About Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is committed to promoting the Owatonna area and its business community. Armed with passionate and knowledgeable staff, the Owatonna Chamber will ensure your next event is a success. “We are continually looking to grow events, festivals, and sporting tournaments,” the Owatonna Chamber team says.
Mission Statement
The Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism is dedicated to the prosperity of our member businesses and the vitality of the area. The Chamber’s board and staff are guided by these principles:
1. Responsibility – Accountable for managing and governing the Chamber with integrity.
2. Relationships – Open communications and transparency in all endeavors to benefit the Chamber, members and the area.
3. Representation – Recognizing the diverse needs of businesses with innovative approaches, solutions and determined leadership.
Featured Facilities
Four Seasons Centre
Located on the Steele County Fairgrounds, the Four Seasons Centre boasts 20,000 square feet of floor space capable of serving as ice rinks. The complex also features a large flexible meeting space. The Four Seasons Centre has successfully hosted everything from concerts and conventions to figure skating shows and hockey tournaments.
Daikin Soccer Complex
Opened in the spring of 2021, the Daikin Soccer Complex is a youth and adult soccer complex complete with a full-sized field and multiple mid and small fields. In recent years, soccer has been continually growing, and the Daikin Soccer Complex provides the infrastructure to support this growth for the future.
Miracle League & Manthey Park
Owatonna is breaking down barriers with its newly finished inclusive baseball park and playground. The baseball diamond features a custom rubberized field that accommodates wheelchairs and other needs. Next door, the Manthey Park playground was designed to provide a space for all ages and abilities to play safely. The playground features a rubberized ground and inclusive equipment for all children. The baseball diamond and playground provides a safe, welcoming experience for all.
Things to Do
With 28 parks and 17 miles of trails, Owatonna is the perfect place to unwind outdoors with a nature walk during any season. Or, for some retail therapy, head to the Medford Outlet Center for outdoor shopping with retail rates. In addition to its quaint amenities today, Owatonna has plenty of new amenities in the works. “We have a lot of new things coming. Our downtown is historic, and we are just rebuilding life into it right now, so it will really expand. It’s the core of our town,” the Chamber team notes.
Back to Yesteryear
Checking out the historic downtown is a must. Owatonna’s historic roots are a major part of its scenic, quaint identity today. In 2015, the historic downtown was named as a Nationally Registered Historic District. The historic district includes Central Park, a major focal point of town, and the point from which the town was built around in the 18th century. Central Park is surrounded by three distinct properties, also listed in the National Register of Historic Places: the National Farmers Bank, the Steele County Courthouse and the Firemen’s Hall. The National Farmer’s Bank, one of only a handful in the country, was designed by the famous architect Louis Sullivan. Owatonna offers many guided tours of its historic attractions, like the one-and-only Orphanage Museum and the Village of Yesteryear, a 19-structure site depicting life in the 20th century.
Major Events
Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic
For 42 years, Corky’s Early Bird Softball Classic has been attracting adult slow-pitch softball teams to southern Minnesota. Over the years, the tournament has grown exponentially, and today it is still held in Owatonna as well as surrounding cities due to the magnitude of the event. The tournament is held the first weekend in May and features 200 of the best men’s and women’s teams from across the US and Canada.
The tournament is also a community event with proceeds going back to local charities and youth organizations.
Travel Tips
One of the best aspects of Owatonna is its easy access. Located right off Interstate 35-W, Owatonna is a simple destination from neighboring cities like Minneapolis and Rochester. Owatonna offers a small town feel with every amenity. The town offers nine hotels for every price point, all conveniently located near the downtown and sports facilities. A brand-new Courtyard Marriott will be opening in 2022 in the heart of downtown Owatonna, offering a high-end hotel and restaurant experience for visitors.
For more information and to learn more about hosting your next event in Owatonna, head to their Playeasy profile here today!
Owatonna’s Social Media
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