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Prior Lake Homes for Sale

Prior Lake

 

If you’re looking to buy a lakehome or to buy lakesides property in the suburbs of the Twin Cities, it’s hard to beat Prior Lake. With its namesake lake (divided into Upper Prior Lake and Lower Prior Lake) and nearby Spring Lake, the city has over two-and-a-half square miles of water, making buying a lakehome in Prior Lake easy due to the abundance of lakeside property for sale. The city is as rich in history as any other town in Minnesota, as it originally developed as a resort town. Today, Prior Lake homes offer a unique blend found only in Minnesota: lake homes or houses near the beach with unparalleled natural beauty, all in a location that is still conveniently close to everywhere you need to get to.

Prior Lake’s rich history starts in the 1850’s when the rest of areas around Minneapolis and St. Paul were developing into farm areas. At that time, Prior Lake was arising as a major resort destination. People from all across the United States began to build summerhouses and lake homes around the namesake lake. The beautiful lake areas attracted enough attention that eventually, when the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad went up in the middle of the century, the resort community boomed. Beginning in the 1880’s, the historic Grainwood Hotel began to host guests from all over the world. But by the 20th century, the resort area attracted enough attention to fill the areas with residential homes. Today, with the construction and improvement of Highway 13 and the appearance of commercial areas and malls, Prior Lake gives residents all the conveniences of suburban life while still maintaining the beauty and atmosphere of the lakeside resort it once was.

And if you’d like to buy a lake home or own lakeside property, there is hardly a better city than Prior Lake. With over 2.5 square miles of water within the city limits, over 15% of the city’s total area is comprised of lake land. Of course, you don’t need to buy a lake home in Prior Lake to enjoy the city’s lakes. The city’s grand total of 51 parks and 1,000 acres of parkland give Prior Lake homeowners and residents quick access to the lake, as well as other kinds of recreational activities. Fishermen and women will be happy to know that five of Prior Lake’s parks that offer lake access also offer dock and shore fishing. Some of the lakes are even stocked annually with northerns, bass, sunfish, and crappies.

Of course, you don’t need to be an avid fisherman to enjoy Prior Lake’s 51 parks! Everything from athletic fields and courts (including tennis courts, baseball fields, horseshoe pits, and more), to sledding hills, to archery ranges, to ice skating areas, to skate parks, to boat launches, to nature preserves can be found in Prior Lake’s parks. And the fact that there are 51 of them means that no matter what house you buy in Prior Lake, you’re guaranteed a home that’s not only near the beach –  it’s near a few parks as well.

But don’t let us paint a picture of Prior Lake that is all peaceful lakes and no excitement. While the areas along and around the lakes are primarily residential, a huge amount of the city (particularly along highway 13) is commercial. Everything from shopping to restaurants to even nightlife can be found in the city, and there is always something going on year round.

So buying a house in Prior Lake really gives you a unique blend of resort relaxation and suburban convenience. Because Prior Lake is one of the most water-abundant cities in all of the Twin Cities, finding a comparatively affordable lake home is easy, and finding a home near one of the city’s multiple beaches is easy as well. For a perfect combination of resort-like peace and suburban convenience, look no farther than Prior Lake.

Prior Lake Schools

 

The Prior Lake-Savage public school district is the primary schooling options for the majority of Prior Lake residents. The district has been consistently rated in the top ten in the Twin Cities for high-quality education. Schools within the district include the following:

 

  • Edgewood Elementary School
  • Five Hawks Elementary School
  • Glendale Elementary School
  • Grainwood Elementary School
  • Jeffers Pond Elementary School
  • Westwood Elementary School
  • Redtail Ridge Elementary School
  • Twin Oaks Middle School
  • Hidden Oaks Middle School
  • Prior Lake High School
  • Bridges Area Learning Center

 

Prior Lake is also home to one private Roman Catholic parochial school, St. Michael Catholic School, which serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade.

Prior Lake Hotspots

Restaurants

  1. The Cove Pub: The Cove is home to superb burgers and food and outstanding service. With onsite music and a great, friendly atmosphere, The Cove is a great place for nights out with friends or dinner with the family.
  2. Fong’s Restaurant and Bar: Fong’s is the best place in Prior Lake to get delicious Chinese food. Fresh food and a pleasant ambiance make it an enjoyable dining experience every time.
  3. Captain Jack’s: Located right on Prior Lake with a great view of the lake and sunsets, Captain Jack’s serves a variety of American cuisine in a location that’s hard to beat.
  4. T J Hooligan’s: Hooligan’s is Prior Lake’s home for Mexican and Tex Mex food. The bustling bar atmosphere makes it a great stop for friends and the big portions and delicious food makes it great for sharing.
  5. Perrons’ Sul Lago: One of the best date destinations in the suburbs is also a great Italian place near the lake in Prior Lake. Outstanding food and service make every visit worth every penny.

