Minne-Selfie
SPOTS IN
CENTRAL
MINNESOTA
O
ne of the most popular
phrases being heard in tour-
ist towns throughout the
country these days is, “Take a selfie!”
and there are several notable places
to do it in Central Minnesota. There’s
a giant walleye in Garrison, a huge
sea serpent statue in Crosby, larger
than life statues of Paul Bunyan and
Babe the Ox in Brainerd and a water
tower shaped like a fishing bobber in
Pequot Lakes.
Address: 2nd Ave. S, Crosby, MN
To get there: South side of town in Lakeshore
Franklin Park, one block east of Hwy 210/3rd
Ave. SW and three blocks south of Hwy 6/W.
Main St.
LARGER THAN LIFE STATUES OF PAUL BUNYAN AND
BABE THE OX – Brainerd
GIANT WALLEYE – Garrison HUGE SEA SERPENT – Crosby
Where else will you find a sign that says, “Keep
off the walleye” but in Garrison, Minn., home to
what the city boasts is the “Walleye Capital of
the World.” The giant fish sits atop a base with
the words, “Welcome to Garrison” on it. The main
thing this giant fish has going for it is the view
of Lake Mille Lacs right behind it. Usually when you think of sea serpents you
imagine them in the middle of a lake, but the
giant sea serpent on display in Crosby, Minn.,
is on dry land. The former Crosby Chamber of
Commerce, currently known as the Cuyuna
Lakes Chamber of Commerce, purchased the
20-foot high, 2,500-pound sculpture in 1977.
Address: Central Street, Garrison, MN Why did the city choose a sea serpent to
represent itself? Some say it’s because the
waters near Crosby are inhabited by one of the
mythical creatures. The more likely explanation,
however, is that the shape of the lake near
Crosby led to its inspiration. The lake is named
Serpent Lake.
To get there: Garrison Concourse Wayside Park.
Southeast edge of town, on the lake, on the
east side of US Hwy 169 at its intersection with
Central St.
8 destinationupnorth.com
Legend has it that Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes were
created by Paul Bunyan’s footprints filling with
water as he explored the state. Since then, it has
become a rite of passage for Minnesotans and
visitors alike to snap their photo with the iconic
lumberjack.