Lake Minnetonka “Tonka” History

Lake Minnetonka is one of the most well-known lakes in the state of Minnesota. As the metro area’s largest lake, and the 9^th largest in Minnesota, it has a storied history that spans more than 200 years and offers something for everyone, year-round. Below are some interesting facts, a historical timeline, and visuals over the course of time. Curious about the history? Shoot us an email at .  

Lake Minnetonka Facts

• 14,528 acres of water and 125 miles of shoreline. 
• Maximum depth of 113 feet with an average of 31 feet.
• 37 bays and 31 connecting channels make up Lake Minnetonka.
• 13 municipalities border Lake Minnetonka.
• Water temperature peaks at roughly 80 degrees in early August. 
• Lake Minnetonka freezes over with 12-18 inches of ice annually. 
• The earliest ice-out date was March 11^th, 1878, and the latest May 8^th, 1856. The median, since recording started in 1855, is April 14^th. 

Lake Minnetonka in Popular Culture

• The Rolling Stones performed live at Excelsior Amusement Park’s Danceland Pavilion in 1964 for a crowd of 300. Rumor has it the inspiration for the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” came from a local resident, Jimmy “Mr. Jimmy” Hutmaker, a sort of town ambassador who spent his days in downtown Excelsior greeting and conversing with residents. When there for the concert, Mick Jagger stopped at Bacon Drugstore (in the song referred to as Excelsior Drugstore) because Jagger needed to pick up a prescription and Jimmy was there. He complained to Jagger that he had ordered a cherry Coke, but got a regular one instead, but he sighed and said, “You can’t always get what you want.” Supposedly, this is where Jagger got the idea for the song. The lyrics seem to match up, but the claim has long been disputed with no word from the Stones on the original origin.
• Singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt’s self-titled album was recorded at an abandoned summer camp on Lake Minnetonka’s Enchanted Island in 1971. 
• Several scenes from the 1972 films The Heartbreak Kid and Slaughterhouse-Five were filmed at Lake Minnetonka. 
• The most well-known association is with local icon and world-renowned musical artist, Prince. His third album, Dirty Mind, was recorded at a home on Lake Minnetonka’s North Arm where he lived from 1979 – 1981 (the album was released in 1980). Lake Minnetonka is famously mentioned in the 1984 film “Purple Rain” when “The Kid” (Prince) tells his love interest Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero) to “purify (herself) in the waters of Lake Minnetonka”. 
• Dave Chappelle mocked the scene from Purple Rain in his sketch entitled “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories: Prince” in which they play a game of basketball with Prince and team winning. He tells Charlie and team “why don’t you purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka”.  And then he made them pancakes. 
• In an episode of the 90’s teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210, Dylan (Luke Perry) talks about spending summers in Paris as a child given his life of privilege. Brenda (Shannen Doherty) reacts by saying, “You mean you went to Paris every summer? We went to Lake Minnetonka”.
• Lake Minnetonka was featured in a 2011 episode of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” as Kim was preparing to marry Kris Humphries. 
• Demi Lovato’s “Cool for the Summer” lyric video includes numerous shots of Lake Minnetonka. 
• The 2017 film “Wilson” starring Woody Harrelson includes several scenes filmed at Lake Minnetonka. 
• The “front door” of lakeside homes on Lake Minnetonka is the lakeside as opposed to the street side like traditional homes.

Lake Minnetonka Timeline

• 1700s 

Lake Minnetonka was inhabited by the Mdewakanton people, a subtribe of the Dakota Nation. Although their primary settlements lay within the Minnesota River Valley, the Mdewakanton frequented Lake Minnetonka to hunt, fish, and harvest wild rice and maple sap. 

 

• 1822

The teenage son of Colonel Josiah Snelling took a canoe trip up Minnehaha Creek, supposedly becoming the first white men to set eyes on the lake. Even then, it somehow managed to avoid further notice for the next 30 years.

