The Biggest Town of its Size
A place of Progress and Pride
LOCATION
The community of Grygla, founded in the late 1890's by homesteading pioneers, is
located in Northwestern Minnesota on the Eastern edge of Marshal County within
an hours drive from employment opportunities in Thief
River Falls, Warroad, and Roseau.
Grygla offers a high quality of rural lifestyle in a clean, small town
atmosphere.
Grygla is proud to have a neat and clean city. There is a strong work ethic here and a great deal of community pride. Grygla has progressive city government which is continually seeking to attract business and industry.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
The region is rich in agricultural resources, with related businesses and
services supporting the diversified farm enterprises common to the area.
Local industry providing employment opportunities, include Machinewell Inc., manufacturer of metal parts, and May Corporation, producer of custom made seating products for the handicapped.
Grygla offers a good selection of retail and service businesses, including motel accommodations, and dining establishments. A locally owned independent bank provides FDIC insured banking services.
SERVICES
A fully equipped volunteer fire department and rescue squad provide 24 hour
emergency service to Grygla and surrounding communities. Law enforcement
protection and municipal water, sewer, and waste management services are
provided. The district forestry headquarters and soil and water
conservation offices are located here. A large community center is available
for various activities. Electrical and telephone services are provided by
regional cooperative utilities. Other services include a local weekly
newspaper, cable TV, licensed day care, and regional bookmobile.
HOUSING
Grygla has a modern motel, rental apartments, mobile home court, low-income
housing units and other available housing. Affordable building lots are
available for people desiring to relocate in a friendly community.
EDUCATION
The Grygla-Gatzke School District
offers a comprehensive curriculum for elementary and secondary students.
An updated interactive TV system has expanded educational opportunities. Students
are involved in many extra-curricular activities. The school district's
mission statement is "all students will learn and succeed".
WORSHIP
Four churches of different faiths are within the city, and several rural
churches are around the area. Active church groups are available for youth
and adults.
ORGANIZATIONS
A strong network of organizations are constantly working toward community
betterment, including Jaycees, Women of Today, Lions, Lioness, VFW, American
Legion and Auxiliaries, 4-H, Kids' Club, Sportsmen's Clubs, and Merchant
Organizations, Homemakers Groups and Garden Clubs. These clubs raise funds
for community projects, and sponsor numerous events, including the annual
Harvest al held the weekend before Labor Day and many other seasonal
celebrations.
NATURE
Grygla is proud of its clean air and water. We are rich in natural
resources: large varieties of wildlife (elk, deer, bear, moose, ducks, geese)
and many other species of wildlife, wild fruit and wildflowers. Grygla is
a central location of many wildlife areas and public lands, noted as good
hunting areas. Among them are the Thief Lake Wildlife Refuge to the north,
the Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge
to the west, and the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area to the east. These
are the largest wildlife areas in the state.
RECREATION
In the city, recreation includes tennis courts, horseshoe pits, softball and
baseball fields, outdoor basketball, tow parks, a hiking trail, modern camping
facilities, and an indoor ice skating rink. A network of groomed snowmobile
tails passes through Grygla providing some of the best snowmobiling
opportunities in the Midwest.
SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
GATZKE
The community of Gatzke, located northwest of Grygla in Rollis Township, is a
peaceful town in the center of a progressive farming area. It is also on
the edge of the Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area where many species of birds
and wild animals can be seen, including the state's only free-roaming elk.
FOURTOWN
A combination restaurant, grocery and gas station is located where four
townships meet 14 miles east of Grygla along Highway 89. Fourtown is the
gateway to the Beltrami
Island State Forest. Many miles of groomed snowmobile trails, and
miles of beautiful forest roads lead from the Fourtown stopping place.
Hunting, berry picking, and bird watching are some activities that bring people
to the area. Forest campgrounds are available north of Fourtown near
historic Norris Camp.
SKIME
Skime is located about 16 miles north of Grygla on the western edge of the Beltrami
Island Forest. Cabins, gas, groceries and supplies are available at
the Skime Store. Hayes
Lake State Park is just a few miles northeast of Skime where canoeing,
fishing, swimming, camping and berry-picking attract visitors. There are
many tree nurseries near Skime as well as ski trails and snowmobile trails.