Wadena is a small city with ample recreation
Wadena, Minnesota, is in a region known for its many lakes and waterfront resorts. However, the city is more than 10 miles from the nearest recreational lake and instead leans on other attractions to entertain its community. Many in this city of nearly 5,000 people live within minutes of mountain biking trails, indoor sports facilities, a golf course and pools. “Being that we’re in the middle of lake country without actual lakes, we do get skipped over a little bit, but we have some other things like campgrounds, parks and things of that nature,” says Wadena Councilman Mark Lunde. “It’s a beautiful small town with a lot of parks, some out of town and some right in town. There’s plenty to do.”
City has several styles of homes and investment options
Many of Wadena's homes are located along wide, tree-lined streets, some of which have sidewalks. Many lots here are also no larger than a third of an acre. Ranch-style homes are common, while other styles include gable front, Craftsman, Cape Cod and American Foursquare. Depending on size, homes mostly go from about $120,000 to $325,000. Some houses over 3,000 square feet go from $420,000 to $540,000. Investment properties may be found for about $40,000 to $110,000. A little less than half of the area’s homes are rentals.
Recreation includes mountain biking, racket sports and swimming
Whiskey Creek runs through Sunnybrook Park, offering chances for local anglers to catch sunfish and crappies. The park has access to the roughly 4-mile Leaf River Recreation Trail, which reaches the public Whitetail Run Golf Course. Facilities at the Maslowski Wellness & Research Center, or “The Mas,” include an aquatic center, a cardio and strength training gym and multiple courts for basketball, volleyball and racket sports. The center neighbors Wadena Hockey Arena, which hosts local youth hockey games. During the summer, many come to the small outdoor pool and splash pad off Colfax Avenue and Seventh Street. Black’s Grove Park is another local destination. “There’s a lot to enjoy,” says Wadena Councilman Wade Miller. “My personal favorite is Black’s Grove. I love mountain biking there, and I’m out on the trails plenty of times.”
Downtown Wadena has various cuisines and craft beer
Most of the city’s restaurants and bars are downtown, a roughly 12-block area with many brick and Italianate-style buildings. Downtown also has several boutiques, salons and a historic movie house called Cozy Theatre. “It’s state-of-the-art, but it’s been there for over 100 years,” Lunde says about the movie theater. Staples here include Boondocks Cafe, which has classic American breakfasts. Oma’s Restaurant and Bakery serves German food and various baked desserts. Opened in 2025, Sonny’s Bar & Restaurant has a fusion of Vietnamese and American cuisines. Drastic Measures Brewery is a local destination for craft beers and wood-fired pizzas. Super One Foods is a family-owned grocery store, but the city also has Walmart.
Students attend Wadena-Deer Creek Public Schools
The city is home to the Wadena-Deer Creek Public Schools district, which receives a C-plus grade from Niche. Students may start at Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary School, which gets a C-plus grade and enrolls students from prekindergarten to fourth grade. The school’s annual activities include a spring Rocket Launch, a tradition that tasks students with making and decorating water rockets which they launch using pressurized air. Wadena-Deer Creek Middle-High School enrolls fifth to 12th graders and gets a B-minus. Minnesota State Community and Technical College also has a Wadena campus.
Wadena County Fair draws many in June
The Wadena County Fair spans several days in June. Many come to the fairgrounds each year for carnival rides and events like a tractor pull, monster truck show and 4-H exhibits. Attendees may also play bingo and visit the beer garden.
U.S. 10 and 71 go to regional neighbors
U.S. highways 10 and 71 cross in Wadena and go to several neighboring cities. U.S. Highway 10 goes to Fargo, North Dakota, about 90 miles west. Fargo is home to Hector International Airport, the nearest hub for commercial flights. Astera Health has a state-of-the-art campus right outside Wadena. The hospital’s facilities include a cancer center and an emergency department.
New residents should anticipate frigid winter days
Wadena experiences some frigid winter days. The city averages a winter low temperature of minus 3 degrees. The city also typically receives 22 inches of snowfall annually.
