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PRIOR LAKE SUMMER 2023

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Prior Lake Farmers Market returns this summer with exciting new offerings

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE jdevine@swpub.com

The highly anticipated Prior Lake Farmers Market returns on Saturdays this summer starting in May and will feature new vendors from all over the southwest metro, food trucks, live music and much more.

This year, the farmers market opened on May 13 and runs from 8 am. to noon until October (final date to be announced later).

Karla Haugen, owner of the farmers market, said the market is celebrating its 25th anniversary and looks forward to being a gathering point in the community once again.

“We’ve been doing this for quite a long time with the focus initially to unite the community and having a place where people can gather on Saturday morning,” Haugen said. “It’s a great place to buy healthy nutritious food, have a sip of coffee with your neighbor and listen to some good music.”

Haugen said she is continuing to add new vendors to her current vendors list. Current vendors include Farm on Wheels, Lauren Charles Soap Co., Faxon Farms Pure Maple Syrup, Josef Able Meats, Maci Moo Dog and Cat Treats, Sweet Goddess Chocolates, and Market Coffee just name a few.

Each week there are traveling artists, growers, and specialty producers that may not be included in the list, according to the farmers market website.

“We continue to add new vendors every year like great food trucks and we have bee

keepers, growers, and a lot of different artists that come to the market,” Haugen said. “We have vendors from all over the southwest metro and we have a lot of vendors that are local, people that have been residents of Prior Lake for their entire life.”

Haugen said she is excited to bring back some of the amazing community events the market has done in the past, in addition to some exciting new ones. She said a longtime favorite, “the market basket” will return this season.

“We have a thing called the ‘market basket’ and this is something that all the vendors donate to,” Haugen said. “All the vendors donate to that and then we give that basket to a community member in need. In the past, it’s ranged from a family that was going through a hard time one year. We’ve also taken baskets to people a St. Francis where they had a family member going through cancer treatment. It’s been an amazing thing.”

For more information on the Prior Lake Farmers Market, visit https://www.priorlakefarmersmarket.com/

FILE PHOTO Jenny Gengler takes a closer look at flowers available at Queen Bee’z Lawn & Garden’s Prior Lake Farmers Market booth in 2019.

LOTS IN THE WORKS

New developments underway in Prior Lake

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE jdevine@swpub.com

Prior Lake has several new developments in the works this year with a goal to revitalize the community’s quality of life as well as make it a vibrant destination.

The developments include an apartment complex that will feature a street front restaurant, as well as a rooftop deck, a Caribou Coffee and a storage facility, just to name a few.

THE CORA

According to Casey McCabe, community development director for the city of Prior Lake, the five-story proposed apartment complex will be called The Cora and will include 98 market-rate rental units. The building will also feature a 2,600-square-foot street-front restaurant, a rooftop deck for restaurant customers, a sepa-

rate rooftop deck for tenants, and 169 parking stalls, 134 of which would be underground.

It will be located next to Prior Lake City Hall at 4664 Dakota Street S.E. It’s expected that construction will begin in the fall of 2023 and take about 16 months to complete. The Beard Group is the developer.

The development also entails reconstructing a trail that runs through Gateway Park and replacing 39 trees. Park planning would be coordinated with city staff, the Prior Lake Rotary — which has historically maintained the park — and residents of the adjacent Lakefront Plaza building.

THE PRESERVE AT JEFFERS POND

McCabe said The Preserve at Jeffers Pond is a 197-unit, four story market rate rental development that will be located in the Northwest section of the Jeffers Pond Community.

“The project will include an outdoor pool, club room, wine cellar, gym, yoga studio, and a family dining lounge,” Mc-

98 market-rate rental units, a street-front restaurant and a

Cabe said. “Project developer, Joe McElwain with Chase Real Estate, anticipates starting construction in the summer of 2023 and completing the project in the fall of 2024.”

CARIBOU COFFEE

Caribou Coffee will be adding a location in Prior Lake. The Minnesota coffee chain currently has two coffeehouses in Prior Lake — one at Lunds & Byerlys at 16731 Highway 13 and one at 2400 Mystic Lake Boulevard.

