Pine City

Pine City is your quintessential, American small-town but it surprisingly offers a lot for its size. The rural feel of the community has diminished some giving way to exurbia pushing outward from the Twin Cities. That said, Pine City has held true to its sense of place and community and doesn't at all feel swallowed up by its large metropolitan neighbors to the south. Pine City rests easily in the shadow of Minneapolis-St. Paul, close enough for a quick side trip, distant enough to enjoy a more tranquil existence.
Pine City is like an image that lingers in the American consciousness: An oak-lined courthouse square. Gazebos and band shells. One-chair barber shops. The town café, gossip for breakfast and meatloaf for lunch. It's small-town life as it was and as it remains.
The city's politics are split between liberal and conservative with a slight advantage to the liberals. Carhardt is a popular brand worn on local, middle-aged men and its not uncommon to see fishing hooks attached to many of their hat bills. Another article of clothing commonly seen on men and women is green plaid flannels, a modern style nod to the lumberjack heritage of the town. The typical Pine Citian says "You bet" in place of "yes". Yet, this is a place that mixes the true 'Up North' with a surprising level of sophistication; after all, it's an arts community.
While it's the biggest city around it for milesfrom North Branch to Cloquet, and from Mora to Rice Lake, Wisconsin (a very large geographic area)--it's not a pious place and the people aren't pretentious. They show a fine display of "Minnesota Nice" and are eager to assist the tourist. To get a deeper understanding of the city, one has to visit it.

Climate

The weather is definitely not one of the attractions in Pine City. There's a boat load of fun to be had in any season, but it is a place where the climate has to be taken into consideration.
Obscured by Minnesota’s ferocious winters (see Cold weather) are the heat waves of summer. Many days in July and August are hot and humid. Summer nights are more comfortable, though, and you'll get a few degrees' respite along one of the many lakefronts — in the local parlance, that's "cooler by the lake". But then there are those winters. The months from November to March will see very cold temperatures, with even more bitter wind chill factors. Blizzards and ice storms are a regular occurrence. It's a city that's well-accustomed to these winters, though, so city services and public transportation are highly unlikely to shut down.
Pine City does have a few nice months of weather. May and September are pleasant and mild; April and June are mostly fine, although thunderstorms with heavy winds can also occur suddenly. Even though there may be a chill in the air in October, it rarely calls for more than a light coat.

Read

• Cordes, Jim (1989). Pine County-- and its memories. s.n. ASIN B00071SNAQ.
• Johnson, Nathan (2010). Images of America: Pine City. Arcadia Publishing. .
• Johnson, Nathan (2014). Legendary Locals of Pine City. Arcadia Publishing. .

Visitor information center (tourism)

The information center is at:

• Pine City Area Chamber of Commerce

  phone: +1 320 322-4040
  address: Pine Government Center, 315 Main Street S
  Although Pine City has no official tourism/visitor's bureau, this Chamber of Commerce acts as one and does one helluva job of it!

By bus

Pine City is served by Jefferson Lines with a stop at Super America near Exit 171. Also, other cities served by Arrowhead Transit can take that bus service into the community. Route 285 out of the Twin Cities only goes as far north as Forest Lake and a transfer to the Heartland Express and then Arrowhead Transit is a logistical tribulation. Best bet is Jefferson Lines, but it's kind of spendy.

By car

Interstate 35 links Pine City with Duluth to the north and the Twin Cities to the south. Pine City is about an hour drive north of downtown Minneapolis and of downtown St. Paul. A driver approaching Pine City on I-35 from the Twin Cities will be rewarded by a spectacular view of native pines and thick groves of trees. After a period of relatively flat and urbane scenery, the view is a treat, especially during peak fall colors. Exit 169 is the recommended exit for most downtown attractions. Coming from Duluth, Pine City looks like the first major city with the newly expanding freeway interchange at Exit 171, with the Pine County courthouse visible to passersby. Either way you come, take the I-35 Business Loop through Pine City.
Or, you can get to Pine City on the St. Croix Scenic Byway, Old US Highway 61.
There are EV-charging stations at Family Pathways, 800 Main Street S., two fast-charging ports and a Level 2 charger.

