News Release

BAXTER, Minn. – The new Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center officially opened its doors to travelers on Wednesday, May 18, after representatives from the state, county, and Brainerd Lakes Chambers of Commerce cut the ribbon for the new $1.3 million facility adjacent Highway 371, approximately five miles south of Baxter and Brainerd in Crow Wing County.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center is no ordinary wayside rest. Instead, project leaders hail the facility and the unique public/private partnership that made it a reality, a model for future facilities across the state. The Welcome Center offers travelers expanded customer services at a cost-effective, state-of-the-art facility, aimed at boosting economic development in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

In addition to expanded restroom facilities, professional staff and volunteers from the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce (BLACC) will staff the Welcome Center, and visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy interpretative displays by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Other amenities include high-speed wireless internet services, a larger-than-life floor map illustrating the lakes region, Paul Bunyan statute, and golf putting green.

The partnership group: the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), the BLACC, Crow Wing County, DNR, and Minnesota State Patrol, began its efforts more than a decade ago with the goal of expanding governmental services yet enhancing the quality of the services provided in the region. The project required special legislation and more than a decade of work to make it a reality. In addition, more than 100 Chamber-member businesses and individuals provided cash and material donations totaling close to $600,000 to offset construction costs.

“The Welcome Center is a terrific facility—serving both as a rest area and tourist information center. Through this innovative partnership, Mn/DOT is able to effectively provide a higher level of service to motorists while controlling costs to the public,” said Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, who also serves as the state’s Transportation Commissioner. “The level of commitment by the local business community and all of the partners demonstrates the project’s economic impact to the region and the state,” noted Molnau.

According to the BLACC, the Brainerd Lakes Area enjoys one of the highest densities of tourism facilities in Minnesota. “Tourism continues to be the economic engine that drives our communities; our national exposure keeps Minnesota in the top three preferred tourist destinations,” said Lisa Paxton, BLACC Chief Executive Officer. “The Welcome Center will provide us access to these visitors and share with them the exceptional opportunities and assets that this area has to offer—this is a major economic development opportunity for the entire Brainerd Lakes Area,” Paxton said.

Widseth, Smith, Nolting, & Associates, Inc. of Brainerd, was the architect for the project, Kraus-Anderson Construction Company handled the construction administration, Crow Wing County served as fiscal agent, and Duinick Brothers Inc., of Prinsburg, managed the site construction.

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