Devils Lake is a fishing hotspot for tourists and locals
Stretching over 160,000 acres, Devils Lake is the largest natural body of water in North Dakota, where tourists and locals head for a day of boating, swimming and fishing. “Devils Lake is one of the biggest fishing tourist attractions in North Dakota,” says Tanner Komrosky, Devils Lake resident and Nikolaisen Land Company real estate agent. “People come year-round for people to fish for open-water fishing and ice fishing.” The body of water shares its name with the small town along its shores, home to just over 7,000 people. Nearby resorts and campgrounds outside of the town typically accommodate the tourists, leaving the small town to local fishers coming home to local restaurants and neighborhood parks. Still, life here centers around the lake and the fishing seasons, with local organizations planning longstanding annual fishing tournaments and restaurants offer walleye on the menu.
Days spent on Devils Lake and outdoor activities at community parks
Devils Lake’s aquatic ecosystem includes walleye, northern pike, yellow perch and white bass, but hunters also come to hunt various types of waterfowl. Grahams Island State Park has its own bait shop, fish cleaning station and boat ramps for fishers and others just looking to get onto the water. Beaches are open for swimmers, but many jump straight from their boats into the water too. In the winters, hiking trails become cross-country skiing destinations, and the ice draws out those looking to ice fish. “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 and a playground. In the summer, the outdoor pool is open. In the winter, locals come to the outdoor skating rink and defrost after in the warming house. Roosevelt Park is the only recreational space with a skate park, and the bandshell is popular for local events.
Residential streets lined with Nationals and bungalows
Nationals, American Foursquares, Cape Cods and bungalows line Devils Lake’s wide streets, where concrete steps and front walkways lead to neighborhood sidewalks. A mix of tree species, from willows to pines, add variety and pops of green, along with small flowerbeds along homes. Streetlights offer spots of light at regular intervals. Homes typically range from $140,000 to $280,000.
Devils Lake's long winters full of snowy and icy weather
As a North Dakota city, Devils Lake can have 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 windchill. Do you get used to it? Yeah, you do.” However, the cold weather doesn’t keep locals or tourists inside, instead encouraging them to go ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Devils Lake's locally owned restaurants and diners
“Devils Lake is unique because 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 weekly grocery stops, Devils Lake includes 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
While plenty of residents spend a good portion of their time boating on the lake, they’ll likely need a car to get around the town. College Drive and U.S. Highway 2 are the main thoroughfares through the community. CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake Hospital is on the Devils Lake’s northeastern side, by Ruger Park. While thoroughfares like U.S. Highway 2 link motorists to other big cities, the Devils Lake Amtrak Station downtown offers another way to get to cities like Grand Forks and even Minneapolis. The Devils Lake Regional Airport offers daily flights to Denver, Colorado, and Jamestown, North Dakota, through United Airlines.
Written By
Caroline Ernst
