WHITE BEAR LAKE, Minn. — Whoever said the community downtown is dead has not been flying along on our episodic summer air tour of downtowns across the Twin Cities metro.
Our latest KARE in the Air stop is downtown White Bear Lake. Many consider 'The WBL' Minnesota's first resort town, a destination for visitors in the late 1800s who would travel up the Mississippi River by steamboat or train. As more and more people came, hotels and resorts popped up on the shores of the big lake and streets in the adjacent downtown became filled with restaurants, theaters, and shops.
Even more, visitors came with the extension of the Mississippi Railroad to White Bear Lake in 1868, turning what used to be a three-hour horse and buggy ride from St. Paul into a convenient 20-minute trip. Rail service provided new opportunities for business downtown, with the tracks eventually connecting White Bear Lake to Duluth in 1871.
White Bear Lake's reputation leaped to another level in 1874 when it became the resort setting for Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi." The "American Travelers Journal" in 1881 proclaimed "One of the most popular resorts in the magic northlands is White Bear Lake."
Today, downtownwhitebear lake.com describes The historic downtown area as "the best of both worlds" - a place to shop for contemporary fashion, home and gifts while dining at the latest hot spots, all the while feeling like you’ve retreated to a quaint lake town with plenty of old world charm.
Here are some upcoming events to check out.
- Fall Fest: Sept. 26-28. Includes Fall Friendzy, Scarecrow Stroll, Polka & Pumpkins in the Park
- Candy Crawl: Saturday, Oct. 26, 1-5 p.m.
- Holiday Open House: Thursday, Nov 21, 5-8 p.m.
- Small Business Saturday: Nov 30, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.