McCabe said the new Caribou Coffee will also be located off of Highway 13, with construction completed this fall.

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“Java Properties of St. Paul has submitted plans to construct a Caribou cabin drivethru coffee shop along Highway 13, south of Tractor Supply Co.,” McCabe said.

PRIOR LAKE REVIVAL II

The first Prior Lake Revival houses multiple local businesses and broke ground Aug.

A proposed apartment complex in downtown Prior Lake, to be called The Cora, would include

roof-top deck.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CITY OF PRIOR LAKE

IMAGE COURTESY OF ELISA RICHARDSON

The Prior Lake Revival II property along the south side of Eagle Creek Avenue between Duluth Avenue and West Avenue will soon be constructed.

18, 2017. The first Prior Lake Revival building is located right by Duluth Avenue and County Road 21.

McCabe said the Prior Lake City Council approved a preliminary plat for the Prior Lake Revival II property along the south side of Eagle Creek Avenue between Duluth Avenue and West Avenue on March 20.

“Although a construction start date has not yet been announced, the developer, Prior Lake Revival II, LLC, plans to construct a second building of approximately 12,000 square feet with a similar design to the existing Prior Lake Revival building that is home to Olson Dental, Lakeside Family Eye Care, Bell Bank Mortgage, and Brixton Hue Salon,” McCabe said.

Matt Schafer, a Prior Lake resident and one of the Prior Lake Revival owners, said the building project will offer business owners a fantastic

opportunity to relocate or establish their businesses in the downtown area close to the lake and Main Avenue.

PARK PLACE STORAGE

McCabe also said Prior Lake will be issuing a building permit for the first of three storage

buildings at 6010 170th Street East.

“The first building will total approximately 85,000 square feet and the individual units, ranging in size from approximately 550 to 1,500+ square feet, will be available for purchase as condo units,” he said.

A Caribou cabin drive-thru coffee shop will be constructed along Highway 13, south of Tractor Supply Co., in Prior Lake.

“Construction will begin on the first building this spring and should be completed later in the year. The full development plan includes three separate buildings totaling approximately 227,000 square feet.”

For more information on these developments, visit https://www.priorlakemn. gov/government/departments/ community-development

IMAGE COURTESY OF CITY OF PRIOR LAKE

IMAGE COURTESY OF ELISA RICHARDSON

The Prior Lake Revival II building will be located along the south side of Eagle Creek Avenue between Duluth Avenue and West Avenue.

Ponds Park playground and Highway 13 Trail in Prior Lake to undergo renovations this year

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE jdevine@swpub.com

Prior Lake’s recreational opportunities will be getting even better this year, thanks to the city’s parks and recreation department.

This year, Ponds Park will be getting a much-needed upgrade to meet the needs of various ages and groups while the Highway 13 Trail project will also be getting some work done and will eventually connect to the Three Rivers Park District Big Woods Regional Trail.

PONDS PARK

Families of all abilities will soon get to enjoy the new and improved Ponds Park playground in Prior Lake after it is fully updated later this year.

City officials say the beloved playground was established in 1982 and is one of the most heavily used parks in the city.

Steve Hart, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said the playground, along with Ponds Park ballfields 3 and 4, will also be updated to increase safety and accessibility in the park.

“This project will increase safety and accessibility in the park by bringing trails to ADA standards, as well as realigning two ballfields to better manage foul balls and provide a better spectator experience,” Hart said.

Hart said in December 2022, the city solicited feedback from the community on three different playground concepts for Ponds Park.

“A preferred design was

identified and refined based on comments and suggestions from the community,” Hart said. “Some popular features included accessible surfacing, shade structures, a zip line, and variety of swings. The old playground will be removed beginning in August, with the new one expected to be complete by Oct. 31, 2023.”

Hart said for the field renovations, a vendor was approved at the April 3, 2023, city council meeting to perform the work.

“Construction is set to begin in early August, after the busy baseball and softball seasons have ended,” Hart said.

According to Hart, the total cost for the project is $350,000 for the playground replacement, and $1.05 million for the field renovation and other improvements.

