Gifts From Mother Nature

Article as seen in Tonka & Skipper Living Magazine(s). December edition, 2025

Am I the only one who thinks the Christmas season has come too quickly, yet again?? While I revel in the winter wonderland that accompanies the holiday, there’s always a lingering part of me that needs to be ripped from the summer’s memory. The hardiest of us remain active on the lake until sheets of ice finally close it off for the year. Likewise, our predecessors often found themselves feeling quite the same. . .

In an edition of the Minneapolis Journal from December, 1906, a newsie pokes fun at the, “ice yachtsmen who impatiently wait for a freeze”. With the popularization of private gasoline watercraft, lake enthusiasts could run about the waves as far into the season as they wanted! That December, one particularly avid Yacht Club member was found to be carrying gas to his boat and taking, “moonlight spins over the waters of the lake while his ice-boating friend is warming his toes in front of the sitting-room fire”. As the temperatures neared zero, some Excelsior residents climbed aboard steamboat Acte, who’s captain was well known for running her late into the season, for a snowy cruise around Lower Lake.

Meanwhile, iceboaters waited patiently for the first freeze which, undoubtedly, came shortly thereafter. Even at the turn of the 20th century, Minnesota’s most famous lake was never totally devoid of attraction. Iceboating, snowshoeing, fishing, and more were enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike. Truly, Minnetonka’s way of giving during the holidays is with the gift of endless fun and memories made with loved ones playing upon her frozen waves!

The image above is a veranda view from Hotel Saint Louis, showing the Minnetonka Yacht Club buildings prominently standing above the waters of St. Louis Bay. The building on the right was the yachting building, built by architect Harry Jones Wild, while the left building was the iceboating club.