NON MLS: The Lake Minnetonka Real Estate Blog

Looking for a single family home in the Western suburbs. This client wants to rent out a room or a level to a friend so they would like a finished basement with bedroom and 3/4 bath so they have a second living area. Fantastic buyer ready to write

• Eden Prairie, MN | Maple Grove, MN | Minnetonka, MN | Richfield, MN | Saint Louis Park, MN | Plymouth, MN

Looking for a Lake Minnetonka home for sale near Deephaven elementary, Deephaven, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Woodland, Tonka Bay on or off the lake.

You can also click here to view the biggest houses on Lake Minnetonka.

Buyer looking in Wayzata, Plymouth, Blaine, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove Private backyard. Preferably 5 bedrooms but 4 is ok. 3 Bath+ 3 car garage.walkout lower level.

• Blaine, MN | Eden Prairie, MN | Maple Grove, MN | Plymouth, MN | Wayzata, MN

Buyer looking in St. Michael, Albertville, or Rogers, preferably in in STMA School District boundaries (so Hanover or Otsego, IF within the boundaries) but Elk River School District is also okay. Minimum of 3 bedrooms plus office space OR 4 bedrooms, 2 or more bathrooms (2.5 ideal), and 2+ garage spaces. A slightly larger city lot with trees would be great. Minimal updating/improvements needed okay.

Searching for 3BR/2BA townhouse with lots of natural light, wants some exterior space, a deck or decent size patio & green space a big plus. Needs between 1,700 - 2,000 sq ft.

• Hopkins, MN | Minnetonka, MN | Plymouth, MN

These buyers are looking for a large lot, think hobby farm style home with acreage. They will look at all possibilities. Thank you!

• Belle Plaine, MN | Chanhassen, MN | Chaska, MN | Delano, MN | Eden Prairie, MN | Jordan, MN

By Bette Hammel, author of Legendary Homes on Lake Minnetonka

One hundred years after it's founding, the Deephaven Centennial committee arranged a celebration for Russell M. Bennett’s grand estate, Cedarhurst.

The original house, a “northern southern colonial” was located at the top of a lengthy slope overlooking the lake. There was nothing else like this elegant property: the beautiful formal gardens, acres of other blooming gardens planted on the slope, a greenhouse, walking paths, a fountain and beach below at the lakeshore.

Magnificent trees marked the walking paths. Broken arrowheads found on the beach indicated that Dakota Indians once held court here. After the Centennial, home ownership grew rapidly in well designed homes scattered around the old property, The neighborhood then evolved with the changing times.

Begnining in the 1950s the property was subdivided to make way for contemporary residences. Stone arched pillars similar to the original, Northome entry, marks the drive into the Cedarhurst neighborhood. Today there are 19 homes throughout Cedarhurst including a drive that heads sharply downhill to a lagoon, a boat harbor commonly held by all 19 residents.

Around the corner is a sharp point of land, known as Gibson’s Point, marked by a distinctive house designed by Elizabeth Close and built by the original owner Robert Mann Benson.

Over on the north facing land is one of the newest homes, a contemporary, designed by Charles Stinson, owned by Judy and Richard Corson.

Further down that shoreline and definitely not part of Cedarhurst, is the site of once renowned Frank Lloyd Wright house.

Proceeding south down Northome Road, drivers will pass outstanding home sites where distinctive community leaders once lived including James and Laura Miles and the well known T. B. Walker and son, Archie Walker. If that name sounds familiar, it should as T.B. founded the popular Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.

Other tastefully designed homes along the road face St. Louis Bay. The road finally dips toward its end, Sunset Point, a very pleasant spot right across the channel from the Minnetonka Yacht Club. Near the point was the Frank B. Jewett home, and later by his family who were popular sailors.

The first house built at the point, according to the late historian, Jim Wyer, was owned by Alice B.Taylor, followed by her son, Kingston Fletcher, and currently his daughter Alison Fletcher.

The house was obviously designed for entertaining, with an excessively long living room and plenty of seating at tables at one end.

The formal dining room lies in the next room while the kitchen is hidden behind closed doors nearby. Windows placed all around the house bring fantastic views of the lake. Many and sundry Wayzatans have enjoyed parties in this unique house.

It is well worth a drive to head for Northome Road and see its many pleasures for yourself. You can easily see why Deephaven and the Northome area are some of the most desireable of the Cities on Lake Minnetonka.

Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka was published October 15, 2009 by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and was written by Bette Hammel with photography by Karen Melvin.

