Liquor on the lake
When Prohibition hit, Lake Minnetonka became a hotbed for bootlegging and clandestine drinking
The history of liquor on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, is colorful and deeply tied to the lake’s evolution as a resort and recreational destination. Here’s an overview spanning the 1800s to the present:
19th Century: Early Days and Temperance
Lake Minnetonka's popularity grew rapidly in the mid-to-late 1800s as a summer destination for wealthy tourists, especially from Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Luxury hotels like the Hotel Lafayette (1882) catered to affluent guests and served alcohol despite growing temperance sentiment.
Temperance movements were strong in Minnesota during this period, and many communities around the lake (especially Wayzata and Excelsior) had dry tendencies or outright bans.
Despite this, alcohol was served discreetly in private clubs and behind the scenes in many resort establishments.
Prohibition Era (1920–1933): Bootlegging Boom
When Prohibition hit, Lake Minnetonka became a hotbed for bootlegging and clandestine drinking.
The lake’s numerous bays and islands made it easy for smugglers to hide illegal operations.
Stories of speakeasies in Excelsior and hidden stills on Big Island became local legend.
The lake's social elite often flouted the law; booze cruises were rumored to take place under the cover of darkness.
Post-Prohibition and Mid-20th Century: Legalization and Regulation
After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, liquor sales slowly returned, but many Minnetonka communities kept restrictions in place for years.
Dry towns like Wayzata resisted issuing liquor licenses into the 1940s and beyond.
By the 1950s–60s, more bars, supper clubs, and lakeside restaurants began to obtain licenses as tourism surged.
The emergence of the Bayview Event Center and Lord Fletcher’s in Spring Park helped popularize upscale waterfront dining with cocktails.
Modern Era: Boating, Bars, and Bylaws
Today, Lake Minnetonka has a robust liquor culture with popular lakefront bars like Lord Fletcher’s, Maynards, and Back Channel Brewing.
The lake also has a floating bar culture, with boaters tying up and partying near spots like Big Island.
Law enforcement patrols regularly to prevent drunk boating, which remains a serious safety issue.
Cities around the lake now issue liquor licenses with strict zoning and seasonal regulations, especially for establishments serving on or near the water.
Fun Facts:
Lord Fletcher’s Old Lake Lodge opened in 1968 and remains one of the most iconic lake bars in Minnesota.
Big Island was once home to an amusement park (1906–1911), and though the park is long gone, it’s still a hotspot for drinking and socializing by boat.
Local lore includes mob connections during Prohibition, including rumored bootlegging routes through the lake.
