Fall Forest

DID YOU KNOW?

"Wahkon" is the Indian name for "spirit."

The Soo Line railroad company adopted the name because the early Native Americans knew Mille Lacs Lake as "Spirit Lake."

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The Story of Wahkon

Tucked along Mille Lacs Lake's south shore, Wahkon was the earliest settlement in the Mille Lacs Lake area, beginning its history in 1885. It was platted on the southeast shore of Mille Lacs Lake by the Soo Railroad Company near the site of the old town of Lawrence, once an American Indian trading post.

Robert and Ben Briggs built a log cabin near the old site of the Soo Line Depot, acted as land surveyors and located men on claims as families began moving into the area. In 1907, with the coming of the railroad, the Wahkon town site was set up and in 1912 it was incorporated as a village.

Wahkon was a typical "boom town" of the early days with American Indians, lumberjacks, ox and horse teams filling the town's streets. The town became a rail terminal and the docking point for large logging company steamers that transported logs from all points around the lake.

Today the community is booming again with a revitalized main street which includes a post office, realtors, ice cream shop, on and off-sale liquor, convenience store with gas pumps, two bars, restaurants, several craft and quilt shops, a hotel, health spa, thrift store, accounting business, Christmas store and coffee shop. Several resorts are located in town and nearby. Wahkon has a city park and boat launch facilities to serve tourists and visitors.

Wahkon Centennial Award Winning!

We wanted to pass along fantastic news about Wahkon's centennial. Deb of the Mille Lacs Messenger brought in a copy of page 27 of the 2006-2007 MNA Better Newspaper Contest wherein first place was awarded to the Mille Lacs Messenger, Isle for "The Wahkon Enterprise".
There were 32 entries for newspaper producing weeklies of 2,501 to 5,000. This is what they said "The Wahkon Enterprise: Innovative concept that was executed very, very well. This project has unique style, from color and type to photos. Even the ads reflect the theme as a whole. Readers will save and savor this series. Just a terrific job overall from all staff members."
Way to go Randy Christensen, Mille Lacs Messenger staff & everyone that submitted pictures and stories! Thanks for making Wahkon's centennial AWARD WINNING!!!! We knew it all along, however it is great to receive official kudos!