By plane

• Rush City Regional Airport (KROS), 7.5 miles south of Pine City.
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP). Most travelers will arrive this way via Terminal 1-Lindbergh. Terminal 2-Humphrey has been rebuilt and serves primarily charter and low-cost carriers. The Lindbergh terminal (Charles Lindbergh was a Minnesotan, and one of his transatlantic planes is suspended above the ticketing area) receives the bulk of renovation fees, however, and it is an attractive, modern, convenient, and well-designed terminal. The Humphrey terminal is also quite attractive; the terminals share the same runways, have long- and short-term parking set between them, and are equally convenient for transportation. Savvy travelers might check the terminal of their arrival or departure to communicate their location to friends, relatives, or other transport.

By thumb

It's not uncommon to see hitchhiking along the Interstate 35 corridor.

By bus

• Arrowhead TransitOffers free fares for seniors and cheap fares for all.

By taxi

• Attaboys' Taxi

  phone: +1-866-998-8294

By car

Driving is probably the best option for getting around Pine City. The city generally does not have any traffic problems, although it can get congested before and after school hours. Pine County Highway 61 runs north-south and the Snake River runs east-west dividing the city into quadrants as such. Keep in mind when finding addresses, the majority of the city is laid out in a grid based on the Snake River shoreline, dividing the city into north and south. Main Street/County 61 is considered to be the dividing line between east and west.

Attractions

Pine City is an arts community and it is evident from its award-winning music program in its schools to its quality Heritage Players theater productions. Other things to see in the community include:

• Dist. 69 Rural School Museum

  phone: +1 320 216-7636
  address: 7th Street SW
  Learn how school was over 100 years ago in this restored, one-room schoolhouse that was relocated to near downtown Pine City. It is operated as a museum by the Pine County Historical Society.

• Iconic Voyageur Statue

  phone: +1 320 629-2575
  address: 600 1st Avenue NW

• Snake River Fur Post

  phone: +1 320 629-6356
  address: 12551 Voyageur Ln
  A historic fur trading post from the early 1800s.

• Sokol Camp

  phone: +1 651 222-6448
  address: 19201 Woodland Acres S

• Stoffel Memorabilia Museum

  phone: +1 320 629-3219
  address: 10527 Emerald Road

• Veterans MonumentsLocated throughout town. Woodpecker Ridge Park is home to a Golf War memorial. World War I and II monuments are located outside of the Pine Government Center, downtown. And, look for them at the library, cemeteries, etc.

Pine City is filled with plenty of activities for people of all ages.

Attractions

• Pine Center for the Arts

  phone: +1 320 629-4924
  address: 265 5th Street SE
  Take a class or browse the gallery. The arts are for everyone.

• Flea Market

  phone: +1 320 629-6924
  address: Pine County Fairgrounds

• Chengwatana State ForestExcellent sightseeing, plenty of wildlife.

• City Beach and Skate Park

  phone: +1 320 629-2575
  address: West Side Park
  Show off your new pair of board shorts or that rockin' henna tramp stamp. If you want to see and be seen, this is where you need to be. Join a beach volleyball match, toss the Friz, or just keep your shades down and get your creep on; this beach is your oyster, shuck it. The horseshoe pits are well-manicured and chances are you'll have them all to yourselves unless it's Monday night. The beach is home to some of the City's most beautiful sunsets.

• Anderson's Rock Creek Relics Corn MazeFive miles south on Old Highway 61. Noon-6PM daily, Sep-Oct $5, (under 5, free). Since 2010, Mr. Anderson has tilled his land and broken his back so city folk can spend an afternoon getting lost amid acres of America’s favorite crop. Presidents, Senators and Congressmen get in for free.

