A Retreat For Sportsmen & The Infirm Alike

As seen in the National Health Journal, June 15, 1899

Many locals today may not know it existed, but the Palmer House was once one of Minnetonka’s most sought after hotels. Run by Mrs. Neill Palmer, the hotel was situated directly South of Crane & Eagle islands and operated from roughly 1885-1905.

The hotel, situated on a bluff 105 feet above the waterline, overlooked both lakes Minnetonka and Zumbra. It boasted a rooftop view with sights of Lafayette, Del Otero, and more in the distance. Due to its elevation, the hotel often advertised itself as having consistent cooling breezes to keep guests comfortable during the hottest days of summer.

The Palmer House catered to two different kinds of clientele; sportsmen and the infirm. . . Avid anglers flocked to the hotel for a chance to fish both Minnetonka and Zumbra. The waters between the mainland and Crane Island was found to be especially good fishing.

The other common guests of the hotel were the infirm. Many health experts of the late 1800’s hailed the hotel as a, “quiet and restful place, where the system soon regains its old time vigor and strength in the pure dry air of its location.” Doctors referred patients experiencing hay fever and insomnia to the hotel, in the hopes that the getaway would heal them of their ailments.

Unlike other hotels like Lafayette, Tonka Bay, and Del Otero, the Palmer House was a relatively cheap getaway. Rooms often ran $1 per night or $5-7 per week. This included meals and complimentary rowboats on both Minnetonka and Zumbra. The meals were cooked using vegetables grown on the property and dairy products from the nearby farm.

Unfortunately, very few photos of the hotel survive today. The one you see here is an illustration used for advertising. In the long lineage of Minnetonka hotels, the Palmer House is oftentimes forgotten. However, like many other hotels of the era, its rough location is now marked by a road bearing its name:

Palmer Pointe Road