Editor's note: This post originally appeared on Lake Minnetonka Patch in May of 2011. It is being re-posted for featuring purposes and for inclusion in recent news around Big Island. Breezy Point/Spirit Knob was regarded by the Dakota Indians as the most important point on Lake Minnetonka. They believed that all of the power of the lake came from this point. Because of its great energy, Breezy Point/Spirit Knob became their primary worshiping grounds. Spirit Knob means “little hill of the spirit” in the Dakota language. Located along the southern shore of Wayzata Bay, Breezy Point is in …

Al & Alma’s Supper Club was founded by Al and Alma Quist in 1956. The mayor of Island Park and a firefighter, Al Quist cooked food for customers at his restaurant at night. The family-run restaurant on Cooks Bay evolved from a grocery store. In 1920, the Chester Park Grocery store opened at the current site of Al & Alma’s. In addition to selling groceries and gas, the store also had fishing boats for rent. “When Island Park was its own village, this was the only commercial area,” said Jay Soule, general manager of Al & Alma’s since 1996. After the Quists purchased the Chester Park Grocery …

In the early 1880s, the Dakota inhabited Big Island on Lake Minnetonka. The 273-acre island was discovered by settlers in 1852. Judge Bradley B. Meeker, the namesake of Meeker County, squatted on Big Island in 1852. In 1856, brothers W.B. and John Morse purchased Big Island. They platted the area known as Morse Island Park in 1887, and many people built cottages on the small lots. Olaf A. Searle built a 20-room colonial-style home on a 125-acre lot in the early 1880s. His home had gas lights and steam heat. The cost of building the home is rumored to have been $250,000. Big Island has had …

On July 23, 1932, the Wayzata Theater opened its doors with a screening of The Tenderfoot. The family-run theater owned by Lyle Carisch and Raymond Lee was a mainstay of Lake Street in Wayzata until it closed in 1985. “Lyle and Ray were very clear about the standards that they wanted to always live by with regards to the pictures that they showed,” said Joanie Holst, vice president of the Wayzata Historical Society. “They wanted families to be able to come to the theater and enjoy a family time together.” A November 4, 1931 article in the Minnetonka Herald reported that Wayzata may get a …

The Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society (ELMHS) Museum is packed with historical artifacts from the south Lake Minnetonka area. Their collection includes many items from the Excelsior Amusement Park, including signage and a car from the rollercoaster. A ticket window from the amusement park stands outside the museum along the Southwest Regional LRT Trail. The Excelsior Amusement Park was located on 16-acres of land on Excelsior Bay—where Maynard’s Restaurant, Bayview Event Center/Bayside Grille and The Gables Condominiums stand today. It was open from 1925 to 1973. Also on display at…

Noerenberg Gardens are located on the estate of Grain Belt Brewery Founder Frederick Noerenberg in Orono. Nestled along the north shore of Crystal Bay, the gardens offer incredible views of Lake Minnetonka. In 1890, Noerenberg built a Queen Anne style home with eight bedrooms on his 73-acre estate named “Wilkommen.” Noerenberg’s home was one of the first permanent homes on the lake. The estate also included 8,400 feet of lakeshore and incredible gardens that Noerenberg painstakingly oversaw. It is said that he would notice if his gardens had one rose missing. At one time, 17 employees were on…

On August 24, 1867, the first train arrived in Wayzata on the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad track. The line started 25 miles away at the St. Paul Station. In the early years, only one train arrived in Wayzata each day. The original Wayzata Depot was located west of Broadway Avenue near where Sunsets restaurant is located today. Since Wayzata was the end of the line, horses were used to turn the engine around so it could head east on the tracks for the return trip. In 1878, James J. Hill took control of the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad after it went bankrupt. Known as the “Empire Builder,” Hill …

The Excelsior Amusement Park opened on May 30, 1925 on Decoration Day (now more commonly known as Memorial Day). It is said that 20,000 people visited the amusement park on opening day. The streetcar from Minneapolis delivered visitors to the amusement park, which was located where Maynard’s Restaurant, Bayview Event Center/Bayside Grille and The Gables Condominiums stand today.Well-known amusement park owner Fred Pearce spent $250,000 to build the Excelsior Amusement Park. Known as “Mr. Rollercoaster,” Pearce built 27 roller coasters at amusement parks across the country. However, the “…

In 1882, a group of yachtsmen established the Minnetonka Yacht Club (MYC), which is one of the oldest yacht clubs in America. MYC started with 25 members and has grown to over 500 members today. Some of the most prominent Lake Minnetonka area residents were early members of the MYC. Its first commodore was George A. Brackett. The namesake of Bracketts Point, he founded Minneapolis’ first fire department and served as the mayor of Minneapolis. Sailing was a very popular activity on Lake Minnetonka in the early years. In fact, in the late 1880s, there were competing yacht clubs on the lake. In …

In 1876, Cottagewood in Deephaven was platted by Susan and Samuel Gale. Gale was a Minneapolis real estate agent and civic leader. Today, Cottagewood remains a vibrant small community tucked along the shore of Lake Minnetonka.During Lake Minnetonka’s heyday (1880s to 1890s), Cottagewood welcomed tourists to its quaint community. In 1885, the 40-room Cottagewood Club House was built. It was later renamed Hotel Keewaydin. The Cottagewood General Store was founded in 1895. Ralph and Stella Chapman operated it as a small grocery store. Throughout its history, The Cottagewood General Store has …

In 1905, the Twin Cities Rapid Transit (TCRT) company extended their streetcar lines to Excelsior. During the peak years, it is estimated that 12,000 people rode the streetcars to Excelsior on summer holidays. One year later, TCRT launched six 70-foot steamboats on Lake Minnetonka to provide transportation to lake residents and tourists. At the time, it was said that Lake Minnetonka was the only place in the world where you could get off a streetcar and onto a streetcar boat. The streetcar boats were named the Como, Harriet, Hopkins, Minnehaha, Stillwater and White Bear Lake, which were also …

As we all anxiously await ice-out on Lake Minnetonka, I find myself reflecting on the rich history of our wonderful lake area. I think back to the heyday of Lake Minnetonka (1880s-1890s) when there were over 90 steamboats and 60 hotels along its 125-mile shoreline. Nearly 20,000 tourists visited the Lake Minnetonka each year during this time. Many southerners came here to escape the heat, while others believed the lake breezes could help with health ailments. Others from across the country appreciated it for its simple beauty. James J. Hill was instrumental in the development of the lake area…