Zimmerman is a rural suburb 40 miles from Minneapolis and St. Cloud
Zimmerman is a Twin Cities suburb in Livonia Township, about 40 miles north of Minneapolis. The Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, a natural oak savanna, spreads westward from the small city center, and recreational lakes are abundant in the area. “Fremont Lake draws a lot of people. There are a ton of properties right on the lake,” says Realtor Nicole DeRyke with Keller Williams Classic Realty. “There are restaurants and stores, but the lakes bring that up-north, outdoorsy vibe.” Most of the city’s 6,000 residents commute to the Twin Cities or St. Cloud, also about 40 miles away.
Small lots in town give way to rambling wooded properties
“This is a farm community that’s now becoming less farm-y and more small town,” says DeRyke, who has been selling homes in the area for four years. Homes in the center of the community occupy lots measuring a quarter to half an acre, with paved driveways and grassy lawns. Outside of town in the rural outskirts, multiacre properties are more common among the tall evergreen trees and sweeping fields. Some houses on Fremont Lake and Elk Lake offer sandy beaches and private shoreline access. The Woodlands of Livonia, a wooded subdivision, features Craftsman-style builds and 5 miles of lighted walking trails. Prices start at $175,000 to $300,000 for townhouses and ranch-style homes or $315,000 to $500,000 for smaller New Traditional and Craftsman-style houses. Large custom builds on sizable lots sell for $525,000 to $800,000. Properties with lake access and luxury homes in The Woodlands can cost $750,000 to $1 million. As elsewhere in the Twin Cities region, garage space helps combat the high risk of hail and ice storms.
Lakes, forests and trails offer year-round outdoor fun
Sand Dunes State Forest features miles of trails for hiking, horseback riding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling beneath canopies of oak and pine. Campers pitch tents on the shore of Ann Lake, which has a swimming beach, a boat ramp and a fishing pier. Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is a preserved habitat for migratory birds, including sandhill cranes. Families with young children will find playgrounds at Maefield Park, which is close to town, and Lions Memorial Park near Fremont Lake. Bow hunters take aim at deer, bears and wild turkeys in the Freemont Wildlife Management Area, and the golf course at Fairway Shores is open to the public.
Upperclassmen participate in internships at Zimmerman High School
Zimmerman Elementary School receives a B rating from Niche. For grades 3 through 5, kids attend B-rated Westwood Elementary School, followed by Zimmerman Middle School, rated B-plus, and Zimmerman High School, rated B-minus. Upperclassmen can participate in local internships to prepare for life after graduation.
Restaurants, retail and grocery options for Zimmerman residents
Coffee shops and chain restaurants line Highway 169, but locally owned places pop up throughout town. D’s Smokehouse specializes in ribs, brisket and pork belly, and authentic Italian cuisine populates the menu at Vita Bella. The patio at Ridgewood Bay Lakeside Grill offers stellar views of Elk Lake. Hudson Hardware sells building supplies, lumber and live bait, and Zimmerman Home & Garden Center carries landscaping equipment. Groceries are available at Z Market, but most locals head to the Cub supermarket in Elk River or Coborn’s Marketplace in Princeton, both about 10 miles away.
Taking Route 169 to Minneapolis
U.S. Route 169 skims Fremont Lake and provides a good starting point for the 40-mile commute to Minneapolis and the 55-mile drive to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Commuters to St. Cloud have a 40-mile drive. Medical services are available from Fairview Hospital, about 9 miles away in Princeton. Tri-CAP, a public transit service, offers Dial-A-Ride bus service to Zimmerman residents.
Wild West Days festival gallops into town for Memorial Day
The Wild West Days festival gallops into town for Memorial Day weekend. The five-day festivities include carnival rides and games, a beer garden, live music, pony rides, fireworks and a parade. The Zimmerman/Livonia Fire District hosts an open house in September with safety demos, street dancing and tours of the fire station.