“Along with capital parks funds, the project is funded by a grant received from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Recreation program for $299,485, and a generous donation from Prior Lake Athletics for Youth for $185,000,” he said.

HIGHWAY 13 TRAIL

The Highway 13 Trail is a trail segment on the north side of trunk highway 13 between Anna Trail SE and Pleasant Street SE and is identified as a high priority trail gap to address in the City of Prior Lake’s Draft Park and Trail System Plan.

Hart said when complete, the trail will provide a full trail connection along TH 13 from County Road 12 to County Road 21, as well as provide a connection to and from the downtown district of Prior Lake and to Three Rivers Park District Big Woods Regional Trail.

“The city has received a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Local Trail Connection grant, as well as Congressional Directed Spending dollars for this project,” Hart said. “Trail planning and design is expected to take place in 2023 with construction completed by June 30, 2024.”

For more information on these projects visit PriorLakeMN.gov/PondsPark and https://www.priorlakemn. gov/government/departments/ recreation

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF PRIOR LAKE

A rendering of the new and improved Ponds Park playground in Prior Lake includes accessible surfacing, shade structures, a zip line and a variety of swings.

DON’T F ORGE T FORGET to test yo ur so il to test your soil

other tasty garden treats need the proper soil to flourish. So when is the best time to test your soil?

That answer many not be so obvious, either.

collect a sample and send it to us. We will get your report back to you in approximately two weeks.”

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

There are many advantages to raised garden beds — space, healthier harvests, water control, pest protection and even extending your growing season.

But perhaps the most overlooked advantage is the ability to control the soil. Your tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and

Keith Piotrowski, a laboratory manager for soil testing at the University of Minnesota, said the fall is the best time to test your soil — yes, after the growing season. It will help you get a head start on next season’s crops.

“The nutrient status isn’t going to change,” Piotrowski said in a news release from the University of Minnesota Extension. “You can go out in the middle of October or whenever fall actually hits,

Most of your area gardening and landscape shops have all the needed items, along with master gardeners’ advice for all types of home garden enthusiasts. Some good places to start in Scott and Carver counties include:

 The Mustard Seed Landscaping & Garden Center, 10000 Great Plains Blvd., Chanhassen

 Cal’s Market & Garden Center, 6403 Egan Drive, Savage

 Hartman Companies, 8099 Bavaria Rd., Victoria

 Minnesota Gardens, 200 Pioneer Trail, Chaska

 The Garden By the Woods, 78 West 78th St., Chanhassen

 Plant Place, 800 West 78th St., Chanhassen

 Sailer’s Greenhouse, 1610 170th St E., Shakopee

 Queen Bee’z Lawn & Garden, 17860 Panama Ave., Prior Lake

Of course, you can’t forgot about the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, which serves as a research center for the University of Minnesota Extension. It’s a 1,200-acre public garden that attracts more than 500,000 visitors per year.

The Arboretum offers

Right amount of nutrients can be the difference in your garden success

Main photo:Raisedbeds can help home gardeners control the soil better and get started with the growing season earlier since the soil tends to warm up faster.

Inset photo:TheMinnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen includes more than 1,200 acres of gardens and tree collections prairie and woods and miles of trails.

FILE PHOTOS

gardening and horticulture classes and workshops, including short courses from managing pests to an edible plants.

Yet still, no matter how much you learn, your garden success still may come back to your soil. Finding the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is not always easy for the average gardener.

“If you’re growing tomatoes, you want the most tomatoes per plant; the healthiest, the best tasting. If you’re growing flowers, you want the prettiest flowers,” explains Piotrowski. “By having a soil test done, you can get a snapshot of the nutrient status of your garden. ... It’s a good way to check and make sure that there are sufficient nutrients there for optimal growth.”

Once you get your soil test results, it’s a matter of finding the right fertilizer for your garden. The N-P-K levels are printed on every bag sold, so

Cal‘s Market and Garden Center has been in Savage off County Road 42 since 1977.

then it’s your job to find the ratio closest to your test results.

“If you can’t find a product with the exact N-P-K ratio from your soil test, don’t worry, this is very common,” Piotrowski said. “We always say ... get as close as you can with the nitrogen level. That’s what’s necessary for growth and energy within the plant. From there, you can compromise a little bit for P and K.”

