Events
Stay Updated
Loons & Lakes Trivia
Nov 12 | 6:00-8:00pm
The North Star
Join us for the looniest night of trivia hosted by NLC & WAPOA in our new Breezy Point location, The North Star! The same trivia you know and love in an exciting new place. As always, bring in old lead tackle to receive bonus points!
Back to Basics
Feb 7
Pine River-Backus Schools
Happy Dancing Turtle's annual sustainability event is just around the corner! Stop by our booth to chat all things loons, shop around at other amazing vendors tables, and register for educational workshops that will bring you "Back to the Basics"!
2026 Loons & Lakes Festival
June 26-27
Crosslake, MN
Save the date for the third annual Loons & Lakes Festival hosted by the National Loon Center! Stay tuned for more details about the loony events taking place in June 2026.
The National Loon Center's Progress
2023
The National Loon Center announces an enhancement to the original site plan that placed the building on federal lands managed by the USACE. While maintaining programming and amenities at the Cross Lake Recreation Area, the NLC acquired nearby private lands to build the world-class facility and develop a sustainable natural campus with parking on-site. The nearby site spans nearly 10 acres between CSAH 3 Swann Drive and CSAH business trip. The Minnesota legislature allocates $2.5 million to the City of Crosslake to support the Center's construction as part of the bonding bill.
2022
In collaboration with the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Loon Center, completed a shoreline restoration project near the boat landing at the Cross Lake Recreation Area. A floating dock system was also installed at the bay to prevent further erosion of the shoreline, with dedicated mooring stations for visitors of the campground and public use. An outdoor exhibit on loon calls was installed near the recreation area entrance.
2021
Archeological reviews and site planning at the Crosslake Recreation Area were completed and outdoor site enhancement began. In June of 2021, the NLC opened a temporary information center, called The Nest, in Crosslake Town Square, engaging around 4,000 visitors in its first year.
2019
Minnesota lawmakers approved $4 million to build National Loon Center in Crosslake. National Loon Center finalized a 25 year land lease with US Army Corps of Engineers at the future site location of the facility: the Cross Lake Recreation Area.
2018
The National Loon Center Community Input and Master Plan are developed by the University of Minnesota Center for Sustainable Building Research. The University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, Department of Applied Economics and the National Loon Center Foundation produce a Market Feasibility Study and Impact Assessment
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