Welcome to Medina
Medina is a private, rural city covering a vast area located around 20 miles west of Minneapolis. The vibe in Medina is nature-forward and equestrian-driven, and there are sprawling areas of woodland and open space. The community’s peaceful setting and proximity to Minneapolis have made it an idyllic choice for some of Minnesota’s most prominent residents.
Medina’s ample space and bucolic scenery provide the perfect setting for grand, single-family homes in a wide range of styles. Housing options include spectacular contemporary residences with attention lavished on every detail inside and outside the home.
What to Love
- Nature-forward and rural city
- Spectacular contemporary homes
- Equestrian-driven community with an annual rodeo
Local Lifestyle
Medina is home to many sports stars, including players and coaches from the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves, NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and MLB’s Minnesota Twins. The vibe is laidback, with open space extending in all directions. Low-key local attractions and traditional events such as the Hamel Rodeo add to Medina’s bucolic, country charm.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
The Medina Entertainment Center is a major local attraction offering an abundance of entertainment options. The Medina Ballroom at the Medina Entertainment Center hosts regular performances from an eclectic lineup of musical acts. Concerts also frequently take place on the patio outside the center’s restaurant, Robert’s Craft Kitchen. The menu includes a variety of mouthwatering craft burgers, handhelds, pasta dishes, Midwestern grilled specialties, and eclectic international kitchen classics. Robert’s also has 11 big screens showing live sports. Other amenities at the Medina Entertainment Center include a 12-lane bowling alley, which hosts leagues, parties, and open bowling.
The Medina neighborhood of Hamel has a historic Old Town downtown area dating back to the community’s founding in the 19th Century. Inn Kahoots is a standout saloon with an inviting small-town vibe. The location has served as Hamel’s main watering hole since the early 1900s and has been in business as Inn Kahoots since 1984. This local stalwart offers beer and bar eats, as well as a packed events calendar with regular live music and karaoke nights.
Things to Do
The Hamel Rodeo is a traditional bull riding bonanza, which takes place over five days each summer in the Medina neighborhood of Hamel. This annual highlight has grown from a humble beginning as a small fundraising event in 1981 to the largest professional rodeo in Minnesota. The daily events are preceded by free pony rides for kids and culminate in the Hamel Lions Rodeo Parade.
In the heart of Old Town Hamel, Hamel Legion Park is a recreational oasis spanning almost 40 acres. The many attractions and amenities here include baseball and softball fields, a sand volleyball court, tennis and basketball courts, and a children’s playground. During the winter, Legion Park offers a sledding hill and a skating rink with a warming house.
In the southern part of Medina, Wolsfeld Woods is a rare remnant of Minnesota’s ancient Big Woods ecosystem. Wolsfeld Woods features nature trails winding through this old-growth hardwood forest and the scenic picnic spot of Wolsfeld Lake. On the shores of Lake Independence, Baker Park Reserve sprawls across a gorgeous natural landscape of more than 2,700 acres. Here, the many attractions include miles of biking and hiking trails, lakeshore swimming beaches, and the 18-hole Baker National Golf Course.
Schools
Medina is served by the Wayzata School District in the east and Orono School District in the west. Both of these districts are ranked among the top ten public school districts in Minnesota.
