Tour the Boathouse
Take a quick look around the Boathouse and its beautiful waterfront setting on Rainy Lake.
Ranier, Minnesota • Rainy Lake
The Wharf Folk School & Event Center
Where old world moxie meets contemporary craftsmanship through heritage-forward skill building and community advancement.
About The Wharf
Community vitality through tourism and skill-building.
Mission: Offering VITAL instruction, training, and apprenticeships to under-supported rural populations — and heritage-forward classes, events, and excursions — towards sustainable tourism and community advancement.
Vision: Revitalization of the Rainy Lake Port of Ranier through heritage, skill, coalition-building, and local environmental and agricultural stewardship.
The Wharf, at Rainy Lake Inn & Tara's Wharf in Ranier, is imagined as a lakefront indoor and outdoor commercial, educational, and gathering space in the historic Port of Ranier on Rainy Lake.
Our North Star
Vital instruction. Heritage-forward learning. Sustainable tourism. Community advancement.
Stay on Rainy Lake
Rainy Lake Inn & Suites at Tara’s Wharf
Stay along the waterfront in historic Ranier, Minnesota. Rainy Lake Inn & Suites at Tara’s Wharf offers four furnished suites with private baths and kitchens, lake views, dock access, and a welcoming place to relax, explore, and make memories throughout the year.
Inside the Mahogany Suite
Step inside the Mahogany Suite, one of the furnished lodging options available at Tara’s Wharf.
Four Furnished Suites
One- and two-bedroom suites with private baths and kitchens for overnight visits, vacations, workshop weekends, and extended stays.
Private Dock & Lake Access
Enjoy lake views, direct access to Rainy Lake, and a peaceful waterfront setting in historic Ranier.
Open Year-Round
Experience summer boating, fall color, winter trails, or a peaceful northern retreat during any season.
Contact Tara directly for current availability, rates, suite details, pet policies, and extended-stay options.
Place-Based Learning
Rooted in Rainy Lake, built for the future.
Ranier is a historically vital border town near Voyageurs National Park and the Quetico-Superior boundary waters. The Wharf project builds on the area’s history, natural beauty, community pride, and need for new models of rural vitality.
Classes
Discover your craft.
Heritage Arts & Crafts
Rug punching, lino-cut printing, plein air painting, fiber arts, baking, writing, and seasonal folk traditions.
Maker & Workforce Labs
Carpentry, 3D printing, technology, entrepreneurship, trades exposure, and hands-on learning labs.
Outdoor & Community Skills
Gardening, foraging, paddle craft, tackle building, food traditions, and intergenerational skill-sharing.
Get Involved
Interested in learning or teaching at The Wharf?
We are gathering ideas from future students, instructors, artists, makers, tradespeople, and community members as we build the first season of classes and workshops.
For Students
Tell us what classes, skills, workshops, and experiences you would love to see at The Wharf Folk School.
Student Interest FormFor Instructors
Share your ideas for classes, workshops, demonstrations, field trips, or hands-on learning experiences you could lead.
Instructor Interest FormCalendar
Events and workshops
The crew is busy adding more dates and instructors to the calendar. Children’s summer workshop sign-ups are now open, and more events will be added soon.
Register for Summer WorkshopsSummer 2026
- May Ice Cream Shop season begins
- June Opening workshops and community gathering
- July Markets, music, and maker events
- August 10–14 Children’s mural-making workshop
- August 24–28 Children’s theatre workshop
- August 28 Shakespeare in the Park, 7:00 PM
- Labor Day End-of-season celebration
Support The Wharf
Help build a rural center of gravity.
Your support helps create a community learning space where local knowledge, tourism, creativity, trades, entrepreneurship, heritage arts, and rural revitalization can meet.
Donate Through GivebutterDonations are securely processed through Givebutter. Donors automatically receive a donation receipt.
The Place
A few early images
Membership
Membership Options
Memberships help support folk school learning, arts, heritage, and community gathering at The Wharf.
Inaugural-Year Class Access
During our first membership year, members receive access to eligible Folk School classes. Some workshops may require separate materials, instructor, registration, or special-event fees.
Contact Us
Join the early circle.
We are gathering partners, instructors, volunteers, funders, artists, tradespeople, and community champions.
Staff at the Wharf