For more information on soil, as well as other types of gardening, go to extension. umn.edu/yard-and-garden.

PREMIERE DANCE ACADEMY

Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd to headline 2023 Lakefront Music Fest

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE jdevine@swpub.com

There’s only a few weeks left until the 2023 Lakefront Music Festival — one of the hottest outdoor music festivals in the Twin Cities metro — kicks off at Lakefront Park in Prior Lake on July 14 and 15.

The festival, which is hosted by the Prior Lake Rotary in partnership with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, expects another year of sold out shows and event organizers are encouraging fans to scoop up tickets before they’re sold out.

According to Bruce Evans, Lakefront Music Fest spokesman, said proceeds from the music festival will benefit the Prior Lake Rotary Foundation and other community organizations.

“The event continues to be Prior Lake Rotary’s most successful fundraiser, with funds supporting several organizations within the community including Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools’ Laker Athletic Booster Club, Patrons of the Arts, and Parent, Teach, Child Organizations,” Evans said.

This year’s headliners include Lynyrd Skynyrd and Darius Rucker, who will be headlining Rock Night and Country Night, respectively.

REO Speedwagon and Black

Stone Cherry will be joining Rock Night on July 14, and Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line and Joe Nichols will be also play Country Night on July 15.

According to a press release from event organizers, Rucker replaced Lady A as the Country Night headliner. The country trio’s social media stated that it canceled their upcoming shows due to frontman Charles Kelley embarking on a sobriety journey.

Lady A was also expected to headline the Lakefront Music Fest in 2021, but cancelled due to Kelley being hospitalized with appendicitis at the time.

Evans added that whether you’re a fan of rock music or country music, or both, to come and check out the event for fun entertainment.

“Lakefront Music Fest offers a very unique experience

PHOTO COURTESY OF PRIOR LAKE ROTARY’S LAKEFRONT MUSIC FEST Darius Rucker

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKEFRONT MUSIC FESTIVAL

Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line will complete next year’s Lakefront Music Festival lineup by the Prior Lake Rotary along with Black Stone Cherry.

REO Speedwagon

FILE PHOTO

in a natural amphitheater setting,” Evans said. “There’s two nights of great music — classic rock and country. There will be various food vendors at the event and beverage tents.”

Evans also said the event is completely produced and managed by Prior Lake Rotary and is entirely made up of volunteers.

Check out more festivals

Chamber Fest 2023

Chamber Fest is a multi-day celebration event held downtown Prior Lake each August. The event is hosted by the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce. Find out more event information on the Chamber’s website at https://www.priorlakechamber.com/chamber-fest/

When: TBA

Chalk Fest

“It takes more than 700 volunteers to produce the event,” he said. (No changes to the remainder of the paragraph)

The Lakefront Music Fest will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 14, and at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at Lakefront Park.

General admission is $65 per night or $80 for the weekend (through May 31, 2023, or until

The free event encourages attendees of all ages to participate in and/or admire the work of amateur and professional artists, as well as mingling with other community members in an outdoor setting over the course of two days. Chalk Fest incorporates professional chalk artists, who bring Main Avenue in downtown Prior Lake to life with their creations, along with an amateur chalk art contest, interactive art displays, live music, food trucks and fun. For more information visit

https://www.priorlakemn.gov/government/departments/recreation/annual-events/fall-events

When: Friday, Sept. 15 & Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023

sold out). Pit passes are $100 per night. Limited availability. VIP tickets are sold out.

Tickets and more information are available at www. lakefrontmusicfest.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKEFRONT MUSIC FEST

The crowd cheers at a previous Lakefront Music Fest at Lakefront Park in Prior Lake.

To wine and dine, check out Rhino Wine Bar

Prior Lake establishment opened in February

BY JACQUELINE DEVINE jdevine@swpub.com

Looking for a new place to wine and dine? The Rhino Wine Bar in Prior Lake is just the place for that.

The new hip and trendy bar recently opened its doors to the community on Feb. 13 and is located in the heart of downtown at 16186 Main Avenue S.E. next to Edelweiss Bakery.

