6 minute read
Perham
from Destinations 2021
by Echo Press
Greetings from
Home of the International Turtle Races
Explore more online
• perhamfocus.com • perham.com • progressiveperham.com
Perham is a charmer.
A growing little city with big dreams, this hidden gem in western Minnesota boasts a bustling downtown shopping district, fun and familyfriendly community festivals and tons of opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Seated in the northeastern corner of Otter Tail County, on the Highway 10 corridor between Wadena and Detroit Lakes, Perham’s year-round residents number around 3,500, but the area’s population swells to three times that in the summers, when seasonal lake home and cabin owners are factored in.
All those folks are kept entertained with community events like Turtle Fest, the East Otter Tail County Fair and the holiday season Parade of Lights, to name just a few. In addition, the area’s mix of prairie, wetlands and forests, with its record number of lakes and other waterways, creates the perfect environment for wildlife watching, fishing, hunting, birding, swimming, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, and the list goes on.
Perham is home to two renowned museums, a dog park, traditional and
Your Next Lake Side Resort Vacation Destination - Dead Lake!
Northern Lights Resort“Come and enjoy the good life” at Northern Lights Resort on Dead Lake.
www.northernlightsresort.com #218-758-2343 info@northernlightsresort.com RICHVILLE, MN
Our clean, fun, family resort offers 10 modern a/c cabins and 8 campsites with water/electricity. Located on a calm bay with a sandy beach and excellent fishing. Gas, bait, laundry, bath/ showers house and store onsite.
Sunset Bay Resort
www.sunsbay.com, Email us at info@sunsbay.com or call 1-800-786-7229 for reservations RICHVILLE, MN
10 CABINS ...with fire pits, Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, charcoal grills • 7 total nightly/weekly campsites, 4 with water/ electric, 3 with water/electric/sewer. Restrooms/Showers.• On site boat launch, laundry, expanded game room, and new guest lounge! • 550 feet of clean soft sand beach with swim platform and water sports • Exceptional fishing Kimps Kamp Resort12 CABINS Check our Website www.kimpskampresort.com or email us at kimpskamp@aol.com. Call 218-758-2555 for reservations. DENT, MN ...with full kitchens, 8 docks and boat lifts, Pontoons and boats for rent, Community fire pit and playground area, Pet Friendly.
One of the nation’s ‘Best Small Towns to Visit!
*selected by Smithsonian Magazine in 2018
disc golf courses, the historic Pioneer Village, a skate park, a retro-style movie theater, a community pool and fitness center, and public library.
Walking paths and recreational trails wind through town, connecting to the city’s parks, schools and athletic fields. A map of the town’s trails and parks can be found at perham.com
Downtown, Perham’s shopping corridor is a consistent hit with visitors, with a unique variety of specialty shops, clothing stores, eateries and more. Learn more about the city of Perham and all it has to offer at progressiveperham.com.
SUGGESTED ROAD TRIP: OTTER TRAIL SCENIC BYWAY
A great drive any time of year, the Otter Trail Scenic Byway is especially picturesque in the fall, when colors are at their peak. The rolling, tree-rich route is perfect for leaf peeping, and it travels right by Maplewood State Park, one of the best places in Minnesota to take a fall color tour.
At 150 miles, the route makes for a fun oneday excursion, or can easily be extended into a weekend trip or longer. Stop by one or all of the communities linked by the route -- one of which is Perham. Others include Fergus Falls, Battle Lake, Pelican Rapids and more. Each has a distinct character and plenty to offer visitors.
Travelers on the byway pass by tribal hunting grounds and battle sites, former routes of fur traders and explorers, towns that boomed and died, and much more. The route offers views of more than 1,000 lakes and wildlife-filled wetlands, and features sight-seeing stops at 19th century flour mills, scenic trails, roadside sculptures, historic sites and informational markers.
Find a detailed map and additional information about the Otter Trail Scenic Byway at exploreminnesota.com.
Perham Events Calendar
JUNE
12: Great American Think-Off, New York Mills School Auditorium 16-20: Perham Turtle Fest 26: Rib Cook-Off, downtown, 1 p.m. 26: Average Jo Triathlon
JULY
4: Fireworks, Krueger Field/East Otter Tail County Fairgrounds, 10 p.m. 10-11: Phelps Mill Arts Festival 22-25: East Otter Tail County Fair
AUGUST
14: OtterFest, downtown Ottertail 21-22: Black Powder Rendezvous, Perham Pioneer Grounds
SEPTEMBER
26: Lakes Area Home Tour
OCTOBER
9: Glen Campbell Tribute Show, Perham High School Auditorium
DECEMBER
5: OtterDazzle, downtown Ottertail
Note: Dates may change, events may be canceled, and new events are added throughout the year. For the most up-todate information, check out the calendar at perham.com.
PERHAM LAKES AREA RESORTS & CAMPGROUNDS
NUMBER OF UNITS CAMPING/RV SITES FISHING LICENSE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS SHORT STAYS/ALL SEASON
PERHAM/RICHVILLE/DENT/ BATTLE LAKE RESORTS
HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE TUBS/SHOWERS/BOTH HOUSEKEEPING CABINS AIR CONDITIONING INTERNET/WIFI LAUNDRY FACILITIES PETS ALLOWED TELEVISION CONVENIENCE STORE SCREENED PORCH RECREATION ROOM SWIMMING AREA PLAYGROUND TENNIS/NEAR/ON GOLF/NEAR/ON SAUNA/WHIRLPOOL GRILL BOAT LAUNCH BOAT/MOTOR RENTAL/PONTOON BAIT AVAILABLE GASOLINE WINTER ACTIVITIES
KIMP'S KAMP RESORT
38267 White Haven Rd. Dent, MN 56528 218-758-2555 www.kimpskampresort.com kimpskamp@aol.com 12
Come for a relaxing family vacation on Dead Lake’s Yaquina Bay. Kayaks, canoes, playground, sandy beach, bait and gas. Excellent Fishing. Fishing and pontoon boats available. Family owned for 75+ years.
NORTHERN LIGHTS RESORT
35387 Northern Lights Trail Richville, MN 56576 218-758-2343 www.northernlightsresort.com nlr@northernlightsresort.com Mark & Karen Seaton 10 19
Located on a calm bay of Dead Lake, the resort features 10 modern air conditioned cabins, 8 lakeside campsites and 11 seasonal RV sites. Amenities include: boat rentals, kayaks, paddle boards, pedal boats, private fire rings, Wi-Fi, fish cleaning house, playground, game room, shower house, laundry and onsite store (bait, gas, licenses, candy, ice cream, etc.).
SUNSET BAY RESORT
38274 Co Hwy 44, Richville, MN 56576 218-758-2080 800-SUNSBAY (786-7229) www.sunsbay.com info@sunsbay.com Jim & Kristin Wherley 10 7
Dead Lake. Expanded in 2019 to now include 10 cabins and 7 campsites (3 sites with full hookups)! Family fun, secluded, wooded 15 acres w/550’ of clean sandy beach. Outdoor, indoor & water activities. Wi-Fi available. campfire pits. Spring & Fall special rates and short stays. Air conditioning extra charge. 1 unit with screened porch, some units include television. New children’s play set to explore, and guest laundry with new Kinetico soft water system servicing the entire resort added in 2016!!