PARK RAPIDS, Minn. 鈥� Park Rapids is the gateway to miles of lakes and pine forests, but travelers might want to take a long pit stop in the small town because its downtown has some unique charm, starting with its old-fashioned sparkle.
Park Theater
The most striking downtown feature is the bright red, retro sign of Park Theater. In the evenings, its flashing lights can be seen all the way across the river from Heartland Park.
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Standing under its matinee by Cuzzin's Candy, it almost feels like you're inside an old-time movie with people taking in the latest releases while snacking on candy and popcorn.
The theater's co-owner, Tim Oberg, who bought the theater with his wife Rachel in 2022, said the nostalgic building was constructed in the late 1930s. The most popular "new release" back in those days? Gone With the Wind.
Middle of the road parking
Park Rapids' Main Avenue is wide enough to allow for four parking lanes and two driving lanes. It鈥檚 lined with historic buildings and fresh, hanging flowers in the summer. When visitors arrive downtown, they might be surprised to find two neat lines of cars parked down the center of Main Avenue.
It's a sight that often has newcomers doing a double take and wondering why in the world there would be cars parked right in the middle of the street.
According to Hubbard County Historical Society President Nancy Newman, the wide street originated when Doc Cutler, a man who owned half of the townsite, surveyed the street in the early 1880s.
鈥淐utler wanted a main street that was wide enough to turn a double team of horses and a bobsled around, so they would have a nice wide street,鈥� Newman said.
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At the time, horses were pulling huge stacks of logs down the street to a sawmill.
鈥淥ver the years, as the town developed, the businesses just kept building on the sides,鈥� Newman said. 鈥淭hey didn't encroach into the middle at all.鈥�
Newman isn鈥檛 sure when the tradition of parking in the middle of the street began, but guesses it may have started when cars became more popular in the 1920s and 30s.
An artistic destination
The sculpture trail meanders from Red Bridge Park to the downtown, adding a pop of creativity to the charming surroundings. This spring, it鈥檚 home to 12 brand-new works inspired by the Mississippi Headwaters, located north of Park Rapids in Itasca State Park.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 focusing on the river鈥檚 origin and everything it represents, from the natural resources, landscape to the rich historical, cultural significance tied to this place,鈥� said Laura Grisamore, chair of the Park Rapids Arts and Culture Advisory Commission.
One of the sculptures is a giant bow and arrow aimed at the Mississippi. Newcomer artist Jerry Mevissen, a Nimrod dairy farmer, created it from found objects. The arrow is made of a flagpole, the feathers are old saw blades and the tip made of the top of a security fence post.
All artworks are available for sale.
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There鈥檚 even more art at the Nemeth Art Center, located in the Hubbard County Historical Museum, a stately brick building located on Court Avenue. The nonprofit exhibits contemporary artists in all stages of their careers, from local youths to established creators who have exhibited all over the world.
In May, the Nemeth had two exhibitions: one a collection of otherworldly wood and bone sculptures, the other a collection of energetic, colorful collages. The exhibition rooms have tall windows that illuminate the works with plenty of natural light.
Northern Minnesota artist Jesse Dermody created the sculptures in 鈥淭he Deep Dreams of Roots鈥� using driftwood, barn boards, stones and other objects he found while hiking. He said his art, like human beings, originates in wild nature.
鈥淲ild nature is the greatest artist of all,鈥� Dermody said. 鈥淭he most inspiring one and the most enduring.鈥�
Minneapolis and Mankato-based artist Daniel Kerkhoff is behind the collages in "The Least Among Us.鈥� Kerkhoff has created his own artist residencies in Ghana, Ecuador and Vietnam. He creates his collages using old pieces that have been repurposed and a variety of other materials including glitter glue, tape, acrylic paint and soil.
If you want to see art on a massive scale and the weather is nice, there are three murals decorating downtown Park Rapids. A mural of the four seasons decorates the wall of Aunt Belle鈥檚 Confectionary at the corner of 1st Street West and Main Avenue South.
Twin Cities-based artist Lili Lennox designed it, and according to then-Aunt Belle鈥檚 owner Ray Carlson, it鈥檚 meant to convey the vitality of Park Rapids鈥� shops, restaurants and artistic community.
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Lennox returned in July 2023 to add a new mural on the 60-by-20-foot wall on the side of the Whatnot building at 2nd Street West and Main Avenue South.
According to owner Eric Patenaude, the red, white and blue piece is inspired by Scandinavian decoration and the joy sparked by music.
The mural on the side of the Enjoy candy store facing into Pioneer Park was completed in June 2021. It contains images of natural beauty in the Heartland Lakes area, including sunsets, a bear climbing a tree, a leaping fish, a lady slipper in bloom and the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
鈥淭hat park is a little oasis in the downtown area,鈥� Preslicka said at the time.
Satisfy your sweet tooth
In addition to multiple restaurants, there are three candy stores in downtown Park Rapids: Aunt Belle鈥檚 Confectionary, Cuzzin鈥檚 Candy Store and Enjoy. Each store has its own unique flare and sweet specialty.
Aunt Belle鈥檚 and Cuzzin鈥檚 form a mini candy empire owned by local couple Bryan and Beth Hirt. They purchased Cuzzin鈥檚 in 2021. Gummies and taffy, for sale in rows of scoop-equipped jars, are a top seller at the colorful shop, which also features homemade 鈥渄irty sodas,鈥� or creative combinations of soda, syrup and creamer.
Aunt Belle鈥檚 is known for its fudge, which passersby can see being stirred in a huge, copper pot at the front of the shop. When fresh caramel is being made, the sweet, rich smell wafts into the street.
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There are a variety of handmade treats on display, including turtles and caramels. Customers can buy local, northern-themed gifts from a section in the back called Grandpa鈥檚 Cabin.
Enjoy, the store decorated with the park-facing mural, has a wide selection of candies, ice cream, fudge and roasted nuts. They sell custom hand-dipped and hand-drizzled ice cream bars called JOY bars.
Enjoy is also home to Specialty Bubble Waffle ice cream cones, lavish sundaes nestled in a waffle. Owner Stephanie Carlson said no one else in the area offers them.
Want to get a sneak peek before actually going there? The anytime, day or night.
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