The book details 30 of the most spectacular estates on Lake Minnetonka. It retails for $49.95 and is available at your favorite book seller.

By Bette Hammel, author of Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka

Picture a majestic Lake Minnetonka Hotel opening for 800 guests from neighboring states and the South. Travelers were delighted to find their rooms overlooking the refreshing waters of Lake Minnetonka from their verandas.

Guests enjoyed views of the many boats scurrying to deliver passengers including straw hatted men out fishing, and ladies in fluffy billowing skirts promenading.

Then came dinner and with that, hundreds of waiters swung into action in the spacious dining room. Two orchestras supplied music and later performed in the grand ballroom for dancing.

James Ford Bell wrote, “It was a place of life and gaiety… of many people. One was impressed with the size of the building itself… the big broad veranda so often crowded with family groups many from the South… the arrivals and sailings of the big boats and the 5:45 train from Minneapolis.”

It was 1882 when James J. Hill celebrated the opening of his grand Great Northern Railway hostelry which he named: the Lafayette Hotel. Hill had chosen a great location, a ridge shaped slope overlooking Lake Minnetonka on both sides: the Lafayette Bay to the north, and Crystal Bay to the south. Even the President of the United States Ulysses S. Grant, came to join the celebration.

Unfortunately, the huge building caught fire in 1897 and burned to the ground. Hill carried on with his luxurious yacht, the Belle of Minnetonka, and took part competing for business on the lake. Those were the glory days of Lake Minnetonka when all the ferry boats and steam boats alike were enjoying a brisk business as the lakes hotels were attracting many summer visitors.

Now, 130 years later, the Lafayette Club is regarded as the” hidden gem”of the private clubs in the Twin City area. After the first fire, It had survived socially as a club and was rebuilt as the Minnetonka Club. Again another catastrophe struck when it also was destroyed by fire several years later.

Ultimately, the Board was forced to hire an architect to design a new structure that would be fireproof. Hewitt & Brown, a local firm of good repute, was chosen and in 1924 produced a sparkling new clubhouse of Mission Style Revival. Stepping into the clubhouse visitors today admire the classic Spanish style of the interior: the old world look of the circular fountain decorated with floral arrangements, the classic lobby furnishings, and especially the high ceiling.

Since its inception, the club has always had two upper levels; the second is still used as guest hotel rooms, the third is out of date. Looking upward, the visitor can’t help feeling the ghost of Hill looking down for approval of his new club. The Lafayette has always been considered the place to go for festive weddings, anniversaries, retirements, graduations, and all sorts of private dinner parties. The grand ballroom is the perfect hosting for unforgettable dances such as The Waltz Evening held annually led by The Golden Strings Orchestra.

In the past couple of years with the advent of the pandemic, such public celebrations have been limited according to General Manager Gregg Malsbary. But lunches and dinners continue as usual for members and guests including outdoor dining when weather permits. Through the pandemic, the golfing has been very popular, he says. This spring the tennis clubs will resume while pools remain in use for all age groups. Wedding plans can also be arranged.

While the Lafayette holds court, the city of Minnetonka Beach continues to grow and it’s history is impressive. First established by early settlers in 1855, it was incorporated as a village in 1894, thereby becoming a self governing municipality, a city. It is recognized as the smallest incorporated city in the U.S. and one of the wealthiest in the nation. Its current population is just 535 with 230 homes.

Two of its roads connect with the Lafayette Club--Northview Road and Cottage Lane. Across from the Clubs’ golf course lie two large neighborhoods overlooking Crystal Bay: the Woodbridge Road neighborhood has grown and flourished with homes of varied architectural styles ranging from contemporary to mid-century modern to Colonial Revival.

Arcola Lane is the much older more established neighborhood. A stretch of homes faces Lafayette Bay from their perch high above the highway rushing below. The first home on the lane, situated where Woodbridge road winds up from the historic bluff below, maintains its early 20th century site with a gracious large family home now beautifully updated by its owner, Michael Snow.

This historic residence was once the home of Bergmann Richards, noted historian of Minnetonka Beach and the State Historical Society. Originally designed for a family of five, Richards home was among the first lake homes to build a front porch that ran completely across the front façade, providing a fantastic view of Lake Minnetonka. Further down Arcola Lane, three Victorian homes remain, proudly showing their 19th century carvings on the facade or on the roof lines. The largest one with a great round porch facing Lafafette bay is famous for an historic event, the unforgettable day when John Philip Sousa came to entertain with his popular band.

