Rhythm of Lanesboro Creates Perfect Place to Live, Work and Play

There is a rhythm to Lanesboro that can’t be fully appreciated from a short visit. That’s because it’s a rhythm that changes — from day to night, from weekday to weekend, from season to season.

Lanesboro is a small town filled with beauty, with quiet mornings where you can step outside and really hear the sounds of nature and dark nights where you can see the stars in a way that just isn’t possible in more urban areas.

For a small town, however, Lanesboro takes on attributes you would typically expect to find in much larger communities — with a prominent arts presence; live theater and musical entertainment; a plethora of outdoor activities; shops, restaurants and a brewery.

All of this contributes to the fact that, on a given day, visitors and part-time residents may double or triple the town’s population. That ability to behave as a small town and a much larger community make Lanesboro an attractive place to live, work and play.

In recent years, the rapid growth of remote work, has prompted people to rethink their living situations, with many seeking smaller communities. With its changing rhythms, Lanesboro offers the space, safety and sense of community of a small town — while still offering amenities often reserved for larger cities. This has resulted in a need for additional housing in Lanesboro.

Efforts to address the interest in additional housing in Lanesboro are happening on multiple fronts. The city has annexed over 140 acres on the southeast end of town for a future housing development. Current plans call for single-family patio homes, as well as

By Dan Rooney

some executive lots, according to Michele Peterson, Lanesboro City Administrator.

A second development would provide lots for approximately 10 homes on seven acres on a new cul-de-sac off of Auburn Avenue, according to Joe Goetzke, a Lanesboro City Council member who also serves on the Economic Development Authority. These large lots (one-third acre or larger) would be adjacent to the golf course and feature a holding pond. Additionally, for those seeking to rent, the former Methodist church on Parkway Avenue is being converted into apartments. For a town with a full-time population that hovers around 700, these developments represent substantial growth possibilities.

"These new housing developments will be a great addition to the community of Lanesboro,” said Goetzke. “Adding housing stock will invite more families to live in town, offer additional housing options for current residents to grow into, expand our tax base, add more diversity and vibrancy to the community, and,hopefully help attract more year-round, locally-oriented businesses to open here – positive growth, which is a win-win for everyone!"

Lanesboro is a community that is poised for growth, but its rhythm remains — the rhythm of nature on a quiet morning; the rhythm of the bikers, hikers, floaters and fishers along the river on a summer afternoon; the rhythm of shoppers, music, theater, and arts; the rhythm of a community of people that know and care for one another. Stay a while and join the rhythm of this special community. z

We moved to Lanesboro full time in 2013, because of its focus on history, art and nature. There are not many places that have a focus on one of those things, and Lanesboro focuses on all three!

Jane Peck, Resident

We’re coming up on our first full year in Lanesboro, but from the second we first walked into the building, it felt like we were home. We felt truly embraced by the community and other business owners. Lanesboro has been such a great place to run a business because of that community support.

Christina Evenson, Lanesboro Business Owner

I was born and raised here in Lanesboro, and I can say it is a beautiful place. I love the river and the bluffs, the whole topography, feeling nested in the bluffs. And there’s truly so much to explore, whether that’s getting out on the bike trail, or fishing down at Bass Pond. Lanesboro is a beautiful, friendly and welcoming place, to visit and to live and raise a family.

Drew Darling, Lanesboro Lifelong Resident

I’ve been here eight years, and whether it’s the people in town or the customers at Amish Experience, everyone is so nice. There is something about the nature of the area that seems to bring out the best in folks. I, in particular, recommend getting out and hiking in the woods and hunting for a wide variety of mushrooms.

Wanda Miller, Lanesboro Resident and Retail Employee

This Business Directory is sponsored by generous contributions from the City of Lanesboro, Lanesboro Public Schools and Lanesboro EDA. Thank you!

Who are we and what do we do?

The Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the Lanesboro and Whalan communities to potential visitors throughout the state and beyond. We welcome visitors and share information about our area through our visitor center, located right on the bike trail at 100 Milwaukee Road.

The Chamber collaborates with other local boards, committees and organizations to create a place where families can make a home, find gainful employment and find success and fulfillment in their lives.

The Chamber has developed a strong partnership with the business community, industries and individuals to ensure a healthy economic base. We encourage cooperation, engagement and communication from our members to make it work.

The Chamber team is dedicated to sharing our region’s unique stories - in promotional materials, on our website and through local news sources. We hope you like what you have seen in our visitor guide and will plan a trip to see us soon. We invite you to become part of our story, so Lanesboro can become part of yours.