Fergus Falls is a small, western Minnesota city surrounded by natural beauty with a host of recreational activities: boating and fishing on more than a dozen lakes, mountain biking through various parks, and sporting opportunities at ice rinks, sports facilities and Pebble Lake Golf Course. The area isn't entirely rural, however, as the city's downtown provides its 14,000 residents with a concentration of local businesses, shopping and dining options to choose from, contrasting the larger metropolitan area of Fargo, North Dakota, located 59 miles to the northwest. “It’s a good blend of being a small town without being too small,” Realtor Sarah House with Century 21 Atwood says.
Fergus Falls was founded in 1872.
Pebble Lake Golf Course is an 18-hole Championship course that is open to the public in Fergus Falls.
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Fergus Falls housing varies widely in budget, style
Along Union Avenue are homes from the Victorian Era, while Pebble Lake Road sports new construction. Older properties requiring investment and renovation are priced in the low $100,000s, while some large homes that back up to a lake cost over $1 million. Cottages, ramblers, American Foursquares, and Colonial Revival styles can all be found in Fergus Falls. The median price is $271,000, significantly below the national median.
Ramblers area a very popular home style in Fergus Falls.
Two story homes are a common style for lakeside homes in Fergus Falls.
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Celebrate Summerfest in Fergus Falls’ Kirkbride Park
For almost 50 years, the city has celebrated Summerfest at Kirkbride Park every June. It began as a Scandinavian Heritage Festival and has since evolved to include live music, axe throwing, pony rides, carnival games, a dog show, a parade, fireworks, and local food, drinks, and merchants.
Mountain biking, BMX and the North Country National Scenic Trail in Fergus Falls
There are many outdoor recreation opportunities in Fergus Falls, especially for cyclists. Ferber Park is one of multiple parks with mountain bike trails, and DeLagoon Park has a BMX course. There’s also the Cleveland Outdoor Ice Rink for ice skating, and T. H. Johnson Park, which has athletic fields and a playground. Fergus Falls also has an access point to the North Country National Scenic Trail, a hiking trail that spans 4,800 miles from North Dakota to Vermont. Within the city limits are 14 lakes, but, in total, Otter Tail County has 1,048, the most in the country.
Delagoon Park features a BMX track that is open to the public.
Central Lakes & North Country Trail are both accessible from Central Lakes Trail Park in Fergus Falls.
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West Lincoln Ave. features local shops in downtown Fergus Falls
West Lincoln Avenue has a block that is a quintessential American Main Street, with local businesses, restaurants and clothing boutiques lining the street. One of those places is the Viking Café, housed in a brick building with an arched entryway. “It’s an old school café that’s just always been there,” House says. “If you think breakfast, you automatically think Viking Café.” She adds that The Market is a popular gift store that people travel downtown for specifically. “It’s kind of a staple of Fergus Falls,” House says. For grocery shopping, there are box store options like Aldi and Walmart, and local specialty shops like Sunrise Salmon and Premier Meats and Seafood..
The Market is a unique gift store in downtown Fergus Falls.
The Viking Cafe is a local favorite for breakfast in downtown Fergus Falls.
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I-94 connects Fergus Falls to Minneapolis and Fargo
Fergus Falls is right on Interstate 94, which drivers can take to either Minneapolis or Fargo, North Dakota. The nearest airport is the Hector International Airport in Fargo. The closest hospital is the Lake Region Healthcare Fergus Falls Hospital, located right in the city and is a major local employer, along with Otter Tail Power.
Solid schools in the Fergus Falls Public School District
Fergus Falls is part of the Fergus Falls Public School District, which earns a B on Niche. There are two schools for Grade 1 through Grade 3, and one school for Grade 4 and Grade 5. Grade 6 through Grade 12 are in a single building that houses the middle and high school. The student-to-teacher ratio in the district is 16:1.
Cleveland Elementary earned an overall grade of B+ from Niche.com.
McKinley Elementary earned an overall grade of B from Niche.com.
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Important to know
Crime in Fergus Fall is low overall, and property crime has declined over the past 10 years.
Weather in Fergus Falls can get extremely cold during the winters -- it's not uncommon to see temperatures below 0 degrees. It also gets frequent snow. Tornadoes aren't common in this area, but they can happen. When they do, they're rarely above an EF2 or EF3.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
