Lake Minnetonka Historical Society to present Big Island history cruise and walking tour

The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society will present a history cruise and walking tour of the Big Island aboard “Lady of the Lake” from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Excelsior, Sunday, June 22. Tickets are $60 for LMHS members and $75 for nonmembers and are available at biwalkingtour.eventbrite.com.

Cruise passengers will experience the unique and varied history of Lake Minnetonka’s Big Island by lake and land while cruising from Excelsior to Big Island on “Lady of the Lake.” Participants will then disembark for a guided walking tour of Orono’s Big Island Nature Park where they will learn the history of the island’s Native people, early settlers, Big Island Park, Big Island Game Farm and Big Island Veterans Camp from local historians.

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Orono schools OK maintenance plan for facilities

The Orono school board approved its Long-Term Facilities Maintenance Plan for an additional year, and submitted its plan to the Department of Education as part of an annual procedure.

The LTFM identifies projects as far as ten years into the future that will “preserve and extend the life of district facilities, address health, safety and accessibility issues, align facilities with educational and enrollment needs, and maintain fiscal responsibility through long-range planning,” Director of Business Services Nick Taintor wrote in a presentation to the Board.

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The Olaf Searle Estate on Big Island

The Olaf Searle House on Big Island in Lake Minnetonka was a striking symbol of ambition, innovation, and eventual decline in Minnesota’s Gilded Age. Here’s a detailed look at its history:

Olaf Searle: From Immigration Agent to Island Magnate

Olaf O. Searle, a Norwegian immigrant, made his mark in the late 19th century as a real estate investor and immigration agent. He co-founded the A.E. Johnson Company, which operated steamers from Scandinavia to the U.S. and had agencies across Minnesota, the Dakotas, and the Pacific coast. 

In the early 1880s, Searle purchased the western half of Big Island from the Morse family. He constructed a 20-room Colonial Revival mansion equipped with gas lighting and steam heat—a lavish estate costing an estimated $250,000 at the time.

continue https://cdrewry.substack.com/p/the-olaf-searle-estate-on-big-island

#BigIsland #LakeMinnetonka #Orono

Garage condos coming to Orono for luxury vehicles

Orono is about to become the latest Twin Cities suburb to give vehicle owners space for the things that don’t fit in a traditional garage or yard.

Orono Garage Condos LLC, based in Excelsior, has paid $2.54 million to Old Crystal Bay LLC in Long Lake for a 5-acre location at 430 Old Crystal Bay Road N. It will have five buildings with 85 condos ranging from 800 to 1,400 square feet. Prices for a basic shell will start in the mid-$200,000s, with no real limit on how they can be tricked out to pamper a Porsche or Ferrari — perhaps from the nearby cluster of luxury dealerships along Interstate 394. They also are designed for watercraft and other recreational equipment.

continue https://finance-commerce.com/2025/06/orono-garage-condos-luxury-vehicle-storage/

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Orono names interim chief amidst fire department merger

For the past five months, the cities of Long Lake and Orono have taken steps in consolidating their respective fire departments into one.

The cities created negotiating committees, amended a fire services contract that returned responsibilities to Long Lake while including Orono staff, and Orono fired its fire chief laid off paid on-call staff as it prepares for the complete merger.

“It was clear to me that no one was advocating having two separate fire departments,” Orono Mayor Bob Tunheim said earlier this month about conversations he had with citizens and firefighters. “It’s in everyone’s best interest to have a single department that delivers top notch public safety.”

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The game farm on Big Island

The game farm on Big Island in Lake Minnetonka played a pivotal role in Minnesota’s wildlife conservation history, particularly in establishing the ring-necked pheasant as the state’s iconic game bird.

Origins and Purpose

Following the closure of Big Island Amusement Park in 1911, the eastern portion of the island was repurposed in 1915 into Minnesota’s first state-run game farm. This initiative aimed to address the declining populations of game birds across the state. The farm began with 50 ring-necked pheasants and soon expanded to include native species such as quail, prairie chickens, and various ducks, including teal, mallard, and pintail.

continue https://cdrewry.substack.com/p/the-game-farm-on-big-island

#BigIsland #GameFarm #Orono

Bay residents divided on Lake Improvement District

For years, some Lake Minnetonka residents have conducted door-to-door campaigns hoping to receive donations to help combat various invasive aquatic species.

In their home bays, one may find invasive Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, or Starry Stonewort. These plants can outcompete native species, form dense mats at the lake’s surface, and, as is the case with Curly-leaf pondweed, contribute to summer algal blooms after the plants die in the hot mid-summer sun.

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‘Promise fellow’ nears end of time at Orono schools

Orono Public Schools has hosted Americorps Promise Fellow, Nick Oak, since Summer 2024. Oak has made a impact on students and staff alike, providing support and encouragement to young learners. “AmeriCorps Promise Fellows serve as caring adults who use evidence-based, data-driven solutions to support, mentor, and build positive relationships with young people in 6-12th grade on their path to high school graduation” (Minnesota Youth, 2025).

Oak’s journey to becoming a Promise Fellow began during his senior year of college when he interned as a student success coach. That experience helped him find his passion for working with students and supporting their academic and personal growth.

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Orono fires fire chief in ongoing merger efforts

One month after the Orono City Council began the merger of its fire department with Long Lake and began termination of its paid on-call work force, the council moved forward with firing Orono Fire Chief James Van Eyll, at its May 12 meeting.

“We are very appreciative of the service Mr. Van Eyll has performed for the community,” said Mayor Bob Tunheim. “We asked him to stand up a fire department out of scratch, and that’s not an easy task but he did it well.”

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From tragedy to triumph: Orono basketball players, parents, coaches look back on seasons

Most mornings, the sound of basketballs hitting the floor echo through the Orono High School gym. Before heading to class, some boys basketball players use the space to work out kinks, hone their craft, and spend time doing what they love.

Around 5 a.m. one mid-November morning, it was here Nolan Groves wanted to be.

His dad, John, woke him up to share news his old coaching partner, Renae Knudson, told him late last night when she stopped at the Groves’ house while he was asleep. After hearing the news, Groves insisted on heading to that gym. He just had to.

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