March, 2008
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
In response to a request from some local tourism business owners, the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association has put together a one-page flier called, ‘Why Drive the Byway’. The colorful flier answers the questions that visitors frequently ask, such as:
What is a byway?
Are there 'Paul Bunyan things' along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway?
Are there things to do with our family along the route?
If we just want to take a drive, will we be able to see lakes?
Where are the big pine trees?
The flier is meant to be a partner piece with the popular Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Tour Map/Guide. The free guide gives further details about sites along the route, shows the location of the byway towns and provides an easy to follow driving map.
Designed by JM Plein Consulting, ‘Why Drive the Byway’ picks up the signature Paul and Babe look that has now become familiar to so many through other byway projects also designed by Pleins, such as the interpretive panels and the byway website.
The flier is available as a pdf to any area organizations, businesses or individuals. To get your copy, contact the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association. Provide your name and email address. ‘Why Drive the Byway’ is a great resource to have if you’re a resident responsible for entertaining visitors, a business answering customers’ questions or an organization supporting and promoting the area.
To join the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association or to donate toward the byway's many community projects, download the Support the Byway form. Learn more about Membership.
February, 2008
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
 
It's listed in the Guinness World Book of Records as the world's largest rag doll. It even comes with its own wooden chair. It's one of a kind. It's coming soon to the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway exhibit room at the Crosslake Campground Corps of Engineers Administrative Building, and it's coming to stay.
Of course it is....because this is a Paul Bunyan rag doll. Constructed like a jointed Cabbage Patch doll and measuring nearly thirteen feet tall, ragtime Paul Bunyan will rule over the array of Bunyan memorabilia and exhibits that are on display weekdays from 8:30am-4:00pm.
That, however, won't be ragtime Paul's only job. He'll show up at various parades and community celebrations. Depending on his schedule, he may even be available for such things as library story hours or school visits.
How did a World Record holding Paul Bunyan rag doll find its way to the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway in Minnesota? The story starts with a vigilant Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association board member, Wayne Chamberlain. Wayne's alter ego is, in fact, Paul Bunyan.
For several years, he has been the official Byway Paul Bunyan, appearing in parades, acting as an event judge, being a celebrity reader, and performing many other 'Paul in the Community' roles. Wayne has an extensive Paul Bunyan memorabilia collection and he's always on the lookout for items to add to it.
So, while on an e-Bay shopping excursion, he noticed the big rag doll, complete with his own big chair. Wayne got in touch with the owner and told her about the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association and the Bunyan memorabilia exhibits.
Maybe there was a subconscious bond between the two 'Paul' alter egos, but whatever the reason, ragtime Paul and his chair became a donation to the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association. This spring visitors to the exhibit room in Crosslake will be able to view ragtime Paul, the world's largest rag doll.
January, 2008
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
Heroes and big shots often have sidekicks. Often folks seem to like sidekicks as much as their more flamboyant counterparts. Imagine Fred Flintstone without Barney, or Lucy without Ethel. Or, even more unthinkable, who could ever feature Paul Bunyan without Babe!
Indeed, our most famous local sidekick, is of course Babe, the Blue Ox. Babe is poised on the stage of notoriety once again as Josh Porter and his area arts funds-raising Ox Trot project offers a quirky and charming way to celebrate our collective fondness for the big ox. Babe lovers can buy or rent a big ox body, custom painted and fancied up if they wish, to display at an open-to-the-public site of their choice within the area.
And, that is exactly what will be happening at the Pine River Chamber of Commerce site this spring. Hunt Utility Group, LLC (HUG) has sponsored the ox that will call this site home. This ox has been declared the official Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway ox.
The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association is currently collaborating with Nolita Christensen of HUG and John Wetrosky of the Pine River Chamber of Commerce to design a clever, interpretive panel to accompany the ox. Regular users of the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway are already familiar with the appealing style of the informational panels in the roofed kiosks dotting the 54 miles of the route. This panel will weave together a story using elements of environmental sustainability, promotion of byway site visitation and Pine River history, using, of course, the familiar zesty spunk of the tall tale style spritzed throughout the panel story.
To become a publicly acknowledged sponsor for the interpretive panel project, send us an email. To learn more, visit these other sites.
Hunt Utility Group, Pine River Chamber, Ox Trot.
September, 2007
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
Paul Bunyan as Art 
A century has passed since Paul Bunyan’s heyday of logging in this area. But the Bunyan lore, legend and name carry on more robustly than ever. Public art along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway route pays homage to the good fun and ageless tourism-attracting power of Paul Bunyan.
Byway cities, Pine River, Pequot Lakes and Crosslake, have taken steps to capitalize on the public’s interest in ‘all things Paul’, and have developed some great public art items, or maybe public sculpture would be a more fitting term.
 The Pine River Chamber building has for years had a wooden replica of Paul Bunyan’s baby boots. People could stand in them for an interesting photo opportunity. This year, much bigger baby boots were fashioned and now stand proudly in the Pine River Chamber parking area providing a new Bunyan boot photo opportunity.
Pequot Lakes, already home to Paul’s bobber, added Paul Bunyan’s chair in the little park near the bobber water tower. With the right photo equipment, this could be a ‘double Paul shot’ with both the chair and the bobber in one image. That would be a great souvenir!
