What is the history of Lake Waconia and Coney Island?

The Dakota people lived near Lake Waconia for centuries and called it 'Meday Wa Ko Ni Ya,' meaning 'lake of the fountain' or 'out of the water comes life.' Euro-American settlers moved to the area after the Treaty of Mendota in the early 1850s and adopted the Dakota name, which evolved into 'Waconia.' The town incorporated as a village in 1880. In 1884, the large island at the center of the lake — once called Paradise Island — was developed into Coney Island of the West, becoming a bustling resort destination with hotels and dozens of cottages that made Waconia the 'Paradise of the Northwest.' The 34-acre island is now owned and managed by Carver County Parks, which offers free pontoon shuttle and tour service to the island during summer.

What summer recreation is available on Lake Waconia?

Lake Waconia offers exceptional summer recreation. The lake's wide-open waters support sailing, boating, water skiing, tubing, jet skiing, paddling, pontooning, and swimming. The lake's consistent seasonal winds make it the most popular high-wind lake in the Twin Cities metro, attracting windsurfers, sailboarders, kiteboarders, and sailors from across the region — particularly in spring, late summer, and fall. Lake Waconia Regional Park on the southern shore features a swimming beach, picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and play equipment. Carver County also operates free pontoon shuttle tours to historic Coney Island during summer months.

What makes Lake Waconia a great fishing lake?

Lake Waconia is primarily managed by the DNR for walleye and muskellunge. Walleye fingerlings are stocked biennially at 1,660 pounds per stocking, and muskellunge fingerlings — 830 fish — are stocked annually each fall. Note that walleye on Lake Waconia are subject to a special regulation: a 16-inch minimum length limit. The lake also supports healthy catchable populations of largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and black crappie, as well as white crappie, yellow perch, yellow bullhead, muskellunge, freshwater drum, bigmouth buffalo, smallmouth buffalo, bowfin (dogfish), and a variety of minnow species. Bullheads and bluegill are the most abundant fish by population.

What is winter recreation like on Lake Waconia?

Lake Waconia becomes a destination unto itself in winter. Hundreds of ice fishing houses form a community of anglers on the lake each season, targeting walleye, perch, crappie, and northern pike. Lake Waconia Regional Park adds an 80-foot sledding hill typically open from December through March, weather permitting. The lake's open expanse also makes it popular for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing on surrounding trails.

Is there public boat access on Lake Waconia?

Yes. Two public boat launches serve Lake Waconia. The primary DNR access on the northeast side of the lake off County Road 30 features three concrete ramps, three docks, two restrooms, 40 vehicle-with-trailer spaces, and 10 vehicle-only spaces. The Lakeview Terrace access near 335 Lakeview Terrace Boulevard features one concrete ramp and 8 vehicle-with-trailer spaces. Private marinas in the city of Waconia provide additional access. The Lakeview Terrace site has no docks, restrooms, or accessible parking spaces.

What is the water quality like on Lake Waconia?

Water quality on Lake Waconia has improved significantly since monitoring began in 1973, with long-term trends showing continued improvement. Bald eagles, egrets, and blue herons nest on Coney Island, reflecting the lake's healthy wildlife habitat. The lake is a fertile eutrophic lake, meaning nutrient levels support a productive fishery, though algae growth can occur in warmer months. The City of Waconia and Carver County actively partner with watershed and environmental agencies to maintain and improve the lake's water quality.

Which school district serves Lake Waconia homes?

Homes on Lake Waconia are served by Waconia Public Schools (Independent School District #110).

Lake Waconia Homes For Sale

Q: Where is Lake Waconia located and what makes it significant?

Lake Waconia is located on the northern edge of the City of Waconia in central Carver County, Minnesota, approximately 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Covering 3,080.36 acres with 10.88 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 37 feet, it is the largest lake in Carver County and the second-largest in the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. The lake is a premier recreational destination year-round and one of the most popular high-wind lakes in the Twin Cities metro, having hosted over 60 windsurfing regattas since 1978.