• Peaceful Pines Pumpkin Patch

  phone: +1 320 591-0007
  address: 13650 Government Rd

• Haunted Pokegama Sanatorium

  address: 10035 Pokegama Lake Road SW
  In 1905, 35 acres of rural lakeside land was set aside for a tuberculosis hospital here—half a day’s journey north from St. Paul, where a prominent doctor held office. That doctor was Longstreet Taylor, and he specialized in tuberculosis patients. It was abandoned in 1986 and the building still stands. It has become commonplace to ghost hunters and "My Ghost Story" (Season 5, Episode 13) recounted one such investigation. Warning: There are lots of bats. And, this is private property so it is best to contact the owner for permission.
• Jon Platek

  Sandrock Cliffs Trail

  phone: +1 320 629-2148
  The Sandrock Cliffs Trail is a 5-mile system of loop trails north of Highway 70 along the St. Croix River. The southern-most trail is a 3-mile loop. Connecting trails provide 2 additional miles to explore and feature picturesque sandstone cliffs. Trail heads are located at the Highway 70 Landing parking area and off of Tennessee Road near the north end of the trail system. The trail is open year-round and is for foot-traffic only. No motorized vehicles or bicycles are permitted.

Major annual events

Spring, summer, and fall

• Highway 61 Film FestivalEarly April

• Citywide Garage Sale - mid-May
• Memorial Day Parade - late May

Some of Pine City's events draw people from far and wide, including:

• East Central Minnesota Pride

  address: 200 5th St SE
  First Sunday each June in Robinson Park.

• Freedom Fest – Last Weekend in June. The largest and most popular Independence Day celebration in the Midwest that doesn't fall on Independence Day (it's always the weekend before). There's more to do here than in Brainerd, the Fourth of July Capitol of Minnesota. Classic car and tractor shows, impressive fireworks display able to be viewed from land or by boat, softball tournament, pancake breakfast and a heck of a lot more.

• Art FestIn Robinson Park – July 13, 2019 (42nd Annual)

• Pine County Fair– Jul. 31 - Aug. 4, 2019 (127th Annual). Home to Minnesota's largest, and hardest-hitting demolition derby.

• National Night Out. Robinson Park - Aug. 6, 2019

• Czech Booyah FestivalAt Sokol Camp – Aug 11, 2019 (89th Annual). Longest-running event in Pine City area. The booyah recipe is a secret but it's darned good stuff.

• Pine City PRCA Championship RodeoLabor Day Weekend, 2019 (13th Annual)

• Snake River Fur Post's "Rendezvous" or "Festival of the Voyageur" – Sep 21-22, 2019 (41st Annual)

Winter

• Winter Frolic, Jan. 19, 2019

• Ice Fishing DerbyPokegama Lake (hosted by the Snake River Valley Conservation Club) – Jan. 27, 2019 (50th Annual)

• Ice Fishing Derby. Cross Lake (hosted by the Pine City Lions) - Feb. 9, 2019
• Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball. Snake River Fur Post - Feb. 9, 2019

• BB32 Memorial Hockey TournamentHilltop Park and Korbel Arena grounds. Late Jan. This annual weekend tournament highlights the talents of many local athletes and brings spectators from far and wide. The hot and fast action nearly melts the ice, despite the frigid January temperatures. On the pond, skill, speed and toughness are tested to their limits and champions are immediately vaulted into iconic status within the community, free to revel in glory for eternity.

• PTCC Shooter's Association Gun Show – Feb. 23-24, 2019 (36th Annual)
• Holiday Madness and lighted parade – Dec. 6, 2019

Boating

• Nordahl Marine

  phone: +1 320 629-2647
  address: 13108 Canalville Lane
  Marina with boat maintenance and repair services.

Tours

• Snake River Outfitters

  phone: +1 303 435-6726
  Canoeing adventures.

Fishing

Fishing is Minnesota's favorite sport, and Pine City is an ideal place for it. While there are smaller lakes to explore, the real draws in Pine City are Cross Lake, Pokegama Lake and the lower Snake River. The lakes are full of northern pike, muskellunge, bass, perch, and Minnesota's favorite fish, the Walleye.

