BIG ISLAND

Orono, MN 55331

Location Highlights: 

The Big Island neighborhood is on Lower Lake Minnetonka, Echo Bay, and Lafayette Bay in Orono. Big Island is only accessible from the water; no roads run from the mainland to the island. In the summer, homeowners take the boat to the mainland, and an ice road is paved in the winter. The quiet neighborhood has around 60 homes and cabins, 40 with direct lake access. Lakeshore homes for sale have rare access to the beautiful sandy bottom of Lake Minnetonka. Big Island sits at the center of Lake Minnetonka and is minutes from downtown Excelsior and Wayzata amenities. The cabin village of Big Island is the ideal location for those looking for unplugged, lakeside living. Similar developments include Crane Island and Enchanted Island. 

History:

Big Island has a rich history on the Lake, beginning as a residential cottage community in 1887. In 1906, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT), which owned streetcars and boats, bought 65 acres of Big Island and opened an amusement park. An underwater cable brought electricity to Big Island and power to a roller coaster, carousel, and music pavilion. In 1911, the park was dismantled after falling into debt. In the early 1920s, veterans’ organizations began using the park site for Minnesota war veterans and their families. In 2006, the City of Orono and Minnehaha Creek and Watershed District teamed up to purchase 56 acres of the east side of the Big Island for a public park. Since then, Big Island has become a residential community and a popular spot for boaters with public access to the Big Island Nature Park, where visitors may park their boats. 

School District

Big Island in Orono, Minnesota, is ideal for those enrolling in a top-tier district. The community is located in the highly decorated Minnetonka School District #276. The district serves approximately 10,900 students in grades K-12, and the Minnetonka High School has a 98% graduation rate. Schools in the neighborhood include Deephaven Elementary, Minnetonka Middle School East, and Minnetonka High School: neighboring school districts include Orono and Wayzata School Districts. 

Amenities: 

Homes for sale on Big Island are very secluded from traditional amenities. The island only houses residential properties, but nearby in downtown Excelsior and Wayzata, homeowners can find all dining and retail needs. 

Utilities: 

Utility Information

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