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.