Bait shops

• Hideaway Bait & Tackle

  phone: +1 320 629-8068
  address: 12465 Branch Drive

• Holiday Station Store - Freeway

  phone: +1 320 629-7839
  address: 715 13th Street SW

• Holiday Station Store - Downtown

  phone: +1 320 629-6660
  address: 570 Main Street S

• Adrenaline Archery and Bait

  phone: +1 320 629-4992
  address: 1300 Northridge Drive NW

Sports and recreation

• Pine City Country Club

  phone: +1 320 629-3848
  address: 10413 Golf Course Rd SW
  For over 40 years, the Pine City Country Club, a nine-hole par 36 golf course, has been the primary destination for golf enthusiasts in the area. It offers PGA professional instructions for both amateurs and professionals.

• Voyageur Park Disc Golf Course

  phone: +1 320 629-2575
  address: 600 1st Avenue NW
  Experience disc golf where a Guinness World Record was set in 2011.

• Wings North Hunt Club

  phone: +1 320 629-5002
  address: 19379 Homestead Road

• Pine City/Hinckley Flames Snowmobile TrailsOver 100 miles of groomed trail.

• Chengwatana OHV Trails

  phone: +1 218 485-5410
  address: County Rd 10/Chengwatana Forest Rd

• Wheel Brokers R/C Raceway and Hobby

  phone: +1 612 644-4710
  address: 890 Main Street S

Temporary assignments are sometimes available through the following agency:

• Masterson Personnel

  phone: +1 320 629-4732
  address: 545 3rd Avenue SE

Pine City is home to the only Walmart between Forest Lake and Cloquet on I-35. There are other shopping opportunities in Evergreen Square and Northridge Center, two shopping centers on the south and north freeway interchanges, respectively. Popular chain stores in town include Verizon Wireless, O'Reilly Auto Parts and Radio Shack. Other places to be sure to shop while in Pine City include:

• Central Minnesota Coins and Antiques

  phone: +1 320 629-6018
  address: 525 3rd Avenue SE

• Family Pathways Thrift Store

  phone: +1 320 629-3878
  address: 800 Main Street S

• Sauser's Hardware

  phone: +1 320 269-3437
  address: 229 5th Street SE
  Historic Sauser's is a living museum, an old-fashioned hardware with creaky wood floors that offers virtually everything one can think of (i.e. welding supplies, lawn mowers, paints, trimmers, appliances, unique gifts and more).

• Farmers' Market in the ParkNear the train depot in the town square. The summer market opens in July and runs through October every Friday and Saturday, 11AM-1PM. Activities for kids, farm-to-table recipes and master gardeners at your service.

• Dollar Tree

  address: 166 Evergreen Sq SW
  Everything's a dollar!

• New Horizon Thrift Store

  phone: +1 320 279-0927
  address: 215 Main Street S
  Proceeds benefit community in effort to reduce poverty and build social capital.

There are over 30 places to eat throughout Pine City. The freeway interchanges are home to many popular chains such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway and Pizza Hut/WingStreet. In addition to those, the city contains restaurants and cafes you wouldn't likely find in other smaller sized cities:

Ethnic and specialty

• More Than Sprouts

  phone: +1 320 629-3470
  address: 245 5th Street SE
  Health foods, organic menu and items, with gluten-free and vegan options.

• New China

  phone: +1 320 629-6365
  address: 150 Main Street S
  Full Chinese menu, no MSGs.

• Bamboo Kitchen

  phone: +1 320 629-4989
  address: 610 8th Avenue SW
  Chinese and Thai.

Local favorites

• A&W

  phone: +1 320 629-3955
  address: 820 Main Street S
  All-American food and carhop. Ask for the "Dragon Meal".

• Pizza Pub

  phone: +1 320 629-6468
  address: 500 3rd Avenue SE
  Award winning pizzeria and family restaurant; considered by some to be a Pine City staple. Best time to go: Friday nights.

