The Mist
The storied bar and restaurant in Spring Park, MN: The Minnetonka Mist
🕰️ Historical Background
The Minnetonka Mist was a beloved lakeside family‑owned bar‑restaurant at 4050 Shoreline Dr, right on Lake Minnetonka. It opened in the early 1970s and remained a local favorite — locals dubbed it the “Cheers of Spring Park.”
In 2004, it closed and the property was redeveloped into what’s now The Mist condos, a 106-unit lakefront residential building with mixed retail space.
Vintage stories note that the site originally housed a gas station and liquor store (“Bottle Basket”) before being purchased by Paul Stannard in 1969, who transformed it into Minnetonka Mist
Let’s dig deeper into Minnetonka Mist and its rich history, with fresh details and local memories that bring it back to life.
📍 Origins & Evolution
4050 Shoreline Drive originally hosted a gas station, followed by a liquor store called the “Bottle Basket.” In 1969, Paul and Dorothy Stannard acquired it and, by 1970–71, transformed the site into the Minnetonka Mist bar and restaurant.
It was more than a casual lakeside spot—it was a landmark featuring a rooftop deck for cocktails and dining with sweeping views of Lake Minnetonka. You could arrive by car or boat, docking right below the Mist .
🎤 Events & Atmosphere
Memories from local Facebook groups mention the Mist as a go-to spot for live music and Fourth of July fireworks viewing right from the roof:
“Before they built a High Rise Condo there the Minnetonka Mist was a great place to hear live music and watch fireworks from the roof on the 4th of July…”
Such moments made it a centerpiece of community—and party—culture.
🗺️ Historical Context
The Mist sat on land tied to Spring Park’s resort heyday. It overlapped the former Hotel Del Otero site, a grand lakeside destination built in the early 1890s by George Hopkins. The hotel burned down in 1945, and Minnetonka Mist later rose in its stead.
That locale—nestled on Spring Park Bay by the original town spring at Casco Point—connected the Mist to deeper local history and recreation.
🧩 Local Life & Nostalgia
Employees and locals alike fondly recall working there—and soaking up the lakeside lore:
“County Rd 15, Spring Park, MN. This is where the condos and Tonka BBQ stand today, former site of the bait shop and the Minnetonka Mist bar/restaurant.”
The place embodied that Lakes Area charm: a tight-knit staff, casual hangouts, and a true lakeside hangout people still miss.
🔍 Why It Matters
The Minnetonka Mist was a social anchor for decades: a summer staple, community event host, and boat-in fueling station—literally and socially.
Its rebirth as the Mist condos preserves the footprint and location, but the social energy and memories remain, shared in local forums and recollections to this day.
