For the 12 days leading up to Labor Day, the Minnesota State Fair’s 322 acres might just lead the nation in population density.

But one little known fact too: Over the winter, many of the fairground’s larger buildings teem with people’s property.

From late October to late March, the fairgrounds offer winter storage for cars, trucks, boats, motor homes and other items that Minnesotans like to keep out of harm’s way in the winter months.

The service is immensely popular. Fair officials received 1,751 requests for the current storage season, of which they were able to accommodate 1,306.

“Yes, space usually fills up,” according to a media relations rep for the State Fair. “In the past couple of years, we’ve moved from mailed-in to online applications, so the process of getting to full has quickened. This past storage season was full in a matter of days after online applications opened.”

Storage rates vary. For this past winter, they ranged from $250 for 20-foot-long units to $500 for units that exceed 40 feet.

According to the Fair website, once an item is stored it is considered “dead storage,” meaning the customer cannot retrieve it before the assigned removal date. Renters are typically notified around the first of March when they may collect their items. Those who fail to claim their property on the assigned day may be subject to fines.

State Fair officials say the winter storage program dates back to at least to the 1970s.

“It is a way for the fair to utilize otherwise empty building space during the non-fair season to generate additional revenue,” they said.

Bill Brady is the Bugle’s copy editor. He lives within walking distance of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.