• Rock Creek Cafe

  phone: +1 320 629-2645
  address: 5737 State Hwy 70
  Great breakfasts all day long and world famous chicken dumpling soup.

• Nicoll's Cafe

  phone: +1 320 629-6833
  address: 255 Main Street S
  Eat like a local and hear local happenings, all with a laid back atmosphere and free WiFi Internet.

On the lake

• Vanilli's Landing

  phone: +1 320 629-9979
  address: 13646 Muffies Ln

• Floppy Crappie Lakeside Pub and Pokegama Lakeside Dining

  phone: +1 320 322 4020
  address: 10762 Lakeview Shore Drive

Treats

• Dairy Queen

  phone: +1 320 629-3660
  address: 1000 Main St S
  Tasty treats for everyone.

• Mom's Parkside Cafe

  address: 223 5th Street SE
  Ice cream and a downtown stroll, parkside? Oh yeah.

Bars and nightclubs

• Village Bar

  phone: +1 320 629-1066
  address: 245 3rd Avenue SE
  Pine City's first and finest watering hole. Try the "Village Idiot".

• Froggy's

  phone: +1 320 629-9917
  address: 209 5th St SE
  Local favorite with deejay keeping a lively dance floor weekends.

• American Legion

  phone: +1 320 629-2021
  address: 525 Main St N
  Locally referred to as "The Wrinkle Room".

• Chubby's Sports Bar & Grill

  phone: +1 320 629-8108
  address: 515 8th Avenue SE
  Full menu. Full bar. Full belly. Great outdoor patio during warm months. Plenty of taxidermy on the walls.Brewhouses

Brewhouses

• Three Twenty Brewing Co.

  phone: +1 320 322-1237
  address: 135 5th Street SE
  A craft brewery and taproom.

Wineries

• Boondoggle Winery

  phone: +1 320 629-7497
  address: 31575 Saint Croix Road
  Red, fruit and white wines.

• Northern Hollow Winery

  phone: +1 320 266-8691
  address: 6916 Canary Rd, Grasston, MN 55030

Coffeehouses

• Cabin Coffees

  phone: +1 320 629-5982
  address: 620 8th Ave SW
  Unique 'Up North' feel, serving an wide selection of coffee drinks and smoothies as well as bakery items.

• McCafe

  phone: +1 320 629-0030
  address: 1450 8th Street NW
  Free Wi-Fi served daily.

• Snake River Campground

  phone: +1 218 583-2125
  address: Snake River Campground Road
  Campsites consist of a cleared area, fire ring and table. In addition, vault toilets, garbage cans and drinking water are available. All sites are on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Chalet Motel

  phone: +1 320 629-7684
  address: 6110 State Highway 70
  Motel.

• Gail Motel

  phone: +1 320 629-1247
  address: 1100 Main Street S
  Motel.

• Pokegama Lake Campground

  phone: +1 320 629-7393
  address: 12965 Lake Line Road

• Pokegama Lake RV Park

  phone: +1 320 629-6552
  address: 19193 Island Resort Road
  RV Park has a 9-hole golf course (Par 3) and a large heated swimming pool, among many other amenities.

• Scrapbooking in the Pines Retreat Center

  phone: +1 320 629-9960
  address: 415 2nd Avenue SE
  Retreat in this perfect place to get away well-suited for scrapbooking (of course) but also stamping, quilting, gaming, and crafting.

• Anytime Fitness

  phone: +1 320 629-8987
  address: 925 Main Street S

• East Central Martial Arts

  phone: +1 763 843-7955
  address: 175 Main St. S.
  Karate, TKD, Hapkido, Judo, and Aikido. Adult and youth classes.

Pine City is perhaps one of the safest and most benign communities that you will ever visit -with non-existent levels of violent crime and a warm and welcoming atmosphere that is exciting and refreshing. The most significant threat to public safety comes from the high level of deer that are native to the surrounding forests. It is not uncommon to have a nighttime drive interrupted by a shocking jolt of adrenaline due to these impish mammals suddenly appearing on the side of darkened road. Constant vigilance is strongly suggested during the night in order to avoid a costly accident.

