East of St. Paul, a quiet riverfront community
Tiffany lamps hang over wooden four-tops in Lakeland’s most popular dining room, where pancakes are served in the morning and cold ones spill fresh from the tap at night. This establishment is the Bungalow Inn, the unofficial community center for the riverfront town of Lakeland. Fridays are celebrated with karaoke, and Sundays start with breakfast buffets; lifelong friends recall memories from years ago like they just happened yesterday. The Lakeland lifestyle suits those who want that small-town, country feeling without being too far from St. Paul and major suburbs like Woodbury. “You’re near vibrant shopping communities, yet you still feel like you’re out in the country,” says Realtor Rachel Schaden, who’s based in the neighboring town of Hudson. “You have more space around you, more greenery and trails.”
From log cabins in the woods to lake houses with docks
Lakeland balances the serenity of nature with the comfort of community, all while only a short walk or drive from the St. Croix River. Most homes were built in the mid-20th century, so ranch-style and split-level architecture are common. Options range from log cabins in the woods to lake houses with docks. “You might have a $400,000 house next to a $1.5 million house,” Schaden says. “It’s definitely a seller’s market. Everything here sells quickly because you’re so close to everything, and anybody who’s watching for river access is going to have an eye out.” Most homes in Lakeland cost between $200,000 and $500,000, but large riverfront estates sometimes list for millions.
Stillwater Area Public Schools
Students in Lakeland attend Stillwater Area Public Schools, starting with Afton-Lakeland Elementary, which received a B rating on the educational review site, Niche. Then, they continue to Oak-Land Middle School, which received a B-plus, before graduating from Stillwater Area High School, which received an A-minus. Stillwater Area High School offers a Pathways program that allows students to explore careers in areas like business, health sciences and arts and communication.
Spend summers on the St. Croix River
“The river is very popular in the summer,” says Realtor Joel Friday, who’s sold in the Twin Cities for nearly 20 years. “It’s more like a lake – you can get your boats out there. You’ll see tons of boats on the marina in Hudson.” Across the river in Hudson, St. Croix Marina is in a protected no-wake zone and has a fuel dock and maintenance services. Boat rentals are available at Beanie’s Marina in Lakeland, and Zen Watersports lets the especially adventurous take electric surfboard or private scuba classes. Lakeland has one community park, Crocker Park, where kids play baseball on weekends while siblings climb its oak-tree-shaded playground.
Retail shopping in Hudson and Sunday breakfasts at the Bungalow Inn
Pancakes pile high each Sunday at the Bungalow Inn’s breakfast buffet, a weekly ritual at Lakeland’s old supper club and sole restaurant along the St. Croix River. That’s not the restaurant’s only routine: Fridays kick off with all-you-can-eat fish fries, and Saturdays are celebrated with afternoon bingo. Running errands is easy across the river in Hudson, where supermarkets like County Market and ALDI supplement the Hudson Grocery Cooperative. This community-owned grocery store prioritizes selling local products and minimizing waste to reduce its carbon footprint. With a Walmart and Target in Hudson, shoppers can complete their errands in one trip.
Nearby communities and commuting to the Twin Cities
Lakeland neighbors Hudson, WI, which is just across the St. Croix River. Seven miles north sits the small community of Bayport, where some community members work at Andersen Windows. Most commute to the Twin Cities for work: St. Paul is 16 miles away, and Minneapolis is 26 miles away. The nearest hospital is 10 miles away in Stillwater, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is 25 miles away. With no public transportation in town, Lakeland is a car-dependent community.
Run with the Bison each spring
Each May, Lakeland hosts the Belwin Bison Festival. This annual event is put on by Belwin, a conservancy that protects 1,500 acres of land east of St. Paul. Each year, the community gathers to watch as Belwin releases herds of bison onto their prairie. The event is celebrated with live music, food trucks and a “Run with the Bison” 5k fun run.
