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Cottage Grove Homes for Sale

Cottage Grove

 

Cottage Grove, located right along the north bank of the Mississippi River, is home to some of best bluffs and vistas of the river in Minnesota. Once a rural township enjoying the rich riverside soil, separated from the urban excitement by the Mississippi, Cottage Grove has developed into a major suburb offering lakeside homes, riverfront property, over 40 parks, community festivals, and much more. Buying a house in Cottage Grove allows homebuyers that rich riverside lifestyle in an affordable suburban environment and setting.

When settlers first built houses and homes in Cottage Grove, the riverside property was teeming with oak trees and had wild, open prairie space. Settlers took the beautiful land and converted it largely into farmland for dairy farmers, and the area became famous for its dairy products and creameries. That led to more development, and the town quickly became a popular area for its close location to the river, which was not only beautiful but a major source of transportation.

Today, the city has developed into a primarily residential suburb offering a rich variety of parks and public spaces near the river. With a total of 42 city parks (a comparatively large number for a suburb) and with a huge chunk of the city’s area devoted to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, there are almost unlimited recreational outlets for Cottage Grove homeowners and residents. Everything from lighted tennis courts and football fields to ice skating rinks and public pools to Frisbee golf courses to archery ranges can be found at one (or multiple) of Cottage Grove’s parks. And the abundance of parkland means that a quick picnic or pick-up sports game is usually only a couple blocks from any Cottage Grove home you choose to buy.

But having fun in Cottage Grove doesn’t end there. The city is home to one of the only drive-in movie theatres in all of Minnesota, and is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants, movie theatres, bowling alleys, and more. On top of all that, the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce and the Cottage Grove City Council are always putting on events, from parades and fireworks to live music festivals. Though the city is definitely quiet and peaceful, don’t mistake that quiet for boredom: There is always something going on in Cottage Grove.

But even though Cottage Grove is full of fun and recreational outlets, homeowners and residents of the city certainly don’t mind that their home town is just eight miles south of St. Paul. Residents are just a quick drive from downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis, making entertainment options, as well as employment options, even more numerous as well as convenient. Cottage Grove homeowners thus get to enjoy all the excitement of the Twin Cities while enjoying the peace and quiet of their riverside community.

One last great reason to buy a house or home in Cottage Grove is its great school system. A reputation of academic success and a huge number of options for students, from alternative education programs to Spanish immersions programs, not to mention the area’s private schooling options, make it a great place to raise a family.

For all these reasons combined, from the parkland to the festivals, and from the beautiful riverfront vistas to the proximity to the excitement and employment opportunities of the city, and from the great school system to the rich history, buying a home in Cottage Grove is a great decision.

Cottage Grove Schools

 

Cottage Grove is home to an outstanding public school system, led by the South Washington County School District 833. The district is known for its academic achievements and its consistent improvements upon itself in quality of education. The public schools within the district are as follows:

 

  • Armstrong Elementary School
  • Bailey Elementary School
  • Cottage Grove Elementary School
  • Crestview Elementary School
  • Grey Cloud Elementary School
  • Hillside Elementary School
  • Liberty Ridge Elementary School
  • Middleton Elementary School
  • Newport Elementary School
  • Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion School
  • Pine Hill Elementary School
  • Pulman Elementary School
  • Red Rock Elementary School
  • Royal Oaks Elementary School
  • Valley Crossing Community School
  • Woodbury Elementary School
  • Cottage Grove Middle School
  • Lake Middle School
  • Oltman Middle School
  • Woodbury Middle School
  • East Ridge High School
  • Park High School
  • Woodbury High School
  • Alternative Learning Center

 

In addition to these public schools, there is a nearby Jewish High School, Yeshiva High School, as well as other private schools in nearby St. Paul Park.

 

Cottage Grove Hotspots

Restaurants

  1. Bamboo Garden: Bamboo Garden is Cottage Grove’s home for Chinese food. Great food, great staff, and a clean environment make it great any time of day.
  2. American Motorsports Bar: This local family-owned bar and grill serves delicious American (pulled pork sandwiches, burgers, onion rings, and more). It’s always got a fun atmosphere and is great for watching the game.
  3. Ho King Restaurant: Besides Bamboo Garden, Ho King is another Asian restaurant with great food and friendly, quick service. The homey feel is welcoming and pleasant.
  4. Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant: Fresh salsa and chips greet you as soon as you sit down, and great staff and reasonable prices make every lunch or dinner enjoyable.
  5. Carbone’s: This local pizzeria is a great spot to grab a beer and get a delicious, cheap meal with friends. Delivery is also available.

