A lakefront tourist town in West Central Minnesota
Standing 28 feet beside Lake Agnes in Alexandria, Minnesota, is Big Ole The Viking, a former World's Fair attraction and the lakefront city's unofficial mascot. Over the past 50 years, Big Ole has seen Alexandria grow from a tourist town of approximately 7,000 to one of 15,000 and it's still expanding today — neighborhoods like Feltanderson are home to new housing developments and Alomere Health, a 127-bed medical facility at the center of town, has added hundreds of jobs to the area. During the summer months, lakefront resorts and golf clubs thrive, and Broadway Street, the city's main commercial thoroughfare, fills with out-of-towners on the hunt for antiques, families on their way to brunch, and theater-goers headed to the Andria. "Populations double in the summer due to the resorts and lake homes," says Justin Habel of Counselor Realty, adding, "The community changes fairly significantly this time of year." There are weekly concerts, festivals, farmers markets and more, but year-rounders can look forward to activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling in the off-season.
A former World's Fair attraction, Big Ole The Viking welcomes visitors of Big Ole Central Park in Alexandria.
Alomere Health is the primary medical facility and major employer in Alexandria and surrounding communities.
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Boating, fishing and walking trails beside the water
To put it simply, "The lakes are what attract people [to Alexandria]," says Habel. Adding, "It's a heavily laked county and a heavily laked city." There are more than 300 bodies of water in the area, but the most notable include Lake Carlos, Lake Darling and Lake Le Homme Dieu to the north and Lake Agnes and Lake Henry directly south. Residents take advantage of the waterfront, renting jet skis, pontoon boats and kayaks from local resorts in the summer, lounging on Lake Lakota or Lake Le Homme Dieu's beaches, and ice skating on the Noonan Park Pond when the water inevitably freezes. It's typical for temperatures to dip into the single digits or sometimes even drop below zero between December and March. "During the winter months, there's skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross-country skiing," says Habel, and when snow doesn't cover the ground, walkers and cyclists can take advantage of the Central Lakes Trail, which originates in Osakis and spans more than 50 miles toward Fergus Falls, passing through Alexandria on the way.
Lake Agnes is one of many lakes around Alexandria that draws residents and tourists alike.
Spanning 55 miles from Osakis to Fergus Falls, the Central Lakes Trail meanders through downtown Alexandria.
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Century-spanning housing styles
Alexandria is still a growing city, which means housing styles span decades and even centuries. The area's oldest homes, some of which date back to the 1890s, are often found closer to downtown on relatively compact lots. Here, numbered and named streets intersect on a gridded pattern, with Broadway at the center. There's also a healthy mix of midcentury styles — specifically modest ranch-style homes and split-levels — as well as new construction in outlying neighborhoods like Feltanderson, where it's not uncommon for prospective buyers to find two- or even three-car garages. Median sale prices for single-family homes in Alexandria have been on an upward trajectory for the last few years and now hover around $360,000, which is still lower than the national median. Crime rates consistently fall below national and state averages, with the majority of incidents concentrated downtown and in the city's northeast corner.
Homes with classic designs from the mid-20th century are common near downtown Alexandria.
As Alexandria continues to expand, new residential developments incorporate modern home designs.
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Broadway Street shopping and dining
According to Habel, shopping is primarily concentrated within the city's downtown, specifically along Broadway Street. "We call it a historic downtown and there are hundred-year-old buildings with boutique stores, antiques, clothing and dining," he says. It's common for menus to serve classic pub food — fish and chips, burgers and sandwiches — but there are also a handful of fusion restaurants, casual Mexican joints and cozy cafes. Outdoor patios look out onto Lake Le Homme Dieu, and there are big-box options farther south in the Viking Plaza Mall and Midway Mall areas. The city is relatively self-contained, meaning that residents can access necessities without hopping on the interstate.
Charming stores, diners, and boutiques line the streets of historic downtown Alexandria.
Midway Mall and Viking Plaza are two shopping centers with various retailers in southern Alexandria.
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The Alexandria Public School District, adult education opportunities and library clubs
Area students are incorporated into the Alexandria Public School District, which earns an overall B-plus grade from Niche. There are six elementary school options, including a science magnet, one middle school, and one high school, and students can engage in real-world career-related experiences through the Center for Advanced Professional Studies, or the CAPS program. "Alexandria's a big ice hockey community through the public school system," says Habel, and the Cardinals Class A hockey team is no stranger to championship appearances.
The district also offers opportunities for adult education and enrichment, including everything from film studies lectures and conversational Spanish lessons to knitting and bread-making courses. The Douglas County Public Library has crafting nights, book clubs, tech help sessions and more.
The Alexandria Public School District ranks in the top 50 best public school districts in Minnesota.
The Douglas County Public Library in downtown Alexandria provides learning programs and activities.
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Marching bands, grape-stomping, holiday lights
"Whether winter or summer, there's a lot going on downtown," continues Habel. Fresh produce is available at farmer's markets in Big Ole Central Park on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer months, and there's an indoor market at Copper Trail Brewing Co. when it gets cold. High school marching bands compete in the annual Vikingland Band Festival at the end of June, parading down Broadway in uniform and tourists and locals alike look forward to "Art in the Park" in July. Habel also highlights the Grape Stomp Festival at Carlos Creek Winery, a September weekend that includes live music, dozens of food vendors and — most notably — grape stomping competitions. During the holiday season in Alexandria, the city's main commercial thoroughfare is set aglow for the "Lights on Broadway Parade" and there are live music and trivia nights at local breweries like Northmen throughout the year.
Big Ole Central Park near downtown Alexandria hosts a weekly farmers market during the summer.
Broadway Street in Alexandria is home to many events throughout the year like the 'Lights on Broadway Parade'.
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Interstate 94 toward Fargo and Minneapolis
Alexandria is within 130 miles, or about a two hours' drive from Minneapolis, and about 115 miles, or an hour and a half, from Fargo, North Dakota. Both are accessible via Interstate 94 and the vast majority of residents rely on their own vehicles, given that public transit in the area is limited. The Alexandria Municipal Airport is open for public use, but most locals will book commercial flights from Fargo's international airport or Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
Jon D. Jondahl entered the real estate market early at the age of twenty-two and quickly rose to become one of the industry’s top real estate professionals. He has closed over 5,100 transactions and has been a top producer for over thirty-eight years. His passion for real estate is second to none, and his experience helps provide a seamless transaction each and every time. The Jon D. Jondahl group is a family business, and family is Jon D’s greatest passion. You can trust that whether you are buying or selling a home that The Jon D. Jondahl Group will work tirelessly and go the extra mile to provide a smooth experience.
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