Mound’s Chapman House Hotel

Jun 09, 2025

📜 Origins & Grand Opening (1876–1880s)

Inception by the Chapman Brothers
Seymour and Sumner Chapman built the hotel high above Cook’s Bay on the upper lake. It opened on July 4, 1876, debuting with a grand ball. By 1877, the three-story building could lodge around 80 guests, and its spacious dining hall seated about 200.
Architectural Highlights & Setting
Nestled on a seven‑acre bluff, the hotel featured broad verandas, airy guest rooms, sweeping lawns, and mature timber—all promoting seclusion, comfort, and scenic vistas.

Accessibility
By the early 1880s, guests arrived via steamboat, rail, and eventually horse‑drawn carriages. Notably, the Great Northern Railroad carried visitors from Minneapolis to Mound, followed by a short trek or bus ride.
Reputation
Marketed as a healthful retreat, it appeared in the National Health Journal (June 1899), which praised its “pure, health‑giving air” and lake-blue waters.

Fishing Hub
With fewer fishermen in the upper lake region, Chapman’s offered abundant catches. Guests could rent boats, gear, and bait – making it a top-tier destination for anglers.
Pricing
Around 1905, daily rates were modest: $2/day or $10.50–$14/week—friendly to both upper-middle-class individuals and vacationing families.

Part of a Resort Boom
By 1885, Lake Minnetonka hosted dozens of hotels—Hotel St. Louis, Hotel Lafayette, and Lake Park Hotel among them—with daily rates of $1–$3. The railroad and leisure boom fueled this expansion.
Cultural Importance
These resorts drew visitors for dancing, concerts, sporting events, and steamboat excursions. Chapman House stood out through its idyllic setting, comfort, and rustic elegance.

Shift from Hotels
Into the 20th century, many large lakeside resorts succumbed to fires and changing leisure trends. By 1900–1920, hotels were either dismantled or redeveloped as private estates.
Modern Echoes
Today, these grand resorts exist mostly in memories, photos, and local lore. Though no original hotels along Minnetonka remain, boutique efforts in Excelsior and Wayzata are reviving the region’s resort charm. There is one new hotel on the lake in Spring Park called The Shoreline. It is the first one on the lake in a hundred years.