How Cuyuna (Crosby/Ironton area) earned the score
Population 338 (US Census 2020)
Situation A once depressed iron mining town founded in 1910 by Cuyler Adams, its mines closed by the 1960s and filled in with water, until local leaders rethought its position.
Action Built and stewarded miles of mountain biking trail over the former mine lands and mine lakes, tied to a clear riding identity.
Result Put a no name town on the map as a national caliber ride destination, with new bike businesses, a hostel, and adjacent paddle sport niches now growing around it.
Let’s Meet Cuyuna (Crosby/Ironton area), MN
Cuyuna, Minnesota, was a once depressed mining town until they found their creative city niche. Cuyuna was founded as an iron mining town in 1910 by Cuyler Adams. By the 1960’s the mines were closed and filled in with water. After economic struggle and hardship, Aaron Hautala, a marketing professional, and other local leaders started rethinking their position.
Making Use of an Old Mine
Cuyuna is 20 minutes from Brainerd and 2 hours from the cities, perfect for tourism. “What else do we have”, they thought. Flooded mines, great hiking terrain, and natural beauty, which points them towards outdoor tourism. Outdoor tourism is a broad category with many different subgroups, so they still needed to find the right creative city niche.
Backstory
The real genius of Aaron Hautala and taking on a creative city niche is that he is able to spread his message to a select, targetable group of individuals. Hautala had the ability to start a few places. He needed to be cost efficient because a dying community does not have extra money lying around. Trails are cheap to build and maintain. By creating a system of trails and making them for mountain bikes he creates a self spreading message. Mountain bikers are always looking for the next and coolest places to ride. By making that place Cuyuna, you only need to get a handful of mountain bikers there before everyone is coming. Mountain bikers all know each other and tend to ride in groups. Since you are providing an in demand service to a close knit group of people who are all looking for your service, the message will spread itself.
Community Resources
Making mountain biking trails instead of walking trails has helped the long term success of Cuyuna tremendously. Since mountain biking tailors to a younger crowd more than walking does, there is more likelihood of a younger person moving to town because of the niche they picked. Attracting workforce age people helps add to Crow Wing County and Cuyuna. A creative niche also helps keep people in small towns. It adds something for residents to be proud of and provides a community activity for young people.
A Self Marketing Initiative
Younger people are generally more willing to take larger risks as well. This is perfect. If you have an economy strongly structured around one interest, niche entrepreneurs will move in. For example, Cuyuna has bike races, a mountain biker hostel, and bike rental and repair shops. The economy continues to grow because of a targeted creative niche.
Sustaining and Growing Communities
The economy continues to grow even past expectations. More and more canoe and kayak rentals have been seen and talks of creating a system of paddle boat routes as well. Centering on one niche can be dangerous for the long term development and stability of an economy, but if a creative city niche is developed successfully, it should bloom other niches around it. Keep an eye on Cuyuna, their community will continue to move more and more towards outdoor recreation.
Entrepreneur Focus
By making their no name town one that competes on a global scale in having some of the best mountain bike paths, it puts Cuyuna on the map. Creative city niches work. Leavenworth, WA dressed their town up like a Bavarian village and now attracts true Bavarians to live there. Las Vegas has some of the most outrageous casinos, hotels, restaurants, and shows in the world all because of some gangster niche marketers. Consider creative niche marketing for your city to revitalize it. Try to put your town on a global level of competition to draw recognition, visitors, and immigrants to revitalize your economy.
Why Other Towns Should Follow Cuyuna (Crosby/Ironton area)’s Lead
Cuyuna (Crosby/Ironton area) ran the same play any town can run: pick one anchor, commit to it for decades, and protect the off season programming. Built and stewarded miles of mountain biking trail tied to a clear riding identity.