Sauk Centre's small-town charm and Sinclair Lewis' legacy
Some dream of the small-town charm that Sauk Centre has to offer, with its lower population of around 4,500 and quaint downtown of shops and restaurants. In Lewis Sinclair’s book, “Main Street,” the famous novelist pokes fun at his hometown of Sauk Centre. Though the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature preferred life in big cities on the East Coast, the community still honors his legacy with a festival, street and park in his name, and a school district with a Mainstreeters mascot. While surrounded by farmland, this rural community also offers a lake life atmosphere. “The goal is always to own a property on Sauk Lake,” says Aimee Hegg, a Realtor with Central MN Realty, who grew up in the region. “In the summer, that’s the thing to do — to get on a pontoon and boat around the lake.”
From historic to modern houses
Single-family homes are predominant throughout Sauk Centre and date all the way back to the late 1800s. Century-old bungalows, cottages and Victorians sell for around $70,000 to $230,000. Ranch-style homes built between the 1950s and ‘90s range from $200,000 to $475,000. Most have attached or detached garages and less than an acre of land. More modern houses from the 2000s cost around $250,000 to $510,000. Those in the $500,000 range are on 1-acre lots in the open countryside. Waterfront homes, starting with smaller ranch-styles sell for around $300,000 to $540,000. Upscale properties by the water range from around $700,000 to $1 million.
Big-box retailers and downtown local businesses
The south side of town has a more commercialized scene with a Coborn’s grocery store, Walmart and several fast food restaurants. Most of the small local businesses are downtown along at the intersection of Main Street and Sinclair Lewis Avenue. Shoppers will find several boutiques, antiques stores and gift shops, along with Schaefer’s Market, the local butcher. Locals can grab homemade muffins and coffee at Jitters Java Café, grab some Mexican food at El Mezcal or hit up one of the few bars that stay open past midnight, including Crazy J’s Bar & Grill or Mustang Bar. Both bars are popular for darts, while Crazy J’s also has billiards, foosball and air hockey. Locals can also grab a bite to eat while out on Sauk Lake. Hegg says, “There are four waterfront restaurants where people like to dock their boats, get out and socialize, then get back on the boat.” Some dining options by the water include Rainbow Lodge, known for its sandwiches, and Diamond Point, which offers a homestyle buffet.
Activities by Sauk Lake at Sinclair Lewis Park and Conservation Park
Sinclair Lewis Park is the community’s main space for outdoor recreation. It hugs the south side of the lake with a playground, fishing piers and a boat ramp. There’s an open grassy area with a central water fountain and a bandshell used for events. Conservation Park is right by the lake’s dam where people also like to fish, bring their dogs to the dog park and tend to the community garden. Once a railroad, the 65-mile Lake Wobegon Trail runs through town and is open to snowmobiles in the winter.
Sauk Centre Public School District has all three schools in one building
Sauk Centre Public School District includes three schools: The elementary school and middle school receive a C-plus from Niche, while the high school receives a B. All three schools are in the same building, but the middle school and high school form what the district refers to as the secondary school because they share a principal.
Sinclair Lewis Days, summer concerts and an art festival
Sinclair Lewis Days, one of the biggest events of the year, has been an annual tradition since the 1970s. The four-day festival in July offers a series of events, including a parade, a 5K run, the Miss Sauk Centre Pageant and fireworks over the lake. On Wednesdays from June to August, locals gather at Sinclair Lewis Park for a summer concert series. The park also hosts the Sauk Centre Festival of the Arts, where local artists display and sell their work in June.
Commutes on I-94 and scheduled bus services from Tri-Cap
This is a predominantly car-dependent community. However, Tri-Cap offers scheduled bus rides around town. It takes tokens, but will drive to CentraCare, the local hospital, for free. Interstate 94 runs through town, heading 25 miles (30 minutes) to Alexandria and about 40 miles (50 minutes) to St. Cloud. It also takes more than 90 minutes to drive over 100 miles to Minneapolis.
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
