An hour south of Minneapolis lies the city of Red Wing, an outdoor oasis along the Mississippi River. “I would say we are an extremely outdoorsy and artistic town,” says Laura Aadalen, member services specialist for the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are home to several parks, novelty restaurants, and a revitalized downtown district.”
Several leading manufacturers call Red Wing home, especially Red Wing Shoes, whose flagship store holds the world’s largest boot. “Red Wing Shoes is the biggest manufacturer in town,” says Lynn Nardinger, deputy director of public services for the city of Red Wing. “3M and BIC are also big here, but we are a very active, civic-minded community."
Red Wing's proximately to the Mississippi is greatly tied to the town's history.
Visit the world's largest boot at the famed Red Wing Shoes store in downtown Red Wing.
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Seasonal activities at Memorial, Covill Park
Memorial Park’s view of the entire city alongside the Mississippi River is particularly popular among residents. The 268-acre park features a disc golf course, hiking trails, and cross-country ski trails in the winter. “We have mountain and biking trails at Memorial Park, which is right along the Mississippi River,” says Nardinger. “We are also a big boating community, with Colvill Park offering five boat launches and four marinas.” Colvill Park is also home to Red Wing Water Park, which has a complete concession stand for all ages.
Enjoy a view of the Mississippi River from Colvill Park.
Residents enjoy taking a stroll through Levee Park.
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Events galore in Red Wing
Treasure Island Resort & Casino has a 16,000-seat amphitheater that showcases musical and comedy acts like "Weird Al" Yankovic. Locals can also visit the world’s largest boot at the Red Wing Shoes flagship retail store and museum. “Our festivals also bring in people from all over the county, especially with our fall arts festival and holiday stroll that shuts down the streets, with thousands gathering to see our Christmas tree light up,” says Aadalen. In the heart of downtown lies the Sheldon Theater, an auditorium built in the 1900s. It is among the oldest operating theaters in Minnesota and hosts concerts, plays, and musicals such as The Wizard of Oz on Ice.
Treasure Island Resort and Casino is just a short drive from Red WIng.
The historic Sheldon Theater in Red Wing is one of the oldest in Minnesota.
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Historic bluffs influence outdoor education
Red Wing Public Schools is Red Wing's primary public school district, serving nearly 3,000 prekindergarten through grade 12 students with a B-minus rating on Niche. The district oversees six schools, including Twin Bluffs Middle School, named after He Mni Can - Barn Bluff, a historic site sacred to the Dakota Native American tribe. Minnesota State College Southeast Red Wing Campus serves as Red Wing’s central community college. Four-year public colleges and universities, such as the University of Minnesota, are nearby in Minneapolis.
Twin Bluff Middle School is located in Red Wing, Minnesota.
Red Wing is the home of Minnesota State College Southeast.
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Local novelty shops and restaurants near Old West Main Road
A mix of locally-owned shops like Fair Trade Books, clothing and thrift stores, game shops and the Red Wing Bicycle Company, where locals tune up their bikes, are downtown. Pubs and restaurants sit along the streets," Nardinger says. "All of our popular, local restaurants are located in the Old West Main District. Red Wing Brewery and Kelly's Tap House Bar & Grill are two popular spots." U.S. Route 61 leads to big-box retail stores on the western side of town, including a Walmart Supercenter, Target and T.J. Maxx. National chain restaurants like Applebee’s and Culver’s, known for their butter burgers and frozen custard, are also in this retail and commercial center.
Fair Trade Books is a popular shop in downtown Red WIng.
Applebee's is one of many franchise restaurants on the north side of Red Wing.
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Early 20th-century homes sell below national average
With a population of approximately 17,000, new homebuyers interested in moving to Red Wing will find two-story, ranch-style, Craftsman, and Four-Square homes in the city’s interior. “We have quite a few older homes in Red Wing that are usually ranch-style,” says Lori Simonson, owner at EXIT Realty Rivertown. “In terms of prices, most homes used to be under $300,000, but that’s not the case anymore. We are seeing homes around that number here.” The median home price in Red Wing is $293,000, with some well-maintained homes ranging from $400,000 to $500,000.
The streets of Red Wing are lined with a variety of bungalow style homes.
Numerous split-level home styles take advantage of the elevation throughout Red Wing.
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Amtrak offers nonstop service to Chicago, Milwaukee
Amtrak offers daily, round-trip train service to major U.S. cities such as Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul at the Red Wing Station. Hiawathaland Transit, a dial-a-ride bus service, serves the Red Wing community for those needing a ride to the grocery store, doctor’s office, or even school.
U.S. Route 61 connects locals to St. Paul, heading northwest and joining Minnesota State Route 10. U.S. Route 63 crosses Wisconsin and takes travelers through rural communities up north. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, the nearest international airport, is located 50 miles north of the city. Mayo Clinic’s Red Wing Campus, the city’s nearest hospital, is within city limits.
Flood risk, low crime concerns
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Red Wing's crime rates have decreased over the past two years. Given the city's proximity to the Mississippi River, residents should be aware of heavy flood risks, particularly for homes north of Great River Road.
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