See bald and golden eagles like never before – face to face!
The National Eagle Center is a tourist must-see and top Minnesota attraction that offers a unique viewing experience that brings visitors to within a few feet of these majestic raptors without any barrier in between. You can learn about eagles while standing right next to them – an unforgettable experience unlike any other!
Located in Wabasha, Minnesota, the National Eagle Center is home to several non-releasable Bald Eagles and a nesting place for hundreds of others who come for the winter.
Whether you wish to see these beautiful creatures up close, observe them in their prime habitat, incorporate their research into your own teachings, or donate to support their mission, they have a way for you to get involved.
Upcoming Events
Wabasha Port Authority finishes $283,000 in HVAC Grants to Local Businesses
The Wabasha Port Authority and the City of Wabasha, recently wrapped up a three-year grant, totaling $284,835 in assistance to 17 small businesses to upgrade their HVAC systems in response to COVID-19. The Port secured these funds through a competitive process through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Small Cities Program, which awards grants through the Federal Department of Housing and Urban
Paul busch, paul busch auto center
Development. The HVAC grant program allowed the Wabasha Port Authority to provide businesses in Wabasha up to $25,000 to improve the air circulation in their buildings. In the process, the Port also worked with 11 different HVAC and electrical contractors, based in Wabasha, Kellogg, Lake City, and Plainview.
“Our new system is working great,” said Paul Busch, owner of Paul Busch Auto Center, one of the grant recipients, “All our employees have mentioned what a difference it has made as soon as the system was installed. Our customers cannot believe how comfortable it is in our showroom now that it is up and running. Thank you Wabasha Port Authority for making this grant available to us.”
Dawn cripe and jerry hinrichs – west side tavern
Jerry Hinrichs and Dawn Cripe have owned West Side Tavern since 2020. A month after they took ownership, they had to close their business due to Covid-19. “Luckily, everyone wanted a local bar,” said Dawn, so business picked up again. However, the lack of good heating and cooling units meant the bar would get really hot and uncomfortable fast if it got crowded. Their new HVAC system was installed last December. “Grumpy Old Men Days, it started getting really crowded in the bar and hot. We turned the air conditioning on, and it quickly cooled down the building in 15 minutes. It was great!”
Jeff and annie wang, fresh wok
Fresh Wok was the last project that the Port was able to fund. The contractor who replaced the system, Rodney Banks of Banks Heating and Air Conditioning, Lake City, was very glad Fresh Wok was able to obtain the grant, because the existing roof top unit had a defect that could have caused serious harm.
“When we went to replace the unit, said Banks, “We found cracks in the old heat exchanger, probably from hail damage. That represented a major fire and carbon monoxide hazard that we were able to avoid through the grant.”
Jeff Wang, the owner of Fresh Wok, was extremely grateful for the grant as well. “Our air feels cleaner. The efficiency of our new system is felt by everyone who chooses to dine with us.”
Other grant recipients included Silver Star Saloon, Old Triangle Pub, Local World Gallery, Eagle Valley Chiropractic, SVJ Creative Designs, Pure Identity Salon, River Valley Outfitters, REMAX, Xtreme Image Salon, Broken Paddle, Gerken’s, Slippery’s, Binner Lakeshore Agency, and Marcou Realty.
Spend the Weekend in Wabasha-Kellogg
Friday Afternoon
Arrive in Wabasha and check-in at your hotel, bed and breakfast, or campground. Head downtown and visit some of the boutiques around Main Street. Stop in Heritage Park for Music Under the Bridge – a summer favorite featuring a different musical group every Friday evening.
Friday Evening
Walk along the riverfront to Slippery’s for dinner at the iconic destination for all Grumpy Old Men Fans. Enjoy dinner inside or on the patio and take in the beautiful view of the bridge and Mississippi River.
Saturday
Start your morning off on the right foot with breakfast at Town & Country Cafe in Kellogg. Find everything you need for a delicious breakfast: homemade cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy, and more!
Walk down the street to the National Eagle Center, your destination for everything eagles. Explore the museum and learn about the magnificent birds and history of eagles in our culture. Step out onto the observation deck and take in the breathtaking view of the Mississippi River, while trying to spot eagles in the wild. Stick around for the engaging live eagle program and meet eagles ‘nose-to-beak’ within the center.
Ready for lunch? The staff at Silver Star Saloon is waiting to serve you! Grab a booth and try one of the many famous burgers offered on their menu. Another must try? The stuffed mushrooms – yum!
Pick up a walking tour brochure from the Chamber of Commerce and take a leisurely walk through the Commercial Historic District. Learn about the businesses that used to occupy the historic buildings on Main Street and reminisce about life in Wabasha in the late 1800s.
Round out your day with a Sunset Tour with Broken Paddle Guiding. Enjoy a leisurely paddle through the side streams and River and enjoy the stunning views of the sunset on the Mighty Mississippi. End the tour with a tasty craft brew at Reads Landing Brewing Co. If you’re hungry, stick around for dinner – you won’t regret it!