Sara Wintheiser, owner and visionary of the establishment, said she and her husband, Brett, have been dreaming of opening up a wine lounge ever since they first visited one with her husband’s family up north.

“We are a wine lounge which is the perfect extension for your night or afternoon in downtown Prior Lake,” she said.

Wintheiser also said part of her inspiration of opening up a wine bar came from all the lounge and casual spots in Europe while she was deployed there with the U.S. Army.

“I wanted to bring that aspect home for everyone to enjoy, a place for people to connect, and everyone is welcome,” Wintheiser said. “While our featured menu item is wine, our focus is your social experience. You don’t have to know a lot about wine, we’ll let you taste before you decide. And for the wine sophisticates, our selected wines are a great opportunity to try something possibly new or we have our go-to premium wines, too.”

Wintheiser said the wine bar offers eight different wines that change monthly, plus beer and non-alcoholic beverages. “So, there is something for

Rhino Wine Bar

Location: 16186 Main Avenue SE.

Hours: Wednesday 4-9 p.m.; Thursday 4-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 3-10 p.m.

Website: www. rhinowinebar.com/

Facebook: www.facebook. com/RhinoWineBar

Instagram: www.instagram. com/rhinowinebar/

everyone. We also have a light food menu.”

She added that the menu changes but includes gluten free options such as charcuterie cups and olive tapenade and hummus.

“My favorite thing about the menu is that almost all food items have delicious gluten free substitutes at no additional cost if anyone needs to order gluten free,” she said.

Wintheiser also said she chose to open her business in Prior Lake because Prior Lake is her hometown and she saw a need for more relaxed drinking and dining environment in downtown.

“As a Laker for life, I wanted to bring this concept to where I would hang out and Prior Lake has a great downtown with amazing shops, restaurants, a brewery, and many walking trails,” she said. “We saw this as the perfect complement to the already existing vibe of downtown and wanted to be another reason someone would come out.”

Wintheiser encourages all wine connoisseurs to come and check out her bar and have a sip of wines from all over the world.

“Our wine menu is comprised of wines from all regions of the world and varietals so you can always try something new in our build-your-own-flight,” she said. “We also offer a by-the-

glass option. We took great care that all our seating was comfortable and modular so groups of all sizes could be accommodated. It’s a great date night spot or place for a group of friends to meet up.”

Wintheiser also added that she will be expanding the bar’s hours for the summer plus other exciting news. “We will have a sidewalk patio for additional seating. Furniture is ordered, Mother Nature just needs to get on board,” she said.

A Rhino Wine Bar membership brochure sits on a table at the bar located in downtown Prior Lake.

A pink neon sign that reads, “Stay Wild,” hangs on the wall at Rhino Wine Bar in Prior Lake.

PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE DEVINE

One of the several sitting areas at Rhino Wine Bar located in downtown Prior Lake.

PLENTY OF CAMPSITES to pick from this summer

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN bobrien@swpub.com

For people who suffered from cabin fever the last few months, camping is one of the ways to get away and recharge your batteries.

“It makes a big impact on everyone, whether they realize it or not,” said Shaun Mertes, park facility supervisor for Scott County. “It’s just a good way to kind of recharge and disconnect from all the craziness that goes on with screens and technology and staying indoors.”

Eager campers have several opportunities to experience what both Scott and Carver counties have to offer during the warmer months. With many open from late April until the end of October every year, the campgrounds offer visitors different programs and activities to enjoy.

While several parks are included in Carver County, Baylor Regional Park is the main attraction through the Carver County Parks and Recreation department with campgrounds available to people. The park includes 50 campsites with a mixture of utility sites with water and electric hookups and primitive sites for tents. Campers can hike or bike different trails in the park as well as other outdoor activities like playgrounds, horseshoe pits and a disc golf course.

Along with the available camping activities, the park offers additional programs on Saturday mornings for families or groups to enjoy. Running from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, Saturday Morning Mischief is a free two-hour program that involves different crafts, walks or scavenger hunts throughout the park. Drop-in archery lessons are also available on Saturday mornings for $5.

