Classic Chain of Lakes Cottage

I really hope that someone doesn't buy the property at 3012 Darling Drive NW (160 feet, level, on Lake Darling) and tear it down but that is a strong possibility. That would be a shame. Take a look at the photo gallery and your mind will drift back years. As of today, the price has dropped to $650,000 (the original list price was $880,000) so the odds of someone buying this for the land only just increased. [Note: Until midnight, the price you will see is $699,000. The price changes has been entered in the MLS but won't be reflected until the IDX feed resets at midnight]

Cottage on Lake Darling

Want a small, easy to maintain lake cottage with level lakeshore? One just went on the market on Alexandria's Chain of Lakes.

Video : In A Chris-Craft Cruising by Lake Carlos' Three Havens Drive

Yesterday I wrote about Three Havens Drive and included a link to a video I shot in August of 2008 while passing by in a boat. I thought for sure I had video from this summer but had no luck finding it in my video files. Maybe it was a few strong cups of coffee on this humid morning or the clearer thinking after giving in and turning on the air conditioning, but I found it. The video begins at the Lazy Day Villas (notice the nice beach...it is for sale) and ends at a home designed and built by McCarten Design this year.

Touring Lake Carlos : Day 9, Eddy's to Three Havens Drive

A enjoyable stretch of road in Alexandria is the part of CR 42 that serpentines between Lake Le Homme Dieu and Lake Carlos. If you are in car and your windows aren't open, open them and enjoy the lake air. On your left after passing over the channel is Le Homme Dieu's Rotary Beach which always seems a little dangerous as it is full of people and cars that don't have much room between the road and beach. Adjacent to Rotary Beach is the Lake Le Homme Dieu Public Access. On the Lake Carlos side, you have a broad view of the west side of the lake. You will also pass the southeast corner and it will often have a lot of boats that are anchored. Flotillas develop into impromptu parties as the water isn't very deep so people can stand in the water or float comfortably. Continuing south on 42 there are lake homes on both sides of the road and Lake Carlos Villas (A), an eighteen unit time share on the right side. Starting just before the Villas, the lakeshore is level and some of the primest lakeshore in the area is located on Three Havens Drive. You can walk from the shoreline north for about a hundred yards and it is sandy with a water depth below most people's shoulders. My family used to own a little white cottage (C) on Three Havens Drive and I enjoyed it tremendously. Besides the great lakeshore and view, it is very quiet and feels like you have stepped back in time. Having Three Havens Grocery (B) so close was handy and fun. After a quick swim in the early morning I'd walk a bike over for coffee and the Wall Street Journal.  Another Three Havens business, Three Havens Artworks, is located at the south entrance of Three Havens Drive. Cute is word I try not to use but this is cute. You can buy art and also sign up for painting and pottery classes. There aren't any lake homes or cottages currently for sale on this stretch of Lake Carlos from Eddy's to the south entrance of Three Havens Drive but there is a resort for sale on Three Havens that has level lakeshore and a huge beach. I'll be surprised if it remains a resort after it sells as the lot is so nice that it will likely soon have a new large lake home.

[View a video I shot in 2009 while on a boat passing by Three Havens. The video ends at the resort for sale. Look for the volleyball net in the water as it is in front of the resort's shoreline]

Touring Lake Carlos : Day 8, Interlachen Drive

On Day 7, the tour of Lake Carlos ended at the south end of East Lake Carlos Drive. We will now turn right onto County Road 42 and travel south to one of my favorite drives in Alexandria, the pass through Lake Carlos and Lake Le Homme Dieu (this will be the start of Day 8). After turn right, residential homes will be passed and then you will reach the north entrance to Interlachen Drive. It is a coffee cup drive that has a south entrance near Eddy's Interlachen Inn. There are many nice homes on Interlachen Drive but none are currently for sale. Those that do live in this area have the benefit of having Eddy's as a neighbor. It is one of my favorite restaurants in Alexandria. They have good, reasonable priced food but mostly I enjoy it because of the atmosphere. Gayle Haanen is the owner and she is a really great person and her personality is reflected in her staff. It is very casual but you will experience great service.

Touring Lake Carlos : Day 7, East Lake Carlos Drive

Traveling south along the east side of Lake Carlos, East Lake Carlos Drive runs from the Long Prairie River to County Road 42.  Until you arrive at the Prairie Road intersection, both sides of the drive are fairly thick with trees and you won't find many homes on the east side (the side without lakeshore) of the drive. The lakeshore starts out level in the area of the Long Prairie River but soon rises giving most of the properties along this stretch mild to moderate elevation. There are some properties that have a nice, gentle slope to the shoreline but the majority have some elevation.  [homes for sale in this area of Lake Carlos] Continuing south, East Lake Carlos Drive has more of a residential feel to it as there mostly is light tree coverage, more homes on the non-lakeshore side of the tree and primarily year-round homes. Just south of the Prairie Road intersection there are some properties that have level lakeshore but the majority along this stretch have mild elevation from the shoreline. Nice, broad views of the lake are enjoyed all along East Lake Carlos Drive. [homes for sale in this area of Lake Carlos]

Lake Ida For Under $100,000

Located at the southwest corner of Lake Ida in Alexandria, Minnesota is a platted development named Ida Estates [download Ida Estates plat map]. The shoreline is protected in this area so instead of the owners putting in docks or lifts in front of their property, they share a common marina and have the right to one slip.

Lot #11 has arguably the best view of the lake and it is a short walk/bike ride/golf cart ride (in the image at the right, the lot location and the route to the marina is marked in red) to the marina on a paved road. The video below will show you the path to the marina, a community gazebo and the marina. Lot #1 is listed for sale at $99,900 and is .92 acres with 104 feet of lake frontage. It includes the ability to connect to public sewer and when you decide to build, you may use any builder you choose.

MLS 10-4639

Lake Carlos Resort For Sale

The Lazy Day Villa Resort located the south end of Lake Carlos is for sale. Well maintained and 150 feet of level lakeshore with large beach. 

Touring Lake Carlos : Day 6, Lake Carlos State Park to the Long Prairie River

Exiting Lake Carlos State Park will find you at the northeast corner of Lake Carlos and you will be on CR 38. If you were to stay on 38, you would end up at Hwy 29. But if you turn right at South Park Drive, you will continue your journey around the lake. You will find four properties for sale on South Park Drive and one of them is the Lake Carlos Marina (current list price $650,000). The lakeshore is level for the home and cabin owners of South Park Drive but many have reeds in front of them. Some may not find this appealing but let's consider the positives. Fishing is good, they are a sign of a hard bottom and if you have young swimmers, they provide a natural barrier between irresponsible boaters and your swimmers.

Eventually, South Park Drive turns to the east and this is where the Long Prairie River issues from the lake. You will find some convenient parking after you make the turn east and people beginning a tube journey along the river. I have done it and it is a good time.

Next: East Lake Carlos Drive

The Garden Tender

This afternoon I crossed paths with Kathy Stoeckel. Kathy was working in the garden of a client and I was taking my dog for a post-lunch walk. Her business is named The Garden Tender and her title is 'Owner & Loving Care Giver'. As I expected, she is extremely busy as people like myself that enjoy gardens but don't enjoy the work that produces a nice garden find her business appealing as do those with hectic work schedules or those that have second homes on an area lake.

The Garden Tender

telephone: 320.247.0815
email: garden@rea-alp.com