Otter Tail Country Tourism Association – Western Minnesota
Are you looking for a beautiful place to spend your vacation? Do you want to swim, fish, sail or shop? If these are the goals you have then you will certainly want to spend the time in the beautiful area of the Otter Tail Country Tourism Association which covers the area east of Detroit Lakes and south of Pelican Rapids. The area has some of the most beautiful lakes in all of Minnesota. Along with the beautiful lakes you will meet some of Minnesota’s most hospitable people from those that work in the tourism industry to those that run the shop and stores you will visit while in the area.
The communities included in the Otter Tail Country Tourism Association are:
Ashby
Battle Lake
Bluffton
Clitherall
Dalton
Deer Creek
Dent
Detroit Lakes
Elizabeth
Erhard
Fergus Falls
Henning
New York Mills
Ottertail
Parkers Prairie
Pelican Rapids
Perham
Richville
Rothsay
Underwood
Urbank
Vergas
Vinning
Wadena
These communities offer you a wide variety of activities for you in which to participate.
Ashby will provide you with a great place to hike, bike or snowmobile in their newly completed Memorial Park as well as the trials around the lakes. This community has Pelican Lake and Lake Christina within easy reach from the town. Lake Christina offers plenty of public hunting area so even if you aren’t a fisherman you will find this a perfect place to hunt for your waterfowl hunting.
Battle Lake will provide you with something totally different than what you have probably participated in on other vacations…the Turtle Races which are held every Thursday throughout the summer. With a variety of resorts in the area you will be able to find the perfect place to spend your vacation. The community has activities all year around for you to enjoy so regardless of the time of year you choose to visit you will find something fun to do.
Bluffton offers you and opportunity to visit a truly little town with a heart. Although there aren’t any lakes in it’s limits it does have some businesses for you to stop in and visit and learn about the establishment in 1903 of this little community.
Clitherall was first settled in 1865 by seven Mormon families and grew from there. With a population of just 118 this community won’t win any big city awards but you will certainly enjoy it and remember it if you can visit in November and attend the annual Testical Festival. Yes, Testical Festival!
Dalton is known for the annual Threshing Reunion held the first weekend after Labor Day. The event begins on Thursday and ends on Sunday with a community-wide Church service. You may also want to visit for the Summerfest Celebration on the last weekend in June. There are lots of activities going on that you will enjoy while you take a break from fishing.
Deer Creek is another small community with great people so stop in to visit.
Dent offers you great fishing and super choices for resorts to stay at while in the area. Being able to pick your resort to fit your desires is something that will make checking out Dent well worth your time.
Detroit Lakes has more than 400 lakes within 25 miles. Visiting the stunning forests, sparkling water, great fishing, and wetland sanctuaries along with the mile long sand beach make Detroit Lakes a favorite with many visitors to Minnesota.
Elizabeth offers you a choice of lakes to fish and participate in water activities.
Erhard has one of the traditional 4th of July celebrations that you are invited to come and enjoy.
Fergus Falls is a place to come and enjoy canoe, boat, water-ski, swim or fish, windsurf or sail, Fergus Falls and the surrounding 1,100 lakes has something offer everyone of every age to enjoy.
Henning offers not only a solid religious base with 7 churches but also entertainment with the golf course to relax with a game. Take the opportunity to fish the lakes, enjoy boating, skiing and snowmobiling.
New York MIlls was founded by the Finnish settlers in 1874 and the heritage is still present today. Many of the people of the community still speak Finnish which is a delight to hear!
Ottertail is one of those communities that welcome you any time of the year but in the winter the village is home to 313 people but when summer comes the population grows to over 1000. With all there is to do in the lakes area around Ottertail you will be glad you came here to vacation.
Parkers Prairie has Lake Adley Park which provides a public access boat ramp for summer fishing and is also a popular ice fishing spot. Come wrestle with a walleye or break out the waterskis for some summer fun on the lake!
Pelican Rapids is the home to the “Worlds Largest Pelican.” You can enjoy a summer celebration during Turkey Days or do some candle light cross-county skiing in Maplewood State Park in the winter. There is a lot to do in the community along with the fishing, biking, swimming, hiking and more.
Perham offers you a variety of options for fun, even though the community is small it is packed with fun! Visit the History Museum or Verona’s House of Dolls when you aren’t golfing or spending time on the water of one of the 1,000 lakes in the area.
Richville is a community that was established in 1904. Although it isn’t a large village it makes up for it in hospitality. Stop in for a visit, you may want to stay for your whole vacation in one of their resorts.
Rothsayis the Prairie Chicken Capital of Minnesota. The 13 foot high, 18 foot long Prairie Chicken weighs in at 9,000 pounds and was designed by Rothsay’s own artist Art Fosse. The community is also big on sports so come and watch a baseball game or other sporting activity in one of the parks during the summer. In the winter you can go to one of the two skiing and snow boarding facilities within easy drive time of the community.
Underwood is the home of the Foss Log Cabin which was built over 100 years ago. Fort Juelson is the 120 x 100 ft structure with 4×4 foot thick walls to protect the residents from Indian attacks.
Urbank is little but interested in welcoming you to the village.
Vergas is the “Home of the Loon.” The loon is Minnesota’s state bird. There is a 20 foot replica of the loon in the city park, get your picture taken to remind you of the wonders of Minnesota and a true Minnesota vacation.
Vinning has “The Biggest Small Town Celebration in Otter Tail County” is held in Vining the 3rd Saturday in August. Watermelon Day is a annual Vining tradition. Watermelon is served free! This annual celebration hosts 70 to 100 arts and crafts vendors, a petting zoo for the kids, live music, bingo, a parade and a street dance at night.
Wadena has the Alley Arts Institute with the ?Murals of Minnesota.” The community is also surrounded by lakes which make for a great place to have your summer vacation. If you are a winter vacation person then Wadena has something for you too, you cna do cross-country skiing and snowmobiling on Wadena’s extensive well groomed Black Grove Park’s trails. Come on over!
The whole area is a historic look at the establishment of this area of Minnesota. Whether you are just interested in the water activities available in the area or want to check out the history of the area you will find all you desire in this beautiful area of Minnesota.
You have been able to read a brief bit about the communities that make up the Ottertail Tourism Association but what you haven’t experienced is the beauty of the lakes. Visualize yourself with a beverage, sitting on the shore at sunset watching the cares of the world float away in the beauty of the water and the coming of evening. Or rise early as watch the sun come up and bring the area awake with the soft light tugging the sleepy area into full glory.
Come to see what makes this a place so special that you will schedule your vacation here year after year!
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