Across highway 15 and the Arcola Bridge lies the largest part of Minnetonka Beach including Lafayette Road and Huntington Point Road. As a neighborhood, the Beach is recognized as one of the finest lakeside home settings on Lake Minnetonka. There are more than 230 homes, each one of superlative vintage and design.

Most are at least three stories allowing commanding views of the lake including Big Island, Brackett’s Point, & Robinson’s Bay. The boat slips are too numerous to count.

Around the bend those homeowners facing Lafayette Bay can hop in a boat and buzz through the narrows headed for the Upper Lake where they can enjoy cruising the landmark islands and bays near Al & Alma’s, or Lord Fletcher's.
The distinctive homes of Minnetonka Beach feature Colonial Revival, shingle style or a mixture of several styles. Eg., a 19th century home becomes a mid-century-modern. Only the new contemporary features lots of glass and straight angles, with few curves.

Even James J. Hill would have approved of Minnetonka Beach’s lakeside neighborhood and the fireproof modern Lafayette Club. Many Beach homes have open porches or terraces completely furnished with patio setting and tables. It could well be the setting for a James J. Hilll movie. Why not? That’s the talk of dreamers who say “even Bergmann would have liked that idea.”

NOTE: Bergmann Richards, a prominent attorney and distinguished historian of the 50’s, was following an old tradition as a learned amateur antiquarian who maintains close scrutiny of a specific locality. In Bergmamn’s case, it was his village of Minnetonka Beach. The results of his studies were published in 1957 in a small book, “The Early Background of Minnetonka Beach.”

Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka was published October 15, 2009 by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and was written by Bette Hammel with photography by Karen Melvin.

The book details 30 of the most spectacular estates on Lake Minnetonka. It retails for $49.95 and is available at your favorite book seller.

Introduction by Bette Hammel, author of Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka

Indeed, our Lake is mighty big, its sparkling waters extend along 125 miles of shoreline and over 14,000 acres of water gracing Wayzata, Excelsior, Deephaven, Maplewoods, Mound, Spring Park, Victoria and other cities on Lake Minnetonka.

Prior to Europeans arriving in the Lake Minnetonka area, the The Dakota Indians occupied the shores and found ample fishing and hunting. Much of the woodland areas around the lake were home to sacred Indian mounds.  

The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed in 1851 between the United States and the Upper Dakota Sioux banks. This opened Lake Minnetonka to European settlement and tremendous growth then ensued.

In 1852 Minnesota Governor Alexander Ramsey was amazed when he first saw the lake thanks to his fishing buddies. “Boys, we have just seen an inland sea!”

Ramsey would return later and visit the country residence of George Brackett in Orono in June of 1888 for a reunion with the surviving officers of the First Minnesota Regiment.

Historically, the lower lake has held most of the elegant mansions of Minnesota’s prestigious families, including those owned by the Pillsburys, Crosbys, Peaveys, and Heffelfingers. Other homes of significance were built on the upper lake including the Dutch Colonial constructed by Edmund Longyear in 1906 at Boulder Bridge Farm.

Samuel S. Gale and his wife Susan platted Cottagewood in Deephaven in 1876. Gale was a prestigous Minneapolis real estate agent and civic leader.

Gale’s daughter Anna (Mrs. Clarkson Lindley) described the virgin area in her journal, “In 1834, the wooded shoreline is still unbroken, save for the Harrington and Holt farms across the lake, and from the small white farmhouse, we used to listen to the sounds of THE big dinner bell floating across the water to us.”  Nearby was the Gale cottage, the first house on Breezy Point.

Since Lake Minnetonka was first discovered, more and more business and cultural leaders have been attracted to the lake’s natural beauty and the enticing number of wooded lake shore properties.

As an example, Breezy Point and most of Maplewood is quite the site for new homes and other new modernist architecture. “Maplewoods is changing a lot today,” says Pam Vasquez, local Maplewoods architect.  “Years ago it was like living in a park here. Now we are seeing many changes in the neighborhoods. People are still neighborly and content to get together,”  she says with a smile.  

The new homes going up in Maplewoods reflect a growing trend around Lake Minnetonka which is the further development and redevelopment of the properties abutting the shore.

Current trends include the use of expanded glass facades, wide open patios, landscaping to match the house and occasionally the bold use of color. Although traditional designs are still popular, many homes show the result of  combining both styles.  

As the lake continues to develop for residential use, an increasing number of lakefront dwellers affirm that preserving Lake Minnetonka’s beauty is a number one priority. Everyone, new or old resident, agrees, “it’s  our lake”.