Sunday Morning
Rise and shine! Visit The Chocolate Escape for a breakfast treat. Enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee to start off your day.
Hop in your car and drive to LARK Toys, the ultimate stop for kids and kids at heart. Wander through the toy store, peek in at the workshop, and reminisce while looking at the Toys of Yesteryear. Play a round of mini golf and finish off your weekend with a ride on the hand carved carousel – a must for all!
Feeling hungry? The Front Porch for lunch. Enjoy a juicy hamburger or cold beer from the bar, also enjoy Live Music many nights of the week!
Volunteer with WideSpot and Enjoy Free Events
Enjoy a free concert at WideSpot by helping out at our box office or bar! We are always looking for good people to volunteer while having a great time at our events. Interested? Call Pat at (651) 214-9537.
AARP Welcomes Wabasha and Kellogg, Minnesota into the Network of AgeFriendly States & Communities
For More Information, Contact:
Jenny Schlagenhaft
jtschlagenhaft@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wabasha, Minn. —The population of the United States is rapidly aging. By 2030, one of every five people in the U.S. will be 65 or older. By 2035, the number of adults older than 65 will be greater than the number of children under 18. These statistics are amplifying efforts to engage and mobilize communities across the country to implement changes that make communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults.
The organization behind this national initiative is AARP. Recently, it welcomed Wabasha-Kellogg into its Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. Now numbering 755 communities, the Network provides resources and information on age-friendly best practices, models and research to members working to improve community livability. Membership offers opportunities to collaborate and learn from others working toward the same goal.
AARP Minnesota State Director, Cathy McLeer said, “Well-designed, livable communities promote well-being, independence and resilience, sustain economic growth, and make for happier, healthier residents. Governor Walz, the Minnesota Legislature and the Governor’s Council on an Age-Friendly Minnesota have taken important action to encourage community participation to ensure our state adapts to the needs of our aging population and changing world.”
Locally, this work began earlier this year in response to the Wabasha County Community Health Needs Assessment. Last year’s assessment identified senior health and mental health as the most important health priorities to address over the next three years. Local action teams have been in place for many years to address these health priorities and implement programs and activities that improve the quality of life for seniors and the mental well-being of all citizens.
Joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities was the first step taken by the Wabasha County Senior Action Team to help identify and implement opportunities to make Wabasha and Kellogg more livable and better able to support people of all ages. Launching an age-friendly initiative confirms a commitment to enable the very old, the very young, and everyone in between to thrive at every age and every life stage. An age-friendly model is derived from the eight domains of livability, which empower people to stay active, engaged, and healthy with dignity and independence as they age.
The AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities targets improvements in the eight domains, originating from the World Health Organization, that influence the health and quality of life for all as we age. Communities participating in the AARP Network commit to improving their livability through an assessment of needs, development of an action plan, implementation of new projects and programs, and ongoing evaluation – all with the involvement of older residents. The eight areas of focus for the age-friendly process are:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Transportation
- Housing
- Social participation
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment
- Communication and information
- Community support and health services. Based on input from community members, livability projects are planned, implemented, and evaluated in three phases over a five-year period, with continued assessment and improvement cycles to follow.
“Our age-friendly team represents many local organizations and older citizens and is currently developing a needs assessment that invites community members to identify priorities we need to address that will improve livability and make our communities great places to live, work, and play,” explained Jenny Schlagenhaft, team member. “Participation from a cross-section of local residents will guide the development of an action plan to make Wabasha and Kellogg more age-friendly for all. Community members are encouraged to watch for more information in newspapers and social media about how they can participate in this important assessment process.”
The W-K Age-Friendly Team meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. at the Wabasha County Public Health Conference Room, 411 Hiawatha Drive. E, Wabasha. In-person and virtual options provide flexibility for members to engage in this important work. Interested community residents are welcome to attend.
Photo: Jim Scheibel, professor of Practice, Hamline University School of Business and longtime volunteer of AARP presents a Certificate of Membership to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities to members of the Wabasha-Kellogg Age-Friendly Team. Pictured from left: Jessica Mollison, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota; Jenny Schlagenhaft, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Clinics; Kathy Geraghty, community volunteer; Maggie Sonnek, Gundersen Health System; Jim Scheibel, Rita Fox, co-chair, Wabasha County Senior Action Team; Mandy Edelbach, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s; Camille Bruns, Southeast MN Area Agency on Aging; and Jodi Johnson, Wabasha County Public Health and co-chair, Wabasha County Senior
Action Team. Not pictured: Tina Moen, Wabasha County SHIP; Abby Oxendine, Gundersen St. Elizabeth’s; Dana Bergner, Three Rivers Community Action; Bonnie Sandberg, Elder Network; Bev Hall, Wabasha Library; Emily Durand, mayor of Wabasha; Scott Lien, GrandPad; Deb Anderson, UCC Church; Jada Herman, Hiawatha Valley Mental Health; and Alethea Broadwater, Elder Network.