Crosslake sports Paul’s ax in front of the hardware store and an ice cream cone big enough for the logger himself in front of the ice cream store.
Is there more to come? Maybe. Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association representatives Lynn Scharenbroich and Linda Ulland spoke to the Pequot Lakes Park Board on September 13, 2007, about potential byway-wide public art grant opportunities along the entire scenic byway route. Byway grant funding can be applied for through the FHWA National Scenic Byways Program. Following the presentation, Mayor Cathy Malecha contacted the PBSBA to report that they are looking at whether there are any public art concepts that seem to be something they want to take the lead in pursuing.
There are fourteen jurisdictions along the 54 miles of the route: 6 cities, Breezy Point, Crosslake, Jenkins, Manhattan Beach, Pequot Lakes, Pine River; and 8 townships, Barclay, Gail Lake, Ideal, Jenkins, Mission, Pelican, Timothy, Wilson.
August, 2007
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
New Trail Maps Installed 
The maps are up at two popular Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway trail sites.
Both Veterans Walking Trail at Island Lake Woods on CSAH 16 in Jenkins Township and Chiarella Trail just off CSAH 11 in Breezy Point now have new fiberglass embedded trail map panels at the trailhead area. The panel at Veterans Trail was sponsored by the Pequot American Legion Auxiliary; the Chiarella Trail panel was sponsored by Narveson Management. Thanks to these sponsors, trail users can now view the entire trail layout before they set out, making it easier and more fun to plan their walk.
Trails at these two sites were created during 2001 and 2002 through a DNR National Recreation Trails grant that was awarded to the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association.
Since 2002, additional trails have been developed at the Veterans site, including the footbridge across Hay Creek that connects the south and north segments of the Island Lake Woods site, and the popular Wetlands Walk. The Wetlands Walk, a 500 foot wood decked walkway, gives trail users an up-close look at a shrub swamp and brings them to a picturesque island at the end of the walkway where a recently established loop trail takes them on a wooded walk around the island. The Sons of the American Legion-Pequot Lakes and Dave and Mary Badger have provided and continue to provide significant funding and work support for this site.
The trails are popular for more than just walkers. Birders, nature photo aficionados and wildlife watchers also enjoy the opportunities provided by these trails along the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway route.
Both Chiarella and Veterans Trails are open every day year ‘round. There is no charge to use them. The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association invites residents and visitors to stop by, see the new maps and walk the trails. Email for more information about these trails and other recreational opportunities along the Byway.
Spring, 2007
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
Byway History featured in Brainerd Lakes Area Relocation Guide
 The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway is featured in an article in the 2007 Business and Relocation Guide. Using the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway route to trek through some of the highlights of this area's history, the article piques interest by telling just enough to encourage a closer look. Noted along the route are such well-known historic sites as the Dakota/Ojibwe battle site on Crosslake, the US Army Corps of Engineers dam built in the late 1800's, Old Grade Road and Timothy Town Hall.
For those interested in getting out of the car and taking a walk through a bit of history, the Wetlands Walk pictured in the article may be just what the doctored ordered. The Wetlands Walk is a 500 foot boardwalk, part of the ever-evolving and improving Veterans Walking Trail on Crow Wing County Road 16. It connects the mainland of the site to an island of high ground. Historical accounts indicate this island was a campsite for Zebulon Pike during his mapping expedition in this area.
Some history aficionados prefer to sit down and visit with those who really know the area's special stories. For those folks, a gem of a story teller is noted by name. Dodo Fraser, life long resident and volunteer for the Crosslake Historical Society for many years, knows those special stories and a whole lot more. Taking the time to visit with her would add a treasured dimension to any history buff's day trip on the Byway.
To learn more about the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway, contact chair Lynn Scharenbroich at 218-543-4714 or email. To obtain a copy of the Business and Relocation Guide, contact the Brainerd Area Chambers of Commerce at 218-829-2838.
January, 2007
as printed in The Lake Country Echo
Exciting Byway Exhibit Underway
Drive the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway to the south side of Crosslake on County Road 66. Turn into the Crosslake Corps of Engineers Campground. Open the door of the Corps office building and walk into the multi-purpose room. It may not yet be to the breathtaking stage, but development of an exciting exhibit is underway.
Several key pieces of Wayne Chamberlain’s Paul Bunyan collection are included in the growing display, from historic advertising items using the famous logger’s face to children’s records, post cards, ‘Bunyan’ piggybanks and humor columns.
Adding to the exhibit’s appeal are historic clothing pieces, books, firearms and more, provided by historical re-enactor and Crosslake Corps director, Ray Nelson.
Lead by aesthetically gifted Byway Association board member, Kristi Kraemer, the room and exhibit design takes on added dimension and interest with each new piece that joins the display.
Kristi and her work group of Rod Nelson, Wayne Chamberlain and Ray Nelson, look at the task as a work-in-progress that will evolve for some time. A segment of the exhibit that will soon be added is the story of how the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway itself came to be.
The completed displays and evolving exhibits can be viewed during office hours at the Crosslake Corps of Engineers. Contact Deb or Ray at 218-692-2025 for winter hours.
To learn more about the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway, to donate toward this or the many other projects currently underway or to join the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association, contact chair Lynn Scharenbroich at 218-543-4714 or email.
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