BIZ BUZZ
Conference center, water park to be built in Baxter
A new conference center and water park are on track for construction in Baxter.
Plans for The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes call for a 20,000-square-foot water park complete with ponds and waterfalls with decks and reception/bar areas. Nearby will be putting greens and an area designated for kids' parties with a rolling/sliding hill and play equipment.
The facility will include a 5,000-square-foot conference center. The lodge will include a 4,500-square-foot restaurant. A future guestroom wing will add an option for 60 rooms.
The construction site is part of second tier development behind the Baxter Village, which is north on Highway 371 on the highway's west side and roughly across from the Nature Learning Trail Business Park where Reed's Sporting Goods and Silver Creek Traders recently opened.
The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes was recently before Baxter's Utility Commission. The project will appear in more detail at the city's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Tuesday.
The Holiday Inn Express, which is slated for construction near Reed's Sporting Goods store along Highway 371 north of Lewie's RV, continued to move through Baxter construction channels last week.
Caribou Coffee signs went up last week on location in Baxter in the Grizzly's Center as work progresses.
A new McDonald's restaurant is slated to be constructed by the Wal-mart SuperCenter.
Subway signed a lease in the new Northland Center in Nisswa and expectations are to open later this summer.
Restaurant owners are Bill and Michelle Mathis. They also own and operate the Subways in Crosslake and Staples.
The Northland Center is on Smiley Road, just off Highway 371 North and just a quarter mile north of Sportland corner.
Reed's Sporting Goods has a grand opening set July 17-18.
Carbone's Pizzeria in the East Brainerd Mall strip mall site closed its doors. Signs on the former restaurant announced the closing, thanked loyal customers and offered to sell the franchise.
The Last Turn Grille will be the site of a music festival and street dance July 31. The restaurant opened this spring as That Place on 8th was sold, renamed and transformed into a complement for the longtime Brainerd business, the Last Turn Saloon in downtown Brainerd.
The Last Turn Music Festival will offer area talent with bands and solo artists from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Food and beverages will be available along the street scape as the road is closed in front of the restaurant.
Owner Tom Hofius said he has wanted to do the music festival for years and was encouraged by the popularity of Shep's on Sixth's annual outdoor venue on the other side of the downtown area.
Hofius said his goal, if the event goes well, is to expand upon it, such as possibly expanding it to two days.
"I'd like to make it a yearly deal," he said.
Hackensack is seeking entries for a contest to create a new emblem to represent the city and area organizations.
The Hackensack Chamber of Commerce, along with the city of Hackensack and the Northwoods Arts Council are sponsoring the contest. The winning design will adorn city stationery, be used by organizations and be displayed in the new Hackensack Visitor's Center/chamber building, the chamber reported.
The winner not only will have bragging rights for the emblem. The contest comes with a chunk of change as well. A $200 prize will be awarded to the winning emblem.
Time is of the essence. The design will be chosen July 23 with the unveiling set Aug. 28 at the Northwoods Arts Festival. The chamber reports registration forms are available at city hall, the chamber, Spectrum Printing and other area businesses.
For more information, contact Stephanie at Spectrum Printing at (218) 675-6334 or Jay Cline (218) 675-5800.
RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.