Lake Minnetonka : That Ol’ Big Water
11,000 years ago, large blocks of ice melted and formed what is popularly known today as Lake Minnetonka. Minnetonka comes from an American Indian word minn-ni-tanka, that means “big water.” The first known inhabitants were Cheyenne, Iowa, Ojibwa and Dakota Sioux Indians. They held the woodlands areas in high regard as a great spiritual place and burial grounds. The first Europeans to settle in Lake Minnetonka who came in 1822 were Joseph Brown and Will Snelling. In 1853, the Minnetonka Hotel was built not far from the lake, and The Minnetonka Yacht Club was formed in 1889. Until today Lake Minnetoka remains to be an extremely popular tourist destination
Experience the beauty and wonder of the big lake, try the Lake Minnetonka Cruises on your next holiday.