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LAKE SHORE — Cass County’s largest city is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Lake Shore - incorporated in 1947 - marked the milestone March 19 and will celebrate with a public event from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at Fritz Loven Park.
The event will include food and beverages provided by local restaurants, drawings for gift cards from local restaurants, history discussions and a bounce house for children. The Black Bear 4-H Club will offer face painting and a scavenger hunt for kids.
Police, fire and emergency medical services personnel will attend with emergency vehicles.
If you’ve traveled on the scenic upper County State Aid Highway 77, or Interlachen Road, you’ve been to Lake Shore.
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This 18-square-mile city is nestled on the northern shore of Gull Lake, as well as Lake Margaret, and is home to just over 1,000 year-round residents. The city grows to a population of nearly 3,000 during the summer months due to seasonal properties scattered throughout the lakes area, the city’s website says.
While close in population to East Gull Lake, Lake Shore has long been the most populous city in Cass County.
In 2018, travel writers for the Expedia Viewfinder blog chose Lake Shore as the best place to escape to in Minnesota.
“We like Lake Shore for its small size yet status as a getaway location with enough relaxing activities to make it a true retreat,” a travel writer said.
The city will celebrate its 75th anniversary at the park named for one of the city’s most famous residents - Fritz Loven.
“Described as a sociable hermit, Loven lived in the Gull area for nearly 50 years - most of the time on 80 acres of land he owned along Stony Book,” a Lake Country Echo story reads.
Loven died in 1975 at age 84, and in 1976, the city of Lake Shore acquired that land for $18,000 and created Fritz Loven Park, the newspaper said.
“To the day he died, Loven lived without electricity or plumbing on his Stony Brook acreage, which he called his ‘Golden 80,’” the Lake Country Echo story said.
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Lake Shore is governed by a four-person city council and a mayor. City hall is located on Interlachen Road, and is staffed by a city administrator/planning and zoning administrator and a city clerk. The city has a police chief and a police officer, and contracts with Nisswa for fire services.
The city boasts popular dining establishments you can reach by both vehicle and boat, and a church. Mount Ski Gull and the Lakeshore Gun Club are along Interlachen Road as well.
Nancy Vogt, editor, may be reached at 218-855-5877 or nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her on Facebook and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@PEJ_Nancy.