Q: What is Lake Waconia Regional Park?

Lake Waconia Regional Park is a 100-acre Carver County park located at 8170 Paradise Lane on the southern shore of Lake Waconia, currently in early development toward a future 164-acre park including Coney Island of the West. Existing facilities include a reservable group picnic shelter, play equipment, restrooms, a small swimming beach, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and grills. An 80-foot sledding hill is available in winter. The adjacent DNR boat access provides public access for boating, fishing, and paddling, including trips to historic Coney Island. Park hours are 6 AM to 10 PM daily.

Lake Waconia / Coney Island

Located on the northern edge of the City of Waconia is beautiful Lake Waconia. Lake Waconia is the largest lake in Carver County and the second-largest in the Twin Cities' seven-county area. Additional lakes include Reitz Lake, Piersons Lake, Parley Lake, and Hydes Lake. Coney Island, part of Lake Waconia Regional Park, is in the middle of the lake towards the southern end.

In the summer, Lake Waconia hosts many recreational activities: sailing, boating, fishing, water-skiing, tubing, jet-skiing, paddling, pontooning, and swimming. The wide-open waters and seasonal winds attract windsurfers, sailboarders, sailors, and kiteboarders from miles around in the spring, late summer, and fall. Find out more on the Summer Recreation page.

Lake Waconia becomes a city unto itself in the winter, with hundreds of ice-fishing houses forming a community of anglers enjoying a Minnesota winter. Learn more on the Winter Recreation page.

Destination Waconia®

Lake Waconia regional park
Lake Waconia Regional Park is a 100-acre park on the southern shore of Lake Waconia. This shoreline park offers views of the lake and Coney Island. The park is in its early development for the future 164-acre park, including Coney Island of the West. Existing facilities include a reservable group picnic shelter, play equipment, restrooms, a small swimming beach, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and grills.

Boat access: is provided outside the park at the Minnesota DNR boat access located on the lake's northeast side and at private marinas in the city of Waconia. Park Hours are 6:00 A.M.-10:00 P.M. daily.

Beach: One of the main attractions at Lake Waconia Regional Park is the well-kept beach. In 2004 the beach was redeveloped and, in 2008, greatly enhanced with five large umbrellas providing additional shade to families and younger kids. Near the beach are picnic tables and grills, ideal for summer barbeques.

Carver County®

Waconia is derived from a Sioux-language word meaning "fountain" or "spring."

Source Wikipedia®

Homes located on the lake are in the Waconia Public School District.

Real Estate Statistics

Average Price	$1.5M
Lowest Price	$600K
Highest Price	$2.6M
Total Listings	12
Avg. Days On Market	33
Avg. Price/SQFT	$383

Property Types (active listings)

Lake Information

DNR Lake ID: 10005900
County: Carver
Near: Waconia
Border Water: No
Sentinel Lake: No

Size and Depth
Area: 3080.36 acres
Littoral Area: 1660 acres
Shore Length: 10.88 miles
Maximum Depth: 37 feet

Fish Species: black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white crappie, yellow bullhead, yellow perch, bigmouth buffalo, common carp, freshwater drum, smallmouth buffalo, white sucker, central mudminnow, common shiner, emerald shiner, fathead minnow, golden shiner, spotfin shiner, spottail shiner.

Two boat launches are available
Lake Waconia, Lakeview Terrace Public Water Access Site

Directions to access: In the City of Waconia near 335 Lakeview Terrace Blvd
Facilities:
One ramp (type=concrete slab)
One parking lot (type=gravel)
no vehicle parking spaces
Eight vehicle/trailer parking spaces
no accessible parking spaces
no docks
no restrooms

Lake Waconia Public Water Access Site

Directions to access: NE of Waconia on Cnty Rd 30 on E shore.
Facilities:
Three ramps (type=concrete slab)
One parking lot (type=asphalt)
Ten-vehicle parking spaces
40 vehicle/trailer parking spaces
no accessible parking spaces
Three docks
Two restrooms