Camping with the Stars — a program taking place at Eagle Lake Observatory in Baylor Regional Park — is another

camping opportunity the park provides. From July 21-23, the 16th annual program will have presentations, prizes, guided tours of the night sky and star gazing.

Lake Auburn campground in the Carver Park Reserve in Victoria also provides 55 drivein sites, two hike-in sites and one bicycle-in-only site. Campers are also able to rent water equipment like canoes, kayaks, rowboats and boats.

Further east, campers can find even more campgrounds within Scott County. One of the main campsites in the area, Cleary Lake Regional Park, sits near Prior Lake and has 22 sites and several amenities.

Water rentals for boats, canoes, paddle boards and paddle boats, along with trails for biking and hiking, are common activities for campers to enjoy in the park. However, Mertes said many campers do not know how close the campsites are to a nine-hole, executive golf course and practice facilities, not to mention how quiet the campsites can be.

“I would say it’s like an

unmediated environment… so you don’t have a lot of traffic nearby, not a lot of noise or roads,” Mertes said. “You kind of feel like you’re getting away from the noise and congestion of people and all that stuff even though you’re not very far from shops or Prior Lake.”

Like Baylor Regional Park, Mertes said Cleary Lake occasionally holds health and wellness programs at the campgrounds on Saturdays throughout the season. It is not the only park in Scott County for camping enthusiasts, as Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park in New Prague is another group campsite available through the Three Rivers Park District.

Other campgrounds in Scott County include Fish Lake in Prior Lake, the Minneapolis Southwest KOA in Jordan and Town and Country RV Park and Campground in Savage.

Campers paddle through the water at Cleary Lake when camping in the park.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT

You don’t need to travel far to find a wilderness escape

Children pose in their tent set up in Cleary Lake Regional Park.

GROUPS AND TRAILS provide area riders with several bicycling options

BY BRENDAN O’BRIEN bobrien@swpub.com

Winter has been long and grueling for several Minnesotans, but bicycling enthusiasts and beginners see the turn in the season as an opportunity to get outside once again. There are plenty of ways people in the area can get involved in the sport, whether it is finding some area paths to pursue alone or joining weekly group-led rides. Here is some information on what to know

before hitting the trails this spring and summer.

CYCLING GROUP RIDES

Biking by oneself is always an option, but one of the fun aspects of the sport, according to Jennifer Sobota of Great Scott Cycling Club, is socialization. Sobota, the group’s treasurer, said she has met several people from different backgrounds due to the rides and enjoys seeing how people grow after joining the group.

PHOTO BY TERRY BLACKFORD

Members of a group ride with Michael’s Cycles ride a mountain bike trail in the area.

Biking to 21 ➤

Plent y of Plenty of public golf public courses for all courses all skills levels levels

Minnesota ranked 11th best state for golf by LINKS Magazine

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

What do The Wilds, the Chaska Town Course and the Meadows at Mystic Lake have in common?

Last summer, GolfWeek ranked the top 10 public golf courses in each state and those three made the cut in Minnesota. Chaska Town Course was ranked No. 4, followed the Meadows at Mystic Lake and

The Wilds, both in Prior Lake, at No. 7 and 10, respectively. Scott and Carver counties are filled with quality links to challenge the lowest handicappers, along with the average weekend duffers.

Southwest News Media’s annual “Best of the Best” readers’ choice contest selected Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee as the best local golf course two years in a row in 2018 and 2019.

Stonebrooke is best known for its signature hole, the par4 eighth hole, which requires a tee shot over O’Dowd Lake and a ferry across the lake to the fairway.

“It was voted one of the top

10 holes in Minnesota and voted favorite par 4 by Tee Times Readers Choice Awards,” Stonebrooke general manager Einer Odland said after the course won “Best of the Best” for a second time.

Dahlgreen Golf Club in Chaska, the Ridges of Sand Creek Golf Course in Jordan and Legends Club in Prior Lake are also recommended public links to play.

The Ridges of Sand Creek is also the home for the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AA boys and girls state tournaments each year in June.

Last March, LINKS Magazine ranked the best states for

golf. Minnesota, where winter feels like it’s around for at least five months, ranked No. 11, one spot ahead of New York and one spot behind Illinois.

