Luverne is a classic Minnesota small town with unique businesses and events
Luverne is emblematic of the classic Minnesotan small town. Its historic downtown and unique community events, including a hot dog-themed extravaganza, give residents a charming hometown feel. “They like the public schools and that it’s family oriented," says Realtor William Cowell, who works with Land and Home Realty and has about a decade of experience in the area. With a population of approximately 4,900, Luverne functions as a Sioux Falls suburb, set against the rolling hills of the Great Plains. The community will soon have the largest nutcracker in the world, which may bring more tourists to Main Street.
Main Street retail from WildFlowers Coffee Boutique to Sunshine Foods
Dating to the late 1800s, downtown Luverne has storefronts of locally owned businesses along Main Street. The restaurants range from the relaxed cafe WildFlowers Coffee Boutique to Pizza Ranch, an Old West-themed buffet. At Take 16 Brewing, patrons can order handcrafted beers and root beer in a laid-back setting. The local shops include the secondhand furniture store Reborn Home Furnishings and The Sewing Basket, which sells an array of fabrics. Sunshine Foods is the local supermarket. The Rock County History Center houses artifacts and over 6,000 nutcrackers. Soon the world’s largest nutcracker, a 65-foot statue, will stand next to the museum. Verne Drive-In Theater is south of town and offers double features and a concession stand; Cowell says it's a popular spot.
Blue Mounds State Park, Luverne City Park and more recreation
Blue Mounds State Park, a prairie setting where visitors can see a herd of wild bison and quartzite cliffs, is on the northern outskirts of the town. “There’s a lot of hiking trails and rock climbing out there,” Cowell says. On the east side of the community, Luverne City Park surrounds the Rock River for waterfront views. It has a playground, picnic tables, a ballfield and a volleyball court. Luverne Country Club offers a nine-hole course in the southeast part of the city that's open to the public. Nearby is the Ashby Trail, which crosses the Rock River and extends for about 2 miles. “The local biking trail on the east side of Luverne goes to the River Road Campground,” Cowell says. The campsite has ponds for kayaking and fishing.
American Foursquares, ranch-style homes and contemporary homes in Luverne
Surrounding Main Street, the city has grid-style blocks of historical architecture, including American Foursquares and Victorians. Central Luverne has tree-lined streets and lawns often landscaped with leafy maples and oak trees. The community expands into subdivisions of midcentury ranch-style homes. On the north and east sides of the city, there are cul-de-sacs of contemporary homes. Single-family houses range from $160,000 to $600,000, depending on lot size and bedrooms. The area’s market leans slower; homes average 95 days on the market, compared to the national average of 49 days.
Schools, including Luverne Elementary and Luverne High
Luverne Elementary School and Luverne Middle School earn A-minus ratings on Niche. Luverne High School scores a B-plus. The middle and high schools are located in the same building on the west side of the community. At Luverne High, students can take unique courses like aquaculture, photography and college literature.
The annual Hot Dog Nite and Rock County Fair
For over six decades, the community has come together for Hot Dog Nite, a Main Street event in July. It includes over 15,000 free hot dogs, wiener dog races, a wiener dog beauty pageant and live music. Rock County Fair, at the fairgrounds on the south side of Luverne, offers a petting zoo, rides and a tractor pull.
A 30-mile commute to Sioux Falls and more transportation
The Luverne School District and Sanford Luverne Medical Center, located on the north side of the city, are some of the town's larger employers. Via Interstate 90, Luverne is about 30 miles away from Sioux Falls. Greyhound and Jefferson Lines offer bus services on the south side of Luverne. For commercial flights, Sioux Falls Regional Airport is about 30 miles away.
