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Our mission: We provide quality opportunities to learn, grow and play-physically, culturally, and socially for all people in the Detroit Lakes area.
The Holmes Theatre is named for E.G. Holmes, who was born in New York in 1841. After serving in the Civil War and seeing action at the Battle of Bull Run, Holmes married Lucy Sherman from St. Cloud, and they arrived in Becker County in 1870. In 1871, Holmes opened the first general store in the village, then known as Detroit, and the first bank in 1872. He served on the board of commissioners and was a Minnesota State Senator.
In 1895, the Holmes School was built at the corner of Summit and Front Street. Constructed of stone from area lakes, horse-drawn wagons were used to transport children to school. Over the years, two sections were added: one in 1909 and another in 1931, now the Historic Holmes Theatre, featuring a stage and auditorium in an Art Deco style.
For decades, the Holmes School served local students as a grade school, senior high school, and junior high school. The last school year at Holmes was 1977-78, after which junior high students attended what is now DL Middle School.
On September 20, 1980, the 1909 addition and part of the original 1895 school burned down. Sparks from workmen cutting pipe in the basement ignited old wood or insulation. Firefighters battled the flames for hours, using approximately one million gallons of water. The school bell fell into the basement, but was later rescued. Despite the efforts, the 1895 building, intended to house the Becker County Historical Society, suffered too much damage and was torn down along with the 1909 building.
The 1931 addition suffered mostly smoke damage, thanks to functional fire doors, and was later used for the Senior Nutrition Center, Playhouse 412, Becker County Food Pantry, and the old gym was rented out. The bell, dedicated by E.G. Holmes in 1909 and built by C.S. Bell Company of Hillsboro, Ohio, now sits outside the Holmes Theatre.
After many failed attempts to reopen the building as a community center, the Holmes Theatre got a new lease on life. In 2002, it reopened as the Historic Holmes Theatre, part of a $9.25 million project to build an adjoining state-of-the-art fitness facility and renovate the theatre.
Since opening our doors in 2001, the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center has become a vital part of life in the lakes area, providing the community with a place to improve their health and wellness, expand their minds and connect with community. The Center was built by the community, for the community when it was attached to the Holmes School building and the Historic Holmes Theatre. The Fitness and Aquatics Center expanded our footprint in 2011 when, through fundraising support from our community, added The Backyard and youth gym. That addition also allowed us to provide more opportunities for our members and guests by expanding our fitness class space and weight room area. Embracing the variety of fitness and aquatics needs of our members and guests allows us to provide experiences for people of all ages and abilities.
We average over 600 check ins by members per day. When programs are on site during sessions, we often have as many as 1000 people coming thru our doors per day through program participation and those here to cheer them on! In addition to our annual and short-term members, we have people using our facility with their Medicare advantage program as well as via scholarships we offer for memberships. Day pass users are also welcome to use the facility.
With programs and fitness and aquatics opportunities on site and outside our walls, we truly offer something for everyone!
