, from willows to pines, adds variety and pops of green, along with small flowerbeds in front of many homes. Streetlights offer spots of light at regular intervals.
Devils Lake's long winters full of snowy and icy weather
As a city in North Dakota, Devils Lake is susceptible to long, intense winters, where snowfall can occur as early as October and as late as May. “We’ll always have snow, and we’ll always get into temperatures that probably make the rest of the country go, ‘What in the world are you doing up there?’” Komrosky says. “The nights get cold — we’re talking negative 50 wind chill. Do you get used to it? Yeah, you do.” The frigid temps invite a number of cold-weather sports, from ice fishing and ice skating to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Devils Lake's locally owned restaurants and diners
“We have big cities like Grand Forks, Bismark and Fargo, and Devils Lake isn’t as big as them,” Komrosky says, “but we have all these mom-and-pop restaurants.” Downtown, Old Main Street Café is a classic American diner. “They name all their meals after towns in North Dakota,” Komrosky says. For Mexican, locals head to Anna’s Cocina, where there are little murals on the back of every booth. Proz Lakeside at the Cove is technically outside of city limits, but sits along the lake, allowing people to boat up after a day on the water. Inside, patrons can enjoy walleye dishes under mounted deer heads and waterfowl. For grocery stops, Devils Lake has Leevers Foods and a Walmart Supercenter.
Winter ice fishing and summer fishing tournaments with big prizes
Devils Lake intense winters don’t stop local organizations from hosting events in the winter. Every February, ShiverFest is a 25-year tradition featuring sledding, cross-country skiing, ice fishing and hockey tournaments. In late May and early June, Devils Run Weekend brings car enthusiasts out for a classic car and hot rod show. Devils Lake Chamber Walleye Fishing Tournament is in late June, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at Grahams Island State Park. Prizes are big for this tournament, where first place can win almost $7,000.
Devils Lake's public K-12 education and local college
For prekindergarten and kindergarten, students start at Minnie H. Kindergarten Center, which receives a B-minus from Niche. Sweetwater Elementary School houses first and second graders and receives a B-plus. Prairie View Elementary School receives a B-minus and teaches third and fourth graders. Central Middle School also receives a B-minus. Devils Lake High School receives a C-plus and offers Career and Technical Education courses through Lake Area Career and Technology Center. Lake Region State College is also in Devils Lake, supporting about 1,800 students earning associates degrees or certifications.
Air travel and Greyhound access in Devils Lake
The Devils Lake Regional Airport, right on the edge of town, offers daily flights to Denver, Colorado and Jamestown, North Dakota. College Drive and U.S. Highway 2 are the main thoroughfares through the community. CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake Hospital is on the northeastern side, by Ruger Park. A few roads connect motorists to other big cities, while the Devils Lake Amtrak Station downtown offers another way to get to cities like Grand Forks and even Minneapolis.
Written By
Caroline Ernst
