A Dozen Great Feature Stories About Lake Minnetonka History

From the archives: Steamboats, Big Island, Cottagewood, sailing and more.

Follow Lake Minnetonka Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter All stories linked in this post were authored by Stephanie Larsen and appeared as part of her "Time Capsule" series. Just a few samples: The Evolution of Big Island on Lake Minnetonka: 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. The Cottagewood General Store: A Tradition Since 1895: In 1876, Cottagewood in Deephaven was platted by Susan and Samuel Gale. Gale was a Minneapolis real estate agent and civic leader. Today…

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Catch up on Lake Minnetonka Patch's Top Stories from July 2012

Big Island movie night, NHL All-Star sent to workhouse, local London Olympic connection, Lake Minnetonka beach closures, Girl's Night Out in Excelsior and hidden treasure.

Take a look back at July by taking a tour of some of Lake Minnetonka Patch's top stories of the month. Medical Examiner IDs Man Killed in Minnetrista Sunday Night Movie Night! Watch 'Anchorman' While Anchored at Big Island Find Out Which Wayzata H.S. Grad Will Be Swimming in the London Olympics Pair of Lake Minnetonka Public Beaches Close Due to Elevated Bacteria Update: NHL All-Star Dustin Byfuglien Sentenced to Two Days in Workhouse Home is Where the Heart is: Lake Minnetonka Resident Inks Mega Deal Girl's Night Out Fashion Show Dazzles Excelsior Lake Minnetonka Becomes State's First Lake to be Archaeologically Surveyed Like Lake Minnetonka Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our daily newsletter

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Hundreds of Boaters Enjoy Movie at Big Island

The Fifth Annual Boat-In Theater featured “Anchorman” starring Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate and Steve Carell. Have photos from Friday's boat-in movie you would like to share? Post them on Patch!

Over 150 boats dropped anchor in Cruiser’s Cove at Big Island on Friday, July 13, to watch the feature presentation "Anchorman" on a 40x60-foot inflatable movie screen sitting atop a floating barge. Attendance was lighter than in past years. Late afternoon rain and more storms in the forecast may have kept some people away, but those who came enjoyed a beautiful evening. Kirsten Rewey, of Edina, attended the "Boat-In Theater" for the first time. “I love the concept,” Rewey said. “It reminds me of being a kid and going to the drive-in movie.” Boaters tuned their radios into 88.5 to pick up the audio feed. “It’s amazing,” said Tina Johnson of Manhattan Beach, California. “We do the equivalent of movie night on the beach and concerts in the …

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Tonight is Boat-in Movie Night! Watch 'Anchorman' While Anchored at Big Island

Summertime tradition will attract hundreds to Cruiser's Cove tonight.

Movie Night! Watch 'Anchorman' While Anchored at Big Island

Summertime tradition will attract hundreds to Cruiser's Cove later this week.

The Fifth Annual Boat-In Theatre at Big Island takes place this Friday, July 13. Over 200 boats are expected at Cruiser’s Cove Friday night to watch the feature presentation "Anchorman" on a 40x60-foot inflatable movie screen sitting atop a floating barge.  Boaters can tune their radios into 88.5 to pick up the audio feed. The movie is expected to start around 9:00 p.m. The event is sponsored by MarineMax. Follow Lake Minnetonka Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

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Deephaven Man OK After Going Through the Ice

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to use caution on all bodies of water due to thin ice and open water.

A Deephaven man piloting an ice boat went into the water Saturday near Big Island after breaking through thin ice, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office. He was one of three individuals who broke through the ice on Hennepin County lakes on the final day of 2011. The Excelsior Fire Department, Wayzata Fire Department, Long Lake Fire Department and the Minnesota State Patrol responded to the Lake Minnetonka incident. The ice boat operator was an adult male from Deephaven and was not injured after making it to shore one his own.   Also on Saturday, two men broke through the ice on Lake Riley in Eden Prairie. Lake Riley is located in Carver and Hennepin Counties. The men were not injured. Earlier this week, on Dec. 27, another ice …

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Eagles Put on an Aerial Show off Big Island

For a few brief days, eagles by the dozen flew and dived near Big Island.

Christine Stein has lived on Lake Minnetonka for 55 years. This week—just before the bay froze between Big Island and Greenwood—she saw a first. Dozens of eagles fished and dived just a stone's throw from her yard, feasting for days, darting at ducks and resting on the ice. When she woke up Thursday morning, the eagles were gone. Overnight temperatures had finally sealed their open hunting waters. "The lake froze last night, and the eagles are gone," she said. Frenzied eagle activity has been reported around Lake Minnetonka in recent weeks. Do you have a photo to share? Click the submit button above.

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Time Capsule

The Evolution of Big Island on Lake Minnetonka

Once home to an amusement park and a private veteran’s camp, Big Island now has a public nature park.

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 many names over the years, including Meeker Island and Morse Island. The names corresponded to the owners of the island at the time. The name Big Island …

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Lake Minnetonka Moments

All Hands on Deck

The Fourth Annual Boat-In Theatre at Big Island attracted a fleet of vessels Friday night.

Over 200 boats dropped anchor at Cruiser’s Cove Friday evening to watch the feature presentation "Dumb and Dumber" on a 40x60-foot inflatable movie screen sitting atop a floating barge. Boaters tuned their radios into 88.5 to pick up the audio feed. The event was sponsored by MarineMax.

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