 

Entertainment

  1. Cottage View Drive-In Theater: One of the only drive-in theaters in Minnesota, this place is a great spot to enjoy movies with family, friends, or whoever else you can fit in your car.
  2. AMC Showplace 16: The nearest movie theatre also happens to be the cleanest and most professional movie theatre east of St. Paul. But it also has rather steep ticket prices, though.
  3. The Mall of America: Minnesota’s biggest tourist attraction brings millions of visitors each year from all over the world. The Mall of America remains the largest shopping mall in America and features an entire theme park, restaurants, activities, and of course, shopping, all just minutes away in Bloomington.
  4. Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium: The aquarium is the perfect destination for family fun and makes a great date spot as well. With over 10,000 sea creatures, including sharks, sea turtles, rays, jellyfish, seahorses and more, visitors are sure to have an exciting time.
  5. Park Grove Bowl: Cottage Grove’s home for bowling features 24 lanes, with food and a bar, as well as pool, darts, and video/arcade games. It’s a great place for group fun.

 

Leisure

  1. Oakwood Park: Oakwood Park is Cottage Grove’s home for Frisbee golf. It also is home to a volleyball court, a baseball field, a picnic shelter with tables and grills, a playground area, and walking trails.
  2. Mississippi Dunes Golf Course: The Mississippi Dunes is an 18 hole semi-private golf course with a country club atmosphere in a public course setting, right on the banks of the Mississippi River.
  3. Cottage Grove Municipal Pool: The municipal pool has a swimming and wading pool open to the public, as well as a picnic building.
  4. Hamlet Park: Hamlet Park is home to five baseball fields, basketball courts, a lighted football field, a hockey rink, a pleasure skating rink (both lighted at night with a warming house), three soccer fields, four lighted tennis courts, two lighted volleyball courts, and walking trails.
  5. The Mississippi River and Recreation Area: This recreation area, maintained by the National Park Service, features beautiful vistas on top of bluffs and has a history of significance as both a spiritual site and a tourist attraction.

 

Churches

  1. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church
  2. Lighthouse Baptist Church
  3. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church
  4. Yeshiva Congregation
  5. Hope Community Church
  6. St. Rita’s Catholic Church
  7. Jehovah’s Witnesses Church
  8. Peaceful Grove United Methodist

 

Cottage Grove Community Events

 

From kickball leagues and homerun derbies to golf events and festivals, Cottage Grove is home to a wide number of events throughout the year to foster a sense of togetherness and fun in the community. Those who buy a home in Cottage Grove can quickly become situated and make friends at one of the many events through out the year. Here’s a quick snapshot of events throughout the year:

 

  • Every June, Cottage Grove hosts the four-day-long strawberry Fest. Over 20,000 people join in to enjoy the delicious food, live music, the carnival, games, contests, and much more.
  • Held annually each winter by the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, the Cottage Grove Holiday breakfast warms hearts and stomachs by kicking off the holiday season by serving breakfast to Cottage Grove residents.
  • In August the police department hosts the fun and educational Night to Unite, which offers food, contests, and more.
  • During December, Cottage Grove is home to the annual Santa Breakfast held at the River Oaks Golf Course. Children will enjoy the magic of Christmas and Santa Clause come alive with food and special visits with St. Nick.

 

This is just a short sample of events held throughout the year. For more information on these and other events, visit the city calendar at http://www.cottage-grove.org/calendar/city_calendar.php.

Cottage Grove Parks and Lakes

 

Those who buy a home in Cottage Grove will be happy to know that the city is served by over 40 parks, with a wide variety of amenities. Thus those looking to buy a house in Cottage Grove can rest assured that practically whatever property they purchase, they will be able to live in a house just a quick walk from the park. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the more prominent parks in the city:

 

  • Oakwood Park is Cottage Grove’s home for Frisbee golf. It also is home to a volleyball court, a baseball field, a picnic shelter with tables and grills, a playground area, and walking trails.
  • The municipal pool has a swimming and wading pool open to the public, as well as a picnic building.
  • Pine Tree Pond Park has an archery range, a baseball field, a sledding hill, a playground, and picnic tables.
  • Hamlet Park is a large park features five baseball fields, basketball courts, a lighted football field, a hockey rink, a pleasure skating rink (both lighted at night with a warming house), three soccer fields, four lighted tennis courts, two lighted volleyball courts, and walking trails.

 

Cottage Grove is home to many other parks besides these four, so for more information on these and other parks, and for their locations, visit the Cottage Grove Parks and Recreation Department online at http://www.cottage-grove.org/parks_rec_parks.htm.

 

Cottage Grove is also home to a number of lakes and ponds. As the city on the north bank of the Mississippi River, residents and homeowners also enjoy the natural beauty and recreational outlets of the nearby river. Lakes in the area include the following:

 

  • Spring Lake
  • Baldwin Lake

 

Besides these two larger lakes, there are a number of smaller lakes and ponds in the area that contribute to the city’s four total square miles of water.