Natural surroundings and commuter access in Stacy
Surrounded by protected wildlife areas, prairies and wetlands, Stacy is a small city about 40 minutes north of the Twin Cities metro area. The Chisago County community of about 1,500 people is divided by Interstate 35, an essential roadway for commuters. “The majority of Stacy falls to the east of the freeway. It’s one of those areas you could call the space in between,” says Cyndy Tubbs, broker and co-owner of Tubbs Realty Inc. with more than 30 years of experience. “It’s kind of a pass-through town. Three different counties intersect in and around the Stacy area.” Stacy has a handful of restaurants and a variety of housing options from subdivisions to farmsteads, making it a popular home base for commuters in the metro and nearby cities.
Rural farmhouses and traditional subdivisions
Stacy has a mix of rural parcels with multiple acres and traditional subdivisions. “There are areas in and around Stacy that were developed with smaller lots in mind, even if they don’t have [city] water and sewer,” Tubbs says. “The way that the community has grown is dictated by usable land. The majority of the land is kind of sandy, so that has aided in being able to put septic systems in.” In addition to rural farmhouses on multiple acres, buyers can find contemporary ranch-style, split-level and new traditional homes. Some properties abut the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area and have views of wetlands and swamps. The median cost is about $400,000, and most homes cost between $300,000 and $500,000. Newer homes and houses with additional acreage tend to cost more, ranging from $550,000 to about $750,000 for a new build on multiple acres.
Nature abounds in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area
The marshes, grasslands and wetlands of the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area unfold across 24,000 acres. Trumpeter swans, bald eagles, songbirds and waterfowl flock to the area, making it a prime spot for bird watching and wildlife spotting. Hunting and trapping are also popular. Stacy Lions Park hosts most city events and features a playground, ball field, pavilion and a fire ring. Chisago City is about 12 miles away and has a chain of lakes, including Green Lake, a summer swimming destination and year-round fishing spot. The multi-use Sunrise Prairie Regional Trail spans 21 miles, starting in Harris and connecting to the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail in Washington County.
Commuting to the Twin Cities, Blaine and Ham Lake
Interstate 35 is a vital north-south thoroughfare for the Twin Cities metro area. Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport are about 40 miles south. “The majority of the people who live in and around Stacy are going to commute to work, most of them going south,” Tubbs says. “Some of them may go west and south and feed into some of the businesses in Blaine and Ham Lake.” The closest emergency room is at M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center in Wyoming, about 5 miles south. The retail and restaurant hub of Forest Lake is about 10 miles away.
College credit and culinary programming at North Branch High School
Kids can attend schools in the North Branch Area Public Schools District, which receives a C grade from Niche. Sunrise River Elementary School receives a B-minus, while North Branch Middle School is rated C-plus. North Branch High School, rated C, offers more than 20 college courses, which are taught on-site. Students can participate in the Pro-Start Culinary Program, an industry-backed, two-year program that prepares high schoolers for the hospitality and restaurant management industry.
Local restaurants and additional options in Forest Lake
Residents head to Forest Lake for grocery stores and restaurants, but there are some dining options in town. The Hideout specializes in from-scratch dishes with a rotating seasonal menu and staples like barbecue platters, build-your-own burgers and prime rib on Friday nights. Stacy Sports Grill is a go-to spot for classic pub food and pool, while Nuevos Amigos Bar and Grill is known for Mexican fare and margaritas. The Stacy Farmers and Crafters Market is held every Friday at Doyle Fields from mid-June to mid-September. Bruce’s Foods is the closest grocery store in Wyoming, about 5 miles south, but Forest Lake has more options like Aldi and Walmart Supercenter.
Stacy Daze and the annual Firehouse Bash
The Stacy-Lent Fire Department brings locals together with the annual Firehouse Bash, a fundraiser with live entertainment, a community bonfire and a silent auction. “The Stacy-Lent Fire Department is really the backbone of a lot of the community building in Stacy,” Tubbs says. “It’s all volunteers, so it’s a big deal in Stacy.” The fire department hosts the car show at Stacy Daze, an annual event spearheaded by the Lions Club. Local youths compete in the talent show while adult teams go head-to-head in softball tournaments. The event features a parade, inflatables and food trucks, and the weekend wraps up with a fireworks display.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
