Noerenberg Estate
Originally called Willkommen
Noerenberg Estate—originally called Willkommen—was the stunning Gilded-Age lakeshore property of Frederick Noerenberg, founder of Grain Belt Brewery. In 1890, Noerenberg bought 73 acres along Crystal Bay and built a massive Queen Anne–style home, complete with eight bedrooms, sweeping verandas, and over 8,400 ft of lake frontage.
He surrounded the house with meticulously planned gardens—English-style roses, ornamental shade trees, grape arbors, and imported plant specimens gathered from his travels in Europe . The estate was no weekend retreat—it was a “gentleman’s farm,” staffed by 17 people, with a working barn, carriage house, pump house, and a distinctive boathouse–gazebo built in the early 1900s.
His daughter, Lora Noerenberg Hoppe, a horticulturist, lovingly maintained the gardens until her death in 1972. She bequeathed the entire property—with the condition that the mansion be removed and the land remain intact as a public garden. The house was demolished, but the barn, boathouse, carriage house, and original gardens survived.
Today, Noerenberg Memorial Gardens, managed by Three Rivers Park District, showcases 16 acres of formal gardens that bloom from spring through fall, all set against the backdrop of Lake Minnetonka Highlights include:
A boathouse/gazebo overlooking Crystal Bay, offering timeless views across to the Lafayette Club.
A Memorial Colonnade of eight white columns marking the former mansion's location, with a plaque honoring Frederick and Johanna Noerenberg.
A grape arbor still bearing fruit from vines planted by the Noerenbergs.
A grove of Scots pines planted as a nod to their German homeland—now underplanted with hardy Northern Lights azaleas, a University of Minnesota-developed variety.
The gardens are open free to the public from May to mid‑October, 8 AM to sunset. While food, beverages, pets, boating, and swimming are not allowed, the site offers guided tours, master-gardener talks, wedding rentals, and seasonal events like the annual Garden Party in July.
This site remains one of the only intact Gilded-Age estates on Lake Minnetonka. Its original footprint—73 acres and historic shoreline—has never been subdivided. Through thoughtful stewardship, Noerenberg Gardens offers a rare blend of horticultural beauty, historical resonance, and lakeside serenity—a living legacy that truly lives up to its name: Willkommen, welcome to all.
Noerenberg Gardens isn’t just a scenic stop—it’s Minnesota history unfolding in petals, pines, and peaceful lakeside breezes.
