Lake Minnetonka Regional Park is the perfect place for families to enjoy
a Saturday afternoon. Bring a picnic and enjoy a lakeside
lunch. Learn more...
Noerenberg Gardens
Situated on the north shore of Lake Minnetonka’s majestic Crystal Bay,
Noerenberg Memorial Gardens offers a tranquil retreat to the quiet elegance and grace of days gone by.
A favorite subject for local artists and an idyllic location
for weddings.
Learn more...
Local Lore
Miscellaneous Articles about Lake Minnetonka
History
These interesting articles address everything from the dangerous aspects of wintering in
the Lake Minnetonka area during the settler period to the local history
of rock and roll.
Winter
in the Lake Minnetonka area, Then and Now
The next time the minor inconveniences of winter get you down,
remember...there was a time when things were just a bit more
difficult.
The Wayzata Water Tank was located close to the Lamb Brothers
Store, later to become Harts Café and presently Sunset's
restaurant. Lamb's Store was a pioneer general store and gathering
place.
How a small stream of water, only 18 - 24 inches deep and only
suitable for dugout canoes and rowboats, became the commercial
and recreational gateway to the Upper Lake.
Danceland
and the Excelsior Amusement Park, Part One
Upon entering the main gate and buying your tickets at the
ticket booth, you were presented with a fascinating array of
options. There was the ferris wheel, which lit up the sky at
night, its squeaking seats taking you high above the crowds,
and there were real inboard motorboats that you could rent for
a quick spin around the lake...
Danceland
and the Excelsior Amusement Park, Part Two
Standing just across the road from the entrance to the Excelsior
Amusement Park stood another ancient relic, Danceland. Twin
Cities writer Daniel Gabriel, who made many treks out to the
joint in the sixties, describes Danceland as being "a cavernous
wooden hemisphere," a place of almost monumental stature...
Danceland
and the Excelsior Amusement Park, Part Three
The talk around Lake Minnetonka after the Rolling Stones departed
was a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. Estimates vary on
how many people were actually in attendance at Big Reggie's
that night. Final tallies range between 200-500 people...
The
Yetti-Men, Lake Minnetonka's Legendary Surf Band, Part One
In 1963, when the entire nation was going ga-ga over surfing
and surf music, it was only natural that surf bands would sprout
up like weeds in garages all across the USA. Lake Minnetonkans,
not ones to hide their heads in the cultural sand, were quick
to catch the surf wave...
The
Yetti-Men, Lake Minnetonka's Legendary Surf Band, Part Two
"We were sitting around over at Lee's house watching a
movie on t.v. called 'The Abominable Snowman. The term 'Yeti'
was used in the film, and Skip thought it was unusual enough
to think about as a possible name for the group. He suggested
they call themselves "Yetti-Men" and the abominable
tag stuck..."
The
Yetti-Men, Lake Minnetonka's Legendary Surf Band, Part Three
By the Autumn of 1963 the Yetti-Men were getting to be pretty
well known...They began to develop a busy schedule of paid gigs,
entering local "Battle of the Bands" contests with
such groups as the Accents, the Castaways (who would later have
a big hit with "Liar Liar") and Gregory Dee &
the Avantis, of "Footstompin'" fame...
The spring months bring countless opportunities for wholesome family activities.
To find out about happenings in the Lake Minnetonka area, visit our complete
Calendar of Events!
Lake Minnetonka: An area steeped in history
From the days when Dakota Indians inhabited her shores, leaving behind ancient
burial mounds which are still visible today, to the era of the steam locomotive
and the paddle wheeler when grand Victorian hotels and amusement parks stood
proudly on her banks, there has always been something alluring about this
enchanted body of water. Learn more...
