Lake Minnetonka is largest body of water in the Twin Cities seven county metro area, coming in at a whopping 14,528 acres, and boasts anywhere from 140-200 miles of prime Minnesota lakeshore, depending on who you prefer to believe. All of the islands, coves, points, and irregular shoreline structure make the lakeshore measurement rather challenging. Of course, the game fish love all of this structure, and so do the fishermen who exploit it. Every manner of water sport is practiced here, including windsurfing, wake boarding, yachting, water skiing, and, of course, fishing. This is the premiere fishing lake for the entire Twin Cities metro area. All varieties of gamefish are found here, and the lake is well stocked with walleye and muskies. Lake Minnnetonka is the lake of choice for fishermen who are looking for muskies and smallmouth bass.
Fish From Your Back Yard
Lake Minnetonka is home to a large number of huge muskies. Sure, the lake has some milfoil, just like most Minnesota Lakes. Muskies don’t mind the milfoil one bit. The milfoil is not so plentiful that it is an unmanageable problem for the lakeshore owners, but it provides perfect cover and forage for baitfish that are picked off by huge muskellunge and other predator fish. Brackett’s Point is home to some of the most expensive Lake Minnetonka shoreline, and it is also a favorite lurking spot for Muskies because it is laden with milfoil. Other Muskellunge hot spots include Diamond Reef, Ferguson’s Point, Lafayette Bay, and Grays Bay. Muskie are prevalent in transition zones, i.e. sand to milfoil. They are especially prevalent where broadleaf cabbage meets milfoil. Try Phanton gliding jerkbait to hook them.
Boats, Family, and Noodle Salad
Do you like to catch fish? Own a Lake Minnetonka home and you will have more time to fish. More fishing equals more fish. It’s not rocket science. This mathematical concept is not hard to grasp, but it is profound in its implications. If you own real estate on Lake Minnetonka, you will not only have more fish, but you will also have more relatives who like to come to visit and stay for a while. This may be a mixed blessing, but at least you won’t be burning hundreds of gallons of gas pulling your boat to one of those lakes up north. It also means that your descendants will contest your will when you pass on, because they all will want to get their hands on your Lake Minnetonka lakeshore property.
If you own a home on Lake Minnetonka, you will have a great place to make memories for your children and grandchildren. Buy Lake Minnetonka shoreline, and you will also own an excellent real estate investment. You can make money and memories by purchasing a lake home here, or you can make yourself a lifetime of regrets by passing up this opportunity. Prices are good right now and interest rates could hardly get better. Demand for Lake Minnetonka lakefront will only increase. The close proximity to the Twin Cities will serve to make this demand permanent.
A Short History of the Lake
The labyrinth of water that we call Lake Minnetonka is actually a composite of kettle lakes that were left after the retreat of the Wisconsin Glaciation about 10,000 years ago. Mound-building Indians inhabited the area, and were replaced by a number of tribes, the most recent being the Dakota. The Dakota were ultimately displaced after Lake Minnetonka was discovered by two young boys who canoed up the Minnehaha Creek from St. Anthony. The lake was given its current name in 1852, it came from an Indian phase minn-ni-tanka, which meant big water by territorial governor Alexander Ramsey. In 1853 the town of Excelsior was founded and the first hotel was built.
The arrival of the elegant steamboat on the lake was in 1861, the Governor Ramsey was the first steamboat to carry passengers around the lake. In 1867 the St. Paul & Pacific Company rail line connected the area to the cities bringing many visitors to Lake Minnetonka along with grand hotels. In 1881 the City of St. Louis steamboat was built in Wayzata and it was the first steamboat with electric lights. It could carry up to 1000 passengers and was a 130 foot side wheeler. The Belle of Minnetonka was on the lake the following year and it was the largest ever at 300 feet long and could hold 2500 passengers. The first streetcar came to the lake in 1905 and this initiated more growth of resorts and the Express Boats were launched on the lake. These Express boats were steamboats that looked like streetcars. They would meet the arriving streetcars and take the riders to over twenty different locations on Lake Minnetonka. As the economy changed so did the heyday of visitors to Lake Minnetonka. The steamboats were gone and many tour boats were sunk off of Big Island. The tour boat Minnehaha was raised in 1980 and is back in service today after many years of restoration. Today Lake Minnetonka is one of the most prestigious areas in Minnesota. It is home to many large mansions and large lake homes. The area is known for its various restaurants, eateries and unique shopping. The lake is enjoyed for all of its water act ivies and fishing or just relaxing on one of the many boat cruises that are still offered.
Homes on Lake Minnetonka
With all of that prime Lake Minnetonka lakeshore, you can probably something that fits the bill for you. Sure, there is that $53M home in Orono (any takers?) that claims a modest 32,000 finished square feet, but there are Lake Minnetonka homes for non-billionaires. Whether you need a place for your statue collection and an eight-car heated garage for your Bentleys and Jaguars, or you just need a nice two story home with 100 feet of lakeshore and a place to dock your boat, you can find it here. At any given time there are about 200 or so homes on Lake Minnetonka that are listed on the MLS; most of them are priced under $15 M and some of them are priced under $1M.
New lake home construction offerings are available, and notable builders like McNulty, Weathers Construction, Keith Waters, and Stonewood. Typical amenities are heated garages, in-floor heat, home theaters, cottage architecture, wine cellars, home theaters, and geothermal heat systems. If you are considering a new lake home, give us a call. We know the lakeshore, the builders, and the market for new Lake Minnetonka homes. If you stop by to see builder models, keep in mind that the builder’s agent you meet is representing the builder, not you. We can represent your best interests by providing a clear understanding of building practices and the entire construction process. Our goal is to ensure that you know exactly what you are getting, negotiate price and other terms to your favor, and to avoid costly “surprises” along the way to closing. Take advantage of our years of experience with Lake Minnetonka real estate. We will not allow you to proceed with any transaction until we are certain that you are fully informed and comfortable with every step in the process.
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