Barletta Boat Club Tour 1 Recap - Excelsior Bay, Lake Minnetonka

Barletta Boat Club Tour 1 Recap - Excelsior Bay, Lake Minnetonka

If you’ve ever sailed, boated, or paddled past a vintage boathouse on Lake Minnetonka and wondered what their story is, our Barletta Boat Club events are your opportunity to find out more. Each event is an on-water tour that will consist of roughly 5-10 stops offering an insider's point of view into the history of the enchanting lakeside retreat nestled on the shores of Lake Minnetonka. You may have seen the book Boathouse of Lake Minnetonka and Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka, wel use these books as a resource and basis for our tours. 

Lake Minnetonka is a collection of 37 lakes and bays, 42 including other small off-shoots. Most are connected to each other by channels. We will meet our Barletta’s in an appointed bay to start the tour in the evening at 6PM each Tuesday. The tours will last roughly an hour and a half and go until 7:30PM. Each tour is free to join and includes a digital audio recording of the history of the boathouse and a PDF document with interior photos of the stunning boathouse. Afterwards there is an optional social hour at one of the restaurants on the lake. The events will be held twice a month during the months of June, July and August. For more information or to sign up please email curt@wayzatamarine.com

Click Here for the digital audio recording with more in depth information on each stop!

Stop #1 Griswold-Ostrander Boathouse

Frank Griswold, born in 1895 became a millionaire in his 20's when he developed the American Bobby Automatic Traffic Regulator. In 1928, Griswold decided to build the fastest boat on the lake. Built at a cost of $25,000 or nearly $350K in today's dollars, the 30ft runabout was crafted of Honduran mahogany with 3 cockpits, red leather and a V12 Curtiss Wright airplane engine, later replaced with a Chrysler V8.

Stop #2 Huhn & Preston Boathouse

The Huhn boathouse itself is one of the smallest on the lake, with just enough room for a small sailboat. After buying both the Huhn and Preston property in the early 2000's, Jon and Mary Monson restored the boathouse and sold both properties.

Stop #3 Gluek Boathouse 

In 1896 the Gluek brothers, owners of Gluek Brewing Co purchased the 13 acres to build their summer homes. The boathouse built in 1898 still has the original wooden rollers in the floor for moving boats in and out of the water.

Stop #4 Minnetonka Yacht Club’

Founded in 1882, Minnetonka Yacht Club (MYC) is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the country. MYC is not only a place for sailors, but a landing spot for many who want to enjoy a club experience and participate in socials and club events. Currently, the Minnetonka Yacht Club has over 850 members.

Stop #5 Grandview Boathouse

The Grandview boathouse was a key deciding factor to purchase a home for the Potter family. Situated at the end of a peninsula overlooking Carson's Bay in Deephaven, the sloping land has history since the 1880s.

Stop #6 Burton/Jones House

Businessman-Sailor Hazen James Burton built the house in 1890, 8 years after he founded the Minnetonka Yacht Club. The rustic-style home was named Chimo.

Stop #7 Cargill House

Built in 1905 by the original owner, James Cargill, brother of William Cargill. Architect Hugh Garden specialized in prairie and craftsman designs. One of the main features of this home is the wraparound porch.

Stop #8 Fruen/O'Connor Chalet & Boathouse

Inspired by a trip to Switzerland, Arthur Fruen built the chalet-style cottage on Big Island in 1940. The Fruen family is among the few original boathouse families.

Stop #9 America's Boating Club Power Squadron

A meeting of Capt. Carl Williams of the Hennepin County Water Patrol and Larry Dressler, former member of the Susquehannock, PA Squadron, with the subsequent addition of Dudley Russell, P/C Duluth Squadron, Lou Schricker, former member of the Mississippi Coast Squadron and Dr. Arthur E. Allen, President of the Greater Minnetonka Council led to the formation of the Minnetonka Power Squadron.

Stop #10 Gale Island

Situated across from the town of Excelsior, the federal government sold the unclaimed island to Harlow Gale, a Minneapolis real- estate developer, in 1871. Guess how much it was sold for? $2.45!

Photo's and information from 'Boathouses of Lake Minnetonka', book by Karen Melvin and Melinda Nelson