Pelican Pete finds new perch along Pelican Rapids waterfront

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Pelican Pete, Pelican Rapids’ most famous riverfront landmark, was placed atop his new perch on Wednesday after a dam along the Pelican River was removed and replaced with a graded rapids system.

The $2.7 million dollar Pelican Rapids project was one of several projects spearheaded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources designed at replacing aging, out of service, dams along waterways, which will allow fish more natural spawning opportunities upstream for many species.

In a Facebook Live event hosted by the Pelican Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Pelican Rapids Mayor Brent Frazier said he was happy Pete made the transition in one piece.

“It landed,” said Frazier. “In one piece. That was the plan.”

Jeff Holt, an Pelican Rapids resident, said he thought the rapids, and Pete’s new home, looked pretty good, but thinks the city lost a little bit of history when the dam was removed.

“It’s different,” said Holt. “I think we lost some history. It’s a sign of the times, I guess. It’s okay. It looks good. It really does look good. You know, nobody likes change, but this is a good change.”

The project also received grant funding to install walking paths around 15-foot-tall Pete, so visitors will have even better access to the “world’s largest pelican.”

Pelican Pete’s overlook has been a tourist destination fixture along the Pelican River since 1957.