Towns, restaurants and activities in the area:
Ottertail: (Just 2 miles south of the Buchanan Lake Retreat on Highway 78):
On the left side of Hwy 78, is Carr’s gas station, bait store & grocery. It has the best caramel rolls from there to Rochester (get there early on Saturdays, they usually sell out by late morning)! The Otter Treat (similar to Dairy Queen) is near Carr’s. and the Ottertail bakery is across the street. The Otter, a supper club, is further down the road and features a good menu, especially for steaks and prime rib. Periwinkle is a fun clothing and variety shop right near Carr’s. There is also a similar shop on the opposite side of the road, along with a Dollar Store. You can’t go wrong at Zorbaz which is located on Ottertail Lake. Order a pizza and a beer and you won’t be disappointed!
Further down the road is Thumper Pond, a golf club and resort. There is also a restaurant/bar (Willy T’s Tavern & Grill) in Thumper Pond.
Take a left on the corner where Thumper Pond is located (Highway 108), and you will find more great shops/restaurants in Ottertail. There is the Williams Company where you can get a latte or wrap and browse the cooking/entertaining goods and spices. They also have interesting gifts and fun souvenir t-shirts and sweatshirts. Nearby is a clothing boutique and another coffee shop/gift store called the Red Brick Boutique. Across the street you can find The Wood Shed, a great bar with comfort food and daily drink specials and happy hour.
Perham (approximately 10 miles North of Buchanan Lake Retreat):
There are three grocery stores in Perham, one is just off Highway 10, heading north on Highway 78 (which is called Palubicki Ave. or 3rd Ave. SE), located off the road a block or so on the right hand side is Dean’s Country Market and gas Station. If you continue on 3rd Ave. SE another mile or so into town, there is a Service Foods grocery store on the left hand side. Immediately after Service Foods, take a left, and you are on Main Street. Further down the road, on West Main Street is “A Clean Plate”, a new organic grocery store in Perham. The Perham Locker is also a great place to buy a variety of meats, located on 3rd Ave. SE, right hand side before you get to Service Foods (across from the PACC – Perham Area Community Center).
There are several restaurants in Perham, including a few close to Dean’s Country Market, right off Highway 10: Jin Hu Chinese restaurant (very good Chinese food), McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Pizza Ranch and Subway is also close by. On Main Street, and on 1st Ave. S. there are also some restaurants: The Brew Ales & Eats (great food – hamburgers, sandwiches homemade fries, chips & salsa and craft beer, Gathering Grounds (great sandwiches for lunch, closed on Sundays), Papacitas Burritos (very good homemade burritos, tacos, etc.) located in the gas station on West Main street, right hand side of the road (approximately 1 mile down the road from Service Foods), The Lakes Café (good pancakes, etc for breakfast/brunch). There is also a taco and broasted chicken place in the gas station located on Main Street nearer to Service Foods.
Zorbaz restaurant is located on Little Pine Lake, just North of Perham. Head north on 1st Ave. North (turns into Highway 8). Take a left on 450th St., past the Perham Lakeside Country Club (there is a good restaurant/bar here as well), then turn right onto County Road 51. Zorbaz is approximately a mile down the road on the right side. They have great pizza, macho nachos and other food choices. It is located right on the lake, and there are games for the kids. We have often brought our dog with when we eat on the picnic tables outside.
Disgruntled Brewing Company, 735 2nd St. NE (industrial park) recently opened in Perham. It is a craft brewery (must be over 21) that produces about 8-10 styles of tasty beer served on tap or to go by growler. It features a nice little taproom with frozen pizza and appetizers. (Our suggestion: enjoy something on tap or get a growler here and grab a bite at one of our other suggestions).
Turtle races are held every Wednesday in Perham, and are great fun for the kids.
Nearby:
Maple Beach Grill is a bit of a dive, but is know to have the best hamburgers in the area. Go right from Hawes Beach Road back onto Highway 78 north and head toward Perham. Watch for Highway 108 west and take a left. This winding road will take you through some beautiful scenery. You’ll pass through Dent, Minn. which also has a couple of fun local pubs. The Triple Play (meat raffle night is Friday), and The Empty Nest is a small antique shop with primitives, pottery and other vintage items. As you continue on 108 west you’ll pass Maplewood State Park, a scenic park with good hiking trails and places to fish. Next you will pass between North and South Lida lakes. Soon after passing the narrows you will see Maple Beach Grill on your left. Park along the road where you can find room. The grill is a bit of a hole in the wall and has limited indoor seating, and picnic tables outside, but has juicy burgers, good onion rings and large orders of fries. Maple Beach is also home to the best BLT sandwich in the region. The grill’s hours are limited—Tuesday-Sunday, 11:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. Order at the little counter, pick your sodas from the vintage cooler behind you and you pay (cash or check only) AFTER you are finished eating. You can expect to wait at least half an hour on the picnic tables or down by the lake before they knock on the window and hold up a whiteboard with your order number on it, but enjoy the view of the lake and it is worth the wait.
Daytrips:
Ottertail County is home to over 1,100 lakes so there is much to explore, even if the sun isn’t shining. Nearby towns that are worth exploring include: Battle Lake (30 miles)—home to old-fashioned candy shops, Falls Baking Company, Stub’s Dining Hall and Saloon. Detroit Lakes (30 miles)—famous for it’s two-mile sandy beach; a number of good restaurants, including the original Zorbaz; dining on the lake at l402 West Lake Dr. Detroit Lakes, MN 56501; casual cold ones, chili and sandwiches at Lakeside Tavern; and a great Sunday night buffet at The Dragon (located in the mall). Vergas (25 miles)—home of the $1.99 slice of homemade pie and coffee and also great breakfasts at The Loon’s Nest; hanging out with the locals at Billy’s Bar—featuring a Bloody Mary bar on Saturdays and Sundays; Skol with burgers, salads and great soups; and The Eagles Nest—a combination bait shop/laundromat/drive-in that serves the best old-fashioned malts in the area. Vergas is also home to fun shops, Looney Days (August) and some of the best fine dining in the area at Spanky’s on Rose Lake—just out of town on highway 4.
There are a number of festivals—like the Phelps Mill Festival (second weekend in July), where you can get amazing pork chops on a stick, pie ala mode, art shows and other events to keep you busy. Just do an Internet search to see what’s happening while you are in town.
Bait & Tackle: If you have come to Buchanan Lake Retreat for fishing on the lake outside your door or one of the other more than 1,000 lakes in the county, there are several places to get bait, tackle and any other gear you need. You will find bait and supplies at Carr’s in Ottertail, Gene’s Sport Shop in Perham, the Eagles Nest in Vergas, and several locations in Detroit Lakes. If you’re looking for something, simply ask any of the local gas stations or stores and they can point you in the right direction.
Whether you explore your surroundings, fish, swim, or just relax and enjoy the serene lake life, we want you to love your stay!