Coming to Chanhassen
As one reflects upon the striking and unexpected appearance of a golden pyramidal roof rising out of Midwest prairie grasses, and juxtaposed with the ranch style houses and a quaint suburban landscape, it may seem surprising, even random, to find the worldwide center of a new religious movement in this small Minnesotan town. However, as ECKists repeatedly profess, for them, “Nothing is a coincidence.” Hence, the location of the ECK Temple holds deep significance despite how it may appear to the uninitiated.
The Eckankar fellowship started in San Diego, California in the mid-1960s, moved to Las Vegas, and then migrated to Menlo Park, California. At that point in time, there was no single ECK Temple, but rather a series of ECK Centers where followers gathered, partook in spiritual exercises, and shared information. On January 27, 1980, with the reality that the movement had no spiritual home, the ECK Master Paul Twitchell had a vision in which he saw the future site of the Temple of Eckankar in Minnesota. In January, four years later, Twitchell and other Eckankar leaders traveled to Minnesota to look for land upon which to build the Temple. On that trip, Twitchell found himself at a horse ranch called Higher Path in the city of Chanhassen. After exploring the property, Twitchell and his associates decided that this was to be the new home of Eckankar. Although the exact details of the acquisition of the property remain unclear, Eckankar purchased the land, a nearly 175-acre plot on Powers Boulevard in Chanhassen, just east of Lake Ann Park. As a result of the purchase, Eckankar and the singer Prince are the two largest landholders in the City of Chanhassen. 1
On January 27, 1980, with the reality that the movement had no spiritual home, the ECK Master Paul Twitchell had a vision in which he saw the future site of the Temple of Eckankar in Minnesota.
- Heron Marquez Estrada, “Group keeps up the karma,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 8, 2010. 9A. ↩
The Town of Chanhassen
A short two minute drive from the Temple leads to Chanhassen center, otherwise known as West 78th Street and the heart of this quaint suburban city with a population of around 23,000. Neatly mowed grass lines concrete sidewalks, mature maple and birch trees provide shade to storefronts, and rows of sweet-smelling purple lilacs line nearly the entire length of 78th Street. Just off the main drag, a series of strip malls contains Minnesotan-grown favorites: Caribou Coffee, Target, Byerly’s grocery store, Perkins diner, and Cub Foods. Smaller, local stores like Von Hanson’s Meats, Na’s Thai Café, and Pilgrim Cleaners also dot the street. Additionally, West 78th is home to a seemingly endless supply of nail salons, orthodontists’ and dentists’ offices, chiropractors, and travel agencies. The presence of these venues reveal Chanhassen to be not unlike many other suburban towns in the Midwest and the rest of the country.
Of particular note, on West 78th, is the beautiful Chanhassen Library, part of the Carver County library system. The building is beautiful and modern, built of sand-colored brick with black metal accents. It is situated directly in front of City Hall and surround by City Center Park, a stunning esplanade complete with benches, a natural amphitheater, grassy knolls, and the Chanhassen Veterans Monument, a curved stone memorial dedicated in 2009 to “the men and women who serve our country and protect the freedom we all enjoy.” In front of the library is an electronic sign that displays events and services taking place in and offered by the city. Examples of such postings include opportunities to register for a summer youth T-ball league run by the Chanhassen Recreation Center, to purchase bike helmets at City Hall, and to participate in Senior Surf Day, a hands-on computer training session for the elderly hosted by the Library.
The median between each lane of West 78th is decorated by elegant shrubs, trees, and lampposts. Hanging from the lamp posts are flags, which note two distinct honors the City has received: Family Circle Magazine named Chanhassen one of the top 10 towns in the United States in which to raise a family, and Money Magazine’s 2009 designation listing Chanhassen as the #2 best place to live in America. The flags also display the emblem of the City of Chanhassen, the maple leaf. In the language of the Sioux, the American Indian tribe that inhabited this area, Chanhassen means ‘the sugar maple.’ Home to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, the city also prides itself on a large network of multipurpose trails, an array of parks and playgrounds, and public beaches on several large lakes including Lake Ann and Lake Minnewashta.