Not surprisingly, Florida was No. 1 and Alaska ended up No. 50.

Back in January, Minnesota Golf Association’s annual facility rounds study showed a 5.4% decrease in rounds in the state in 2022. But unfavorable weather, and not an absolute decline in golfer participation, was considered the most influential factor.

It’s the first time in four seasons that rounds were down in the state.

The par 4, eighth hole and Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee was voted one of the top 10 holes in Minnesota and voted favorite par 4 by Tee Times Readers Choice Awards.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

PHOTO COURTESY OF MEADOWS AT MYSTIC LAKE

The Meadows at Mystic Lake in Prior Lake was the venue for the first two LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic events in 2021 and 2022.

“As we discovered during the pandemic, golf was one of the few sports or activities that all Minnesotans could safely participate in throughout the summer,” said Tom Ryan, MGA executive director and COO, adding that “even though rounds played were down (in 2022) compared to last (four summer), they were very close to 2020 numbers.

“This is an indicator that interest and enthusiasm in the game remains very high.”

The Meadows at Mystic Lake has also been the home for the LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic the last two summers. Hall of Famer Juli Inkster won the inaugural event and 2021 and defended her title in 2022.

The golf course is not only challenging for some of the top women professionals, but for any skill level.

The course is surrounded by 11 acres of wildflowers and prairie plants and has 80 bunkers. The fairways, tees and greens are bent grass, and there’s a 2,500-foot stream that flows through the course with five total waterfalls.

“Unique at The Meadows are the par 5’s, which can typically be holes to score, but are some

BIKING

➤ continued from 19

“We get new people that show up and might struggle on their first ride, and it’s just really nice to see some of these people that have come a long way since their first ride,” Sobota said. “It’s just really great to see those relationships develop and it’s just a fun time.”

Great Scott Cycling Club holds rides every Monday and Thursday throughout the summer, with the first ride taking place on the first Monday in May and the final one taking place on the last Thursday in September. The road cycling group has about 120 members and divides them into six differ-

of the more difficult holes and are all guarded by water,” said Mike Luckraft, the director of golf at The Meadows.

The Chaska Town Course is also a great place to play for all skill levels. The course can play long, 6,817 total yards, or shorter for beginners at 4,900 yards.

The Wilds, designed by Tom Weiskopf, a 16-time winner on the PGA Tour, is known for its mature trees and natural wetlands. With 70 bunkers and multiple water hazards, the course from the tips (7,025 yards) can be challenging for many low handicappers.

ent groups based on experience and ability.

Michael’s Cycles in Prior Lake also holds its own rides three times a week, going through different trails in the area. Manager Stuart Thomas said the group has done fat tire bike rides in the winter but will begin road, mountain and gravel biking as the weather allows.

TRAILS

Both Scott and Carver counties offer different options for people to break out the bike on the trails instead of only road biking. Thomas said there are a variety of reasons why people might choose mountain or paved trail biking over road biking.

“A lot of people like the fact

that they’re not having to deal with any cars and that kind of thing. So they feel safer riding single track, and it’s a really, really good exercise,” Thomas said. “A little bit more full body with climbing and such and obstacles that sometimes you have to ride over.”

Thomas mentioned Cleary Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake as a good option for paved trails, as the park has about three miles of paved trails that connect to Big Woods Regional Trail. He added that the 10 miles of singletrack trails in the Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage has also become one of the most popular for mountain biking in the area.

Carver Park Reserve also offers about nine miles of paved

trails for riders along with the Monarch singletrack trail for mountain biking. The trail is currently 10 miles long, but construction is being done through October to add four miles. It will remain open during that time with some closures of different sections.

Thomas did have some tips for riders looking to pick up mountain biking before going out on the trails. For starters, a rider would need a more specialized mountain bike with front suspension. Additionally, bicyclists should also begin on easier trails. Murphy-Hanrehan, for example, has three separate singletrack loops, and each is designed for different levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced).

FILE PHOTO

The Ridges of Sand Creek Golf Course is the home for the Minnesota State High School League’s Class AA boys and girls golf tournaments each June.

