Excelsior’s Final Hotel Falls

This postcard depicts an error. “Samson House” should be “Sampson House”.

Today, we revisit Excelsior and take a look at a building some longtime lake residents may still recall! Rebuilt in 1895 after a devastating fire, the Sampson House became one of Excelsior’s most well-known inns. It was constructed by local resident Leroy Sampson, who proudly managed the 40-plus-room establishment. Among its standout features was the fact that each room had its own wood-burning stove—an uncommon luxury at the time.

Around 1910, Leroy passed management of the inn to his son, Walter. Under Walter’s direction, the hotel saw significant modernization. Wood heat was replaced by steam, gas lighting gave way to electricity, and large porches were screened in to shield guests from insects. Throughout these changes, the hotel continued to promote its quality accommodations and convenient access to Lake Minnetonka by rowboat or steamboat.

By the 1950s, the Sampson House was widely regarded as the last surviving hotel from Lake Minnetonka’s golden era. Then under the management of Webb Sampson, the inn had remained in the family’s hands for nearly 70 years. In 1960, the hotel closed its doors for good. Its furnishings were auctioned off, the land was sold, and in 1962, the building was demolished to make way for an apartment complex.

Today, little remains to mark the presence of the Sampson House. The apartment building still stands on the same hill where the inn once welcomed guests. The address remains unchanged:

500 Second Street, Excelsior