Foley is growing small town in Central Minnesota
With less than 3,000 residents, Foley is a small but active community in the middle of Central Minnesota’s rural countryside. “It’s a very family-first community, and you can tell by all the different activities we have,” says Sarah Brunn, Foley’s City Administrator who grew up in Foley. “We have a huge baseball association, cool clubs for kids like trap shooting and archery, and several events. Our small businesses are very supportive of these community activities.” Brunn adds that while this is a small town, it is constantly growing with new businesses and homes, and there are plenty of options for outdoor recreation year-round.
New housing developments in the works to meet high demand
According to Brunn, Foley doesn’t have enough homes for sale to meet demand, but the city plans to change that. “The city owns some land on the south end of town and we’re working with a developer to get some units on that property. On the north side near the school, we’re working with an apartment developer because we’re seeing a big demand for rentals. I expect construction to start within the next year.” Single-family homes are predominant throughout Foley, with some dating back to the 19th century. Small bungalows and cottages built between the late 1800s and early 1900s range from around $110,000 to $220,000. Ranch-style and split-level houses from the 1950s through the early 2000s sell for around $210,000 to $450,000. Houses are typically right next to each other on approximately quarter-acre lots in leafy subdivisions. Most on the north side are within walking distance of downtown and schools.
Stores and restaurants downtown and along M-23
Most businesses are along Minnesota State Highway 23 (M-23). Foley’s Family Restaurant serves homestyle food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mr. Jim’s, a local bar in town, serves pizza and stays open past midnight with pool tables and frequent live music. Blue Ribbon Café is another local favorite, offering a variety of sandwiches and ice cream. It’s run by Grand Champion Meats, a local butcher shop that has been serving the community since 1971. Locals can get groceries and other essentials at Coborn’s and Dollar General. Cross Center donates food and clothes to the community. The non-profit also provides meals for kids during the summer and distributes school supplies. It’s located in the downtown area, where there are a few other small shops, including salons, the Midland Armory gun shop and Brewed Gems Coffee and Crystals. The coffee shop sells crystals and hosts several weekly events, including movie nights and craft shows.
Parks with year-round activities and a community pool
Foley has a few parks in town, such as Holdridge Park, featuring two playgrounds and several picnic pavilions. It’s right next to the Foley Municipal Pool, which has a free swim area, a kiddie pool and a water slide. “Holdridge Park is our busiest park because a lot of times people will have family reunions there and then send their kids over to the pool.” Locals also enjoy the outdoors at Lion’s Park, where they can have fun on the playground and tennis court. The park is also a popular spot in the winter for sledding and skating on the ice rink.
Foley Public School District schools all in one building
Foley Public School District serves the community with all three schools located in the same building. Foley Elementary School and Foley Intermediate School both receive a B-plus grade, while Foley High School receives a C-plus. The high school is small with over 600 students, but has larger classrooms with a student-teacher ratio of 35 to 1.
Foley Fun Days and other annual events
Locals look forward to Foley Fun Days every year. The three-day spectacle is full of different events, including a lumberjack show, a car show, tennis and pickleball tournaments, a downtown parade and live music. “Foley Fun Days is a big deal for us,” Brunn says. “It concludes with a parade, and it’s one of the best in Central Minnesota. Our marching bands love the parade.” Other events include Party in the Park, which is held at Holdridge Park with concessions, a craft sale and live music. Movie in the Park occurs at Lion’s Park and includes free popcorn and a movie at night. The city also has its own Oktoberfest every September to kick off the fall season.
20 minutes to St. Cloud and less than 90 minutes to Minneapolis
Minnesota highways 23 and 25 intersect in Foley. From M-23, it takes about 20 minutes to drive 15 miles to St. Cloud. It’s about a 70-mile drive to Minneapolis starting on M-25, which takes less than 90 minutes. “More people commute to St. Cloud, and a good number work in Minneapolis,” says Brunn. “We’re also seeing more hybrid workers. Our whole county has been built out with fiber internet. We’re also the county seat, so between the county and the school district, we have a lot of employees.” Travelers can take an Amtrak train in St. Cloud and fly out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. St. Cloud Regional Airport offers flights to Mesa, Arizona and Fort Myers, Florida.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
