A Snapshot of Ottertail City

Trading Post – Otter Tail City was originally settled by trappers that traded with the natives of the area. Donald McDonald located is trading post on the east side of Otter Tail Lake because of its proximity to the lake and the Otter Tail River. When Minnesota became a state in 1858, Otter Tail City had been the county seat with the first land office, and the county was named Otter Tail. In the early 1880s, millions of feet of logs were cut in Becker and Otter Tail counties along the banks of the Otter Tail, Toad and Pelican rivers.

Changes Were Coming

In 1872, the county seat was moved to Fergus Falls, its present location. When the RL Frazee Sawmill moved to New York Mills, the population of Otter Tail City saw a decline. A monument is located across the street from the original site of the Otter Tail County Courthouse and Jail. The St. Paul House, a former lodging establishment, was the only remaining building for some time. In 2012, the St. Paul House was moved to its present site, on Main Street, one mile east on Highway 108. At one time, Otter Tail City had 1,200 residents, 36 saloons, five hotels, three general stores, on brewery, three lawyers, and a weekly newspaper.

New “Old Ottertail”

When the Soo Line Railroad was unable to run its tracks in Otter Tail City, a new settlement was platted and called Ottertail. Businesses grew in the “old town.” A cement block company, a bank, a restaurant, a mercantile, elevators, a garage, and a school rounded out the “new Ottertail.”

A New Beginning

In 1904, Ottertail incorporated and started a fire department. Ottertail consists of nearly 3,200 acres and five sections which were platted for expansion. Today, visitors will find “old town” Ottertail one mile east on Highway 108; and a “new section” of Ottertail located on Highway 78. Homes and businesses are growing and there is plenty of room for expansion.

Lakes, Lakes, Lakes

Ottertail can provide lots of fun and entertainment due to the five lakes in its boundaries. A bird’s eye view highlights Otter Tail Lake, Donald Lake, Portage Lake, Buchanan Lake and Pelican Bay, all providing hours of enjoyment year around. A fishing pier located on Pelican Bay gets the avid “boat-less” fisherman into deeper waters. Both the pier and Otter Tail Lake can be reached by an access located on Highway 78.

The Creamery

The origin of the St. Paul House is shrouded in The Creamery was built in 1921 on the corner of South Maple and Main Street as a slaughterhouse, and later manufactured 353,839 pounds of butter. The original building was renovated and is now home to a church and boutique. A new tower atop the building allows onlookers to view Ottertail’s five fine lakes. The renovated St. Paul House is situated on the former Creamery site.

The Williams Company Store

Built in 1904, this building has served various business ventures; it housed a mercantile, an undertaker, a grocery store and most recently a gift shop. In 1982, the building became home to M&J’s Market. The grocery store was owned by Jim and Marlys Wipperling, who owned the business for 13 years when they sold it to Jeff and Merry Van Horn in 1995. They operated the store until 1997. Pam Williams bought the building, made upgrades, and opened a gift store under the name of The Williams Company. Marnie and Dan Whitehead now operate a gift store and deli in the building.

An Otter for Ottertail

In late 1998, the Ottertail Lions Club, a community service club active in the city, commissioned Ken Nyberg, a Vining resident, best known as a grain elevator welder and sculpture artist, to sculpt a statue of an otter. After about three months, he completed the statue in early 1999, and the Lions Club put the steel creature on display in a wayside park at the intersection of Highways 78 and 108.