Located in the Mille Lacs region of north central Minnesota, Nisswa is a year-round paradise for people who enjoy outdoor activities. Nisswa became incorporated in 1946 as a municipality. Its name stems from the Ojibwe word for "in the middle." The old Great Northern Railroad depot in Nisswa has been converted to a historic museum to showcase the history of the area. The resident population of Nisswa, approximately 2,000, swells in the high season as tourists and second homeowners return to take advantage of the mild weather, scenery and summer activities. The principal economic activity in Nisswa is tourism, and many resorts, lodges, hotels and motels even extend the season through the winter.
Summer activities include golf, swimming, boating and fishing on the many lakes that surround Nisswa. In the fall, hunting prevails and after the snow flies and lakes freeze, skiing, ice fishing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing are favorite activities of those who love winter. The Paul Bunyan Trail runs through Nisswa. Hikers, cyclists and roller-bladers use the trail during the summer, and the trail administrators allow snowmobile traffic in the winter.
Because Nisswa lies just 150 miles from two larger metro areas, Fargo and Minneapolis-St. Paul, holidays and weekends are crowded in and around the town. Several notable retailers operate in Nisswa, according to the Nisswa, Minnesota yellow pages, including one that roasts coffee beans onsite. The Nisswa, Minnesota business directory indicates that visitors who want to rent boating equipment or snowmobile rentals have plenty of choices in the area.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan
