1997 Map of Excelsior

About this map

Lake Minnetonka dominates this late-twentieth-century landscape, its intricate shoreline of bays and points defining the development patterns of Excelsior, Wayzata, and Deephaven. The map shows a region heavily shaped by leisure and suburban growth, featuring numerous private clubs such as the Woodhill Country Club and Orono Country Club. This era of the lake's history is characterized by dense residential peninsulas like Minnetonka Beach and Casco Point, contrasted with protected natural areas like the Wolsfeld Woods State Scientific and Natural Area. Local infrastructure is well-established, with institutional anchors including Orono High School and several cemeteries such as Woodside Cemetery. The Soo Line corridor remains a prominent feature, tracing the northern edge of the lake through Spring Park and toward the metropolitan center, illustrating the historical transit links that originally established these lakeside communities.