LAFAYETTE BAY
Location Highlights:
The Lake Minnetonka Bay is named after the century-old Lafayette Club, which sits on 3,000 feet of shoreline. Lafayette Bay's central location caters to all that Lake Minnetonka offers. Lafayette Bay sits north of Echo Bay, west of Smiths Bay, and across from Big Island Nature Park. A notable area on the bay is Huntington Point, home to some of the most beautiful properties in this area. Homes along the shoreline of Lafayette Bay are located in Minnetonka Beach, Tonka Bay, and Orono. These homes are within the Minnetonka School District and Mound Westonka School District.
Water Quality:
The water depth in Layfayette Bay ranges from 5 to 57 feet and has an A rating for water quality by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
Boating Restrictions:
None
Lake Access:
Lafayette Bay has no boat launches or marinas, but three are in the neighboring Echo Bay. The Caribbean Marina is north of Sunrise Point and offers marine services, gas pumps, and all-season boat storage. The Lindbo Landing Marina is direct across from Big Island, and its primary service is dock slip rentals. Lastly, the Tonka Bay Marina is slightly north of the Caribbean; customers can access the boat launch, dock slips, and gas pumps.
Amenities:
The most notable amenity on the bay is the Layfayette Club. The club was once a hotel built by famous railroad director James J. Hill. He built Lafayette Hotel in 1882 to capitalize on the area's increasing popularity. The hotel had 300 guest rooms and became the center of Lake Minnetonka's social life. Hill shut down the hotel in 1897, and it burned down in a fire later that year, and some say Lafayette's demise signaled a shift in Lake Minnetonka's resort culture. Today, a rebuilt Lafayette Club still stands and offers amenities like indoor and outdoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and boat docks.
Source Lake Pioneer®
Source MN DNR®
Source Minnehaha Watershed District®
Lafayette Bay
SEARCH BY BAY
Location Highlights:
The Lake Minnetonka Bay is named after the century-old Lafayette Club, which sits on 3,000 feet of shoreline. Lafayette Bay's central location caters to all that Lake Minnetonka offers. Lafayette Bay sits north of Echo Bay, west of Smiths Bay, and across from Big Island Nature Park. A notable area on the bay is Huntington Point, home to some of the most beautiful properties in this area. Homes along the shoreline of Lafayette Bay are located in Minnetonka Beach, Tonka Bay, and Orono. These homes are within the Minnetonka School District and Mound Westonka School District.
Water Quality:
The water depth in Layfayette Bay ranges from 5 to 57 feet and has an A rating for water quality by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
Boating Restrictions:
None
Lake Access:
Lafayette Bay has no boat launches or marinas, but three are in the neighboring Echo Bay. The Caribbean Marina is north of Sunrise Point and offers marine services, gas pumps, and all-season boat storage. The Lindbo Landing Marina is direct across from Big Island, and its primary service is dock slip rentals. Lastly, the Tonka Bay Marina is slightly north of the Caribbean; customers can access the boat launch, dock slips, and gas pumps.
Amenities:
The most notable amenity on the bay is the Layfayette Club. The club was once a hotel built by famous railroad director James J. Hill. He built Lafayette Hotel in 1882 to capitalize on the area's increasing popularity. The hotel had 300 guest rooms and became the center of Lake Minnetonka's social life. Hill shut down the hotel in 1897, and it burned down in a fire later that year, and some say Lafayette's demise signaled a shift in Lake Minnetonka's resort culture. Today, a rebuilt Lafayette Club still stands and offers amenities like indoor and outdoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and boat docks.
Source Lake Pioneer®
Source MN DNR®
Source Minnehaha Watershed District®