Emergency

• Pine County Sheriff's Office

  phone: +1 320 629-8380, 911 (For emergencies)
  address: 635 Northridge Dr. NW, Suite 100

• Fire Department

  phone: +1 320 629-7405 (Non-emergency), 911 (For emergencies)

• Poison Center

  phone: +1-800-222-1222

Hospitals and clinics

• Lakeside Medical Center

  phone: +1 320 629-2542
  address: 129 6th Avenue SE

• Fairview Pine City Clinic

  phone: +1 320 629-6721
  address: 100 Evergreen Square
  Shingles? Bird Flu? Mumps? You name it, they can cure it.

• FirstLight Health System

  phone: +1 320 629-7505
  address: 1425 Main Street N
  Contract something at Froggy's Friday night? This clinic will have the remedy (for the disease, not your reputation).

• United States Post Office

  phone: +1 320 629-3515
  address: 170 Evergreen Square SW
  Excellent, speedy service!

Internet/Wi-Fi

There are no Internet cafes in Pine City. Most coffeehouses offer free WiFi to paying customers, but the only internet terminals available are at the public library and Pine Technical and Community College.

• Pine City Public Library

  phone: +1 320 629-6403
  address: 300 5th Street SE
  Unlimited free WiFi if you have your own computer. The Internet workstations can only be accessed by East Central Regional Library cardholders.

• Pine Technical and Community College

  phone: +1 320 629-5100
  address: 900 4th Street SE
  Unlimited free WiFi if you have your own computer. The Internet workstations can only be accessed by students and faculty with a college ID.

Telephones

Pine City and the central part of Minnesota are in the 320 area code. From Pine City prefixes (213, 322, 323, 386, 438, 629, 591 and 964), local calls can be made to Rush City (215, 358, 388, 566 and 923) and Hinckley (207, 279, 280, 336, 384, 385 and 390) prefixes.

• Pine City Pioneer, Pine City's weekly newspaper aka. the "Pine Poker". See the "Happenings" section. $1.

Nearby

Rush City

• Rush City Aquatic Center - A pool for all ages.
• Historic Grant House- Said to be haunted, and previously investigated.
• Chucker's Bowl & Lounge - Get your bowl on. Strike!

Hinckley

• Combat Zone(paintball), 57631 Barns Spring Rd, Hinckley. + 1 320 384 0738. Take a chance and try something new, and then take out your aggression by shooting a cocky 14-year-old in the head with a rock hard ball of paint.
• Grand Casino Hinckley Open 24 hours a day. Come join droves of other vagabonds and lose your mortgage payment while drinking all the free pop or coffee your bladder can handle. Enjoy Grand Casinos' best-kept secret: Play high stakes and get fed too.
• Grand Cinema To watch the cinema on the cheap, it’s recommended going “dutch", as paying for two could drain your checking account. Now hiring exchange students, emo lifestyle required.
• Bike the Willard Munger Trail (over 100 km, 70 miles between Hinckley and Duluth)

North Branch

• Shop the Shops at Gateway North.

Grantsburg, Wisconsin

• Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

  address: 102 E. Crex Ave., Gransburg
  A wide variety of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects also reside here. The rare sedge marsh and brush prairie habitats make the area a utopia for wildlife which, in turn, makes Crex a paradise for bird-watchers, naturalists, botanists, hunters, trappers, and all the other hearty explorers who are interested in the great bounty that nature offers.

Twin Cities metro

It's an easy one-hour drive, give or take, on I-35 to most destinations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including:

• Mall of America is in Bloomington. Remember, Minnesota has no sales tax on clothing.
• Valleyfair is a 125-acre amusement park that's in the southwest suburb of Shakopee.
• Minnesota Zoo is in the southern suburb of Apple Valley.

Up north

• Drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior along 'Scenic 61'
• Set off for a camping/canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area