• 1850 

A 13-acre public park was platted along Excelsior Bay. Today, this preserved space is the hugely popular park called “The Commons” and used year-round for events, concerts, and other activities. 

• 1852

Governor Alexander Ramsey christened “Minnetonka” in 1852 using the historical Dakota language for “the water they speak of is large”. Within two years, most of the 125-plus miles of shoreline had been claimed or bought. 

• 1861

The first steamboat on Lake Minnetonka, Governor Ramsey, is launched. Eventually there will be over 25 side-wheel steamers traversing Lake Minnetonka. 

• 1879

The first large hotel on the lake, the Hotel Saint Louis in Deephaven, was built and boasted 150 guest rooms with private verandas. 

• 1882

James J. Hill finished the largest hotel ever built on Lake Minnetonka, the Hotel Lafayette, in Minnetonka Beach. At five stories tall, the Hotel Lafayette could accommodate over 1,000 guests. Many guests hailed from the Deep South and spent entire summers on the lake to enjoy its scenery and cooler climate. They arrived on Hill’s trains and rode his steamers all summer.

• 1882

The largest vessel ever to operate on Lake Minnetonka, Belle of Minnetonka, was launched and put into service. At 300 feet, Belle of Minnetonka could accommodate up to 2,500 passengers.

• 1880’s to 1890’s 

Considered the Lake’s heyday years. With the railroads and trolley cars getting to the lakes was easier than ever. Several grand hotels and resorts were built, and steamships were offered to cruise the lake. This era abruptly ended as economic depression set in and international travelers found alternatives to the long travel to Minnesota.

• Early 1900’s

A period of rapid settlement began as both a community in which to live and a place to have lakeshore cabins for wealthy Minneapolis and St. Paul residents. Within 20 years almost all the land on the 125 miles of shore was purchased by private individuals. 

• 1906

The Twin City Rapid Transit Company bought 65 acres of land on an island off the shores of Excelsior and opened an amusement park known as Big Island Park. It featured a roller coaster and carousel, a 200-foot electrical/bell tower modeled after a similar tower in Seville, Spain, and a music pavilion that could accommodate 1,000 people. Customers rode the street cars from Minneapolis to points around the lake and then boarded steamers to the Island. The park closed in 1911 after falling into debt and was eventually dismantled. Some of the remains can still be found on the island today. 

• 1925 

An amusement park was built in Excelsior by Fred W. Pearce, a local resident. Excelsior Amusement Park included attractions such as the Silver Streak, the Scrambler, a carousel (from Big Island), picnic accommodations, and a roller coaster called the Cyclone (also from Big Island). The park remained open until 1973 and today is the site of a condominium development and Maynard’s Restaurant. Interesting fact: The carousel from Excelsior Amusement Park is still in use today at Valleyfair!

• 1946 

Mound Metacraft is established in the lakeside community of Mound. The company changed its name to Tonka Toys in the 1950’s and became famous for manufacturing toy trucks. Purchased by Hasbro in 1991, Tonka Toys was moved out of Minnesota, but the original factory and offices still remain today. 

• 1950’s – 1990’s

The development of stately single-family homes continues as people convert former “summer cabins” to year-round homes. New commercial development accelerates as restaurants and bars open along with marinas around the lake. Al & Alma’s Supper Club & Charter Cruises opens in 1956 and is Lake Minnetonka’s oldest continually operated restaurant and cruise line. Lord Fletcher’s in Spring Park opens in 1968 and remains one of the most popular year-round establishments on the lake for boaters and snowmobilers. Maynard’s opens in 1998 on the former Excelsior Amusement Park site.

• 2000’s – Today

Lake Minnetonka’s shoreline is fully developed and an active lake community year-round. The summer features boating, paddleboarding, canoeing, and any water related activity one can think of. Winter features snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing, and other activities like the North American Pond Hockey Championship. Events take place throughout the year on Lake Minnetonka both on the lake and along its shores. Visit our “Events” page to learn more about what’s happening in and around Lake Minnetonka annually!