 

Entertainment

  1. Marcus Shakopee Cinema: Marcus Cinema, though not offering as many screens as other theaters in the area, is clean and not as croweded or busy as other movie theatres in the area.
  2. Valleyfair Amusement Park: Valleyfair is located right nearby in Prior Lake’s sister city, Shakopee, and provides a day’s worth of unforgettable entertainment for a whole family, featuring exciting roller-coasters and rides, fair activities, food, and more.
  3. Canterbury Park: Canterybury Park hosts horse races, making a great spot for families to come and enjoy food and drinks and for friends to gamble a bit. Special events and low prices in the excellent facility make this a great place to spend an afternoon watching the races.
  4. The Chanhassen Dinner Theater provides quality theatrical and musical entertainment that is appreciated and renowned throughout the Twin Cities Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
  5. SandVenture Aquatic Park: SandVenture Aquatic Park is a great place to visit for water fun. The park is home to a unique sand beach and sand-bottom, chlorinated pool, diving boards, two 12-foot drop slides, and the park’s 300-foot waterslide, SandVenture is a great place for Prior Lake families during the summer.

 

Leisure

  1. Lakefront Park: Prior Lake’s most popular park is a 141 acre park and is home to sports fields and courts for baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and has a nature preserve, an amphitheatre, a skate park, winter-time sledding hills and skating rinks, along with warming houses, playgrounds, picnic areas, and much more.
  2. Sandpoint Beach: This beach features, in addition to playgrounds, walking trails, and more, a swimming beach, a boat launch, boat slips, and a fishing dock.
  3. Fort Snelling: This historic fort marks the birthplace of modern Minnesota and is a wonderful spot for families and for visitors looking to learn more about our own history.
  4. Wood Lake Nature Center: The nature center features beautiful walking trails across the lake as well as informative programs that are great for kids or for a nice day out.
  5. Minnesota Zoo: The Zoo, located right in nearby Apple Valley, feature hundreds of kinds of animals for visitors and is both an educational and exciting way to spend time with family, friend and loved ones.

Prior Lake Community Events

 

One of the greatest things about buying a house in Prior Lake is the wonderful sense of community and the small resort-town charm that the city maintains. A large part of that sense of community is regularly fostered by the community events. From festivals to Ladies’ Night Out, there is always something going on in Lakeville. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the events:

 

  • Lakefront Days, held annually in the beginning of August, is a town festival featuring fireworks, helicopter rides, a parade, contests, games, inflatables, food, drink, and more.
  • The Prior Lake Farmer’s Market features local farmers’ fresh produce and fosters a sense of community as you get to know the farmers in the area and try out their delicious, local, very fresh food.
  • Ice Golf is an event held in the winter where families and friends get together and go out onto the lake and try their hand at golf on the ice.

 

Other events include the Fall Festival, concerts in the park, sports programs, special events, and much more. For more information on these and other events throughout the year, or to find out what events are coming up, visit the city calendar at http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/cgi-bin/calendar/long_calendar.cgi.

 

Prior Lake Parks and Lakes

 

Prior Lake is home to over 50 parks and 1,000 acres of parkland. Each park is unique and is home to its own unique set of amenities, from nature resource parks for the enjoyment of nature to community parks with well-maintained sports courts and fields. Here’s a quick snapshot of some of the more popular parks in the area:

 

  • Lakefront Park, Prior Lake’s most popular park is a 141 acre park and is home to sports fields and courts for baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and has a nature preserve, an amphitheatre, a skate park, winter-time sledding hills and skating rinks, along with warming houses, playgrounds, picnic areas, and much more.
  • The Ponds Park has similar sports fields and courts, but in addition has an archery range, a playground, a concession stand, a picnic shelter and area with useable grills, and more.
  • Sandpoint Beach features, in addition to playgrounds, walking trails, and more, a swimming beach, a boat launch, boat slips, and a fishing dock.
  • Watzl’s Point Beach also features a swimming beach, a fishing dock, and boat slips, in addition to an expansive picnic shelter with nearby grills and electricity.

 

This is of course only a small sample. For more information on these and other parks, as well as their locations if you are interested in a home nearby one of these parks, visit http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/parks_trails.shtml.

 

Prior Lake, as its name suggests, is also home to a number of lakes. The three most prominent and popular in the area are the following:

 

  • Lower Prior Lake
  • Upper Prior Lake
  • Spring Lake

 

Together, these three lakes form the majority of Prior Lake’s lake area. However, there are still a large number of smaller lakes and ponds in the area, such as Crystal Lake, Arctic Lake, Rice Lake, Blind Lake, and others.