PHOTO BY TOM SCHARDIN

The approach shot on the par- 4, 18th hole at Dahlgreen Golf Club in Chaska is not an easy one.

Reel in plenty OF FISH

Area lakes and streams offer opportunities for all kinds

of anglers

BY TOM SCHARDIN tschardin@swpub.com

It’s been said that if you “give a man a fish, you will feed him for the day. Teach a man to fish, you’ll get rid of him for the whole weekend.”

That sort-of-famous quote was slightly altered, but Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes

and fishing is quite popular. And yes, it can consume your entire weekend.

According to Explore Minnesota, only Alaska is ahead of Minnesota in terms of resident fishing participation. In 2020, there were 1.5 million licenses anglers in Minnesota.

The state is also the third most popular inland fishing destination in the country.

So where do hopeful anglers go to catch sunfish, bluegill, crappie, bass, northern pike and Minnesota’s State Fish, the

walleye? And don’t forget trout; the state has about 3,800 miles of designated streams available for fly or bait casting.

According the Minnesota DNR, the state’s 10 largest

lakes — Cass, Kabetogama, Lake of the Woods, Leech, Mille Lacs, Pepin, Rainy, Upper Red, Vermilion and Winnibigoshish — account for 40% of the state’s walleye harvest each year.

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Jordan Mill Pond is stocked with bluegill, black Crappie, largemouth bass and northern pike and is a great place to take a kid fishing for the first time.

But all of those lakes are up north. Where are the popular spots to fish in Scott and Carver counties? It depends on what you are trying to catch.

Upper and Lower Prior Lake have plenty of different varieties of fish — bass, northern pike, crappie, bluegill — but it’s primarily managed for walleye between 12 and 28 inches, according to the DNR.

Spring Lake is another popular walleye spot in Prior Lake. In December of 2021, a total of 3,099 walleye, equating to 309 pounds, were stocked into Spring, Upper and Lower Prior lakes.

Jefferson Pond, Lakefront, Crystal Lake and Cleary Lake are also spots to fish in Prior Lake, especially if you are looking for bluegill and largemouth bass.

McColl Pond in Savage is known for its bluegill and black crappie. It’s great for families

or kids trying to reel in their first-ever fish. The same could be said for Lion’s Park Pond in Shakopee.

Jordan Mill Pond has that same feel, but there are also largemouth bass and northern pike to be had there. The pond

is also a great spot to launch a canoe and fish for bass, or anglers can fish from the pier.

Beason Lake in Belle Paine, which is the Quarry Campground in the Minnesota Valley Recreational Area, is best for its crappie and bluegill.

In Carver County, there’s Lotus and Minnewashta lakes in Chanhassen and Steiger and Auburn lakes in Victoria. They all provide a wide-range of fish, including the familiar favorites, bluegill, crappie, sunfish, bass, northern pike and walleye.

Fireman’s Pond in Chaska has two fishing piers and, like Jordan Mill and McColl ponds, bluegill are abundant, along with sunfish and yellow bullhead.

TROUT FISHING

Eagle Creek in Savage is a hidden gem for trout. It’s also the only trout stream in Scott

County, which is at the crossroads of Highway 13 and 101. It’s a self-sustaining stream and is catch-and-release only.

Eagle Creek is known for its big brown trout that can be difficult to catch. It has native trees, prairie grass, invasive vegetation like buckthorn and beaver dams, while parts of it run behind industrial buildings and suburban backyards.

It’s not always about the fishing at Eagle Creek, but instead the nature that surrounds it.

Courthouse Lake in Chaska and Quarry Lake in Shakopee also have trout. Courthouse Lake, which was a former clay mine, is 10 acres where rainbow trout can be caught.

Quarry Lake is a former sand and gravel pit. The 70-acre lake was designated for trout in 2018, and each year roughly 2,000 yearling rainbow trout get stocked in mid-October.

PHOTO BY TONY NELSON, TWIN CITIES TROUT UNLIMITED

Twin Cities Trout Unlimited

Eagle Creek is at the crossroads of Highways 13 and 101 in Savage and has a self-sustaining small population of brown trout that is catch-and-release only.