Named after the largest lake within the community, this booming city about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis has exploded in size since 1990, having almost doubled since 2000 alone. “We’re close enough to the cities for people who need to work or want to visit, but we’re far enough out that we still have a small-town feel,” says Mayor Paul Knier. Big Lake combines lakefront-living with a rural charm and nearby urban conveniences. Homebuyers with families will find Big Lake has a lot to offer, from sunbathing at Lakeside Park to off-leash dog areas at Lions Park. “We’re consistently voted among the top five safest cities in Minnesota,” Knier says. While many buyers are attracted to life by the lake, residents here are welcomed by a small-town feel maintained through community events like the annual Spud Festival and local farmers markets held throughout the year. The city also values veterans, with a strong sense of appreciation for them evident at Freedom Rock in Lakeside Park. And with both the Metro Transit and Northstar Commuter Rail accessible at Big Lake Station, day trips into the Twin Cities can be made in around an hour.
Big Lake and Lake Mitchell lie in the heart of the city.
Many newer homes in Big Lake feature three-car garages with two floors of living space.
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Lakefront ranch styles and new construction
The real estate market in Big Lake is very competitive, with well-priced homes getting offers within days and more than half selling over the list price. “Big Lake is a desirable city with a small town feel that offers a mix of homes from lots on acreage, lake homes and new construction” says Jessica Moren, Realtor with Keller Williams and representative with Homes for Heroes in Big Lake since 2018. Big Lake features a variety of home styles ranging from traditional ranch-styles and newly constructed craftsman to multi-family townhouses. While most of the homes were constructed after 1990, about one-third of the housing inventory was built prior, offering an entry-level price point in an otherwise tough market of newer construction. Older development can be found near the city core and newer housing is on its outskirts. Big Lake offers subdivision options from lakefront living in Shadywood Park and The Shores Of Lake Mitchell to newer construction in Pine Crest Estates and townhouses in Lake Street Cottages. With a median sales price of $311,750, homes here range from the high $100,000s for a one-bedroom rambler to upwards of $800,000 for a four-bedroom ranch-style with immediate lake access. Waterfront homes with private lake access are subject to higher price points here. Homes often feature attached garages and are fronted with well-maintained mid-sized lots.
New traditional craftsman-style homes beautify the neighborhoods of Big Lake.
Charming ranch-style homes are common in older neighborhoods in Big Lake.
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Sunbathe in the sand at Lakeside Park
When seeking time outdoors, Big Lake residents capitalize on their proximity to three named lakes and more than 20 parks featuring over 320 acres. Big Lake, the namesake and largest of the lakes features a boat launch and wooden pier. Residents often visit Lakeside Park, where children can climb on the jungle-gym, while adults sunbathe on the sandy beaches during the warmer months. Or pay respects at Big Lake Freedom Rock, which acts as a representative piece for each of the branches of the military. Attached to Big Lake by a narrow channel is Lake Mitchell, which covers about 170 acres and has a boat launch of its own. Dog owners can head to Big Lake Township’s Lions Park, which features two fenced-in areas for off-leash play separated by dog size. Baseball enthusiasts can head to Lake Ridge Park for pick-up games on the baseball field, or enjoy an on-the-go meal on the wooden picnic tables.
Hours of play can be spent at Lakeside Park on the shores of Big Lake.
Lakeside Park has an expansive sandy swimming beach on the shores of Big Lake.
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Annual events and the year-round Farmers Market
Residents of Big Lake come together for city-wide events throughout the year, particularly in the summer. Big Lake is known for Spud Fest, a four-day event held on the last full weekend of June every year. The festival has been a citywide tradition since 1972 and was created to foster a strong sense of community and provide funding for summer youth programs. “Spud Fest is our summer festival and a lot of people work really hard to make it as great as it can be,” Knier says. “We have a parade and there’s a big, huge carnival that everyone comes out for.” Or check-out the Big Lake Farmers Market, which is held at Lakeside Park on Wednesdays from June through August from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Residents can listen to live music, visit booths held by local businesses and enjoy meals from food trucks. While the Winter Farmers Market is held on the third Saturday of the month at City Hall from November through April from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Big Lake residents enjoy a sense of community in their city.
Situated minutes from the Mississippi River, this community delivers city convenience with rural charm.
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Shopping at Big Lake Town Square
Big Lake offers a growing downtown area along Jefferson Boulevard, which is lined with walkable shopping and dining destinations. “We’ve had some growth downtown in recent years, but it’s really just getting going,” Knier says. Residents can shop at Big Lake Town Square, which features Coborn’s Marketplace, MNW Retail Outlet and Glenbrook Building Supply. While name-brand department stores, like Target, Marshalls and The Home Depot are located in neighboring Monticello, about 5 miles away or a 10-minute drive over the Mississippi River. When dining in the area, locals can visit Willy's on the Water for daily specials, outdoor dining and scenic views of Big Lake. Or check out the family-owned Lake Cafe for a homestyle meal and a wide menu of classic American fare. For nitro cold brew coffee, IPAs and barrel-aged stouts, head to Lupulin Brewing and enjoy a variety of on-tap beer at their Big Lake Taproom. Lupulin has a comfortable area that allows people to spread out enough to bring their dogs along for the beer-centered outing.
Big Lake residents can shop at Coborn's Marketplace for all their grocery needs.
Fresh produce, baked goods, and deli items are available at Coborn's Marketplace in Big Lake.
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Education at Big Lake Public Schools
Children in the city are served by the Big Lake Public School district. Students in Big Lake can attend schools like Independence Elementary, Big Lake Middle and Big Lake Senior High School, which have received ratings of B-minus, B-minus and C-plus from the educational review site, Niche. Independence Elementary School was recognized as a STEM School of Excellence by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) for both the 2022 and 2023 school years. Big Lake Middle School offers The Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Program in which students use project-based learning techniques to explore a variety of Allied Arts courses, such as debate, creative writing and current events. Students conduct their secondary education at Big Lake High School, which has an award-winning college and career readiness program. “We have an apprentice partnership between our schools and our business community, so students can do an apprenticeship in their high school their junior or senior year,” Knier says. “They’ll work during the day and get credit at school.”
Big Lake Middle School serves area students in grades 6-8.
Independence Elementary School serves area students in grades 3-5.
Big Lake Senior High School serves area students in grades 9-12.
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Easy access to I-94 and CentraCare Health Hospital
Residents in Big Lake rely on Jefferson Boulevard and Lake Street South for easy access to U.S. Interstate-94 and neighboring areas like Bailey and Monticello. When seeking public transportation, locals can hop on the Metro Transit bus at the park-and-ride Big Lake Station, or grab a seat on the Northstar Commuter Rail (Route 888) to navigate into downtown Minneapolis by train. Those interested in traveling further outside the community are 45 miles or about an hour drive from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. For healthcare, residents are only 4 miles from CentraCare Health Hospital in Monticello.
Highway 10 is a major transportation thoroughfare that runs through Big Lake.
The Northstar Line provides commuter train service from Big Lake to downtown Minneapolis.
Mary Ellen is an expert real estate broker with Kerber Castle Realty Group in St Cloud, MN, and the nearby area, providing homebuyers and sellers with professional, responsive, and attentive real estate services. Want an agent who will listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home, so it sells? Give Mary Ellen a call! She is eager to help and would love to talk to you
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