Minnetrista means “Crooked Water” in the language of the early Dakota tribes, which were prevalent in the area until the late 19th century. The town lives up to its namesake, surrounded by ancient lakes and other bodies of water. “Geographically speaking, Minnetrista is a beautiful area,” says Lisa Whalen, Mayor of Minnetrista. “We have seven lakes that either border us or are within our boundaries, so we have lakes, streams and wetlands.” Only 25 miles from Minneapolis, Minnetrista is a luxury suburb with outstanding schools, beaches and islands between the metropolitan downtown and rural Minnesota.
Million dollar homes are located throughout Woodland Cove right next to Lake Minnetonka.
Public boat access to Lake Minnetonka through the Regional Park in Minnetrista.
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Little Long Lake, Lake Minnetonka and Big Stone Mini Golf
Residents can take a trip to Kingswood Park, a 106-acre forest with trails through a tamarack bog by the Little Long Lake, which has clear, blue water and a boat launch. Lake Minnetonka Regional Park offers 3.5 miles of hiking and biking trails and a calm 14,000-acre lake with a fishing pier. Visitors can kayak or paddleboard to the shores of Wawatasso Island to explore its beaches and forest paths. A disc golf course and a large, nautical-themed playground sit beside Lake Minnetonka. The lake expands outside Minnetrista to other towns, beaches, nature preserves and island communities.
The Burl Oaks Golf Club has a private 18-hole marshland course with mature oak groves. This country club has monthly membership fees of around $833 for members over 40. For a less expensive place to practice putting on the green, Big Stone Mini Golf is a mini-golf course with 14 holes through lush gardens and sculptures of animals on a goat farm. Golf Magazine named it the best mini golf course in Minnesota. The Minnetonka Sportsmen Club is an outdoor shooting and archery range with competitions and events.
Swing over to the playgrounds at Lake Minnetonka's Regional Park.
Putt through the unique golf courses at Big Stone's Mini Golf.
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Top-notch academic programs
Multiple top-notch school districts are in Minnetrista. Watertown-Mayer Public School District is one of the largest on the west side of town around Whitetail Lake, and it has a B-plus overall Niche grade. On the east side and throughout Lake's islands is Westonka Public School District, which has a reputable teaching staff. Waconia Public School District is in the top 20 best school districts in Minnesota, located southwest around St. Bonifacius. Delano Public School District encompasses the northwest corner of town, with an A-minus overall grade. Students living southeast around Yellowstone Trail may attend Eastern Carver County Public Schools. Waconia, Eastern Carver and Westonka all have an overall Niche grade of A.
Hilltop Primary School is located within the Westonka school district.
Delano Senior High School has an overall Niche grade of A-.
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Crane Island Historic District and lakeside cottages
Once gathering places for the Mdewakanton Dakota people, the Crane Island Historic District and Enchanted Island are historical island communities with summer cottages on the lake. Housing styles in Minnetrista include Tudor, craftsman, Colonial and French provincial architecture. Homes typically sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 42 days. The average sale price for homes is $821,317, up 1% from the average home sale price over the previous year. The peak of residential construction occurred during the 1990s and the early 2000s. New development includes single-family homes and townhouses around Woodland Cove Boulevard on the southeast side of town.
Beautiful row of split level houses found in Minnetrista, MN.
Woodland Cove Development has a mixture of single family houses.
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Short drive into the city
Minnetrista is not walkable, and bike lanes are limited, although the Dakota Rail Trail takes cyclists from St. Bonifacius to Mound. Passengers can catch the Metro Transit bus at the stops along Shoreline Drive in Mound, two miles east. The Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is 31 miles east on Interstate 494. The town is bordered by Route 7 and Highway 12, connecting to Interstate 494. Highway 12 turns into Interstate 394 toward downtown Minneapolis, only 25 miles away. Minnetrista is also 36 miles west of St. Paul.
Retail in St. Bonifacius and Mound
In the town of St. Bonifacius, there is a charming downtown and a shopping plaza with businesses and restaurants. Mackenthun's Minnetrista is a large grocery store west of Lake Minnetonka on Kings Point Road. Groceries can be found at Jubilee Foods in Mound, at the intersection of Commerce Boulevard and Lynwood Boulevard. Mound is a hotspot for retail and well-established dining establishments, like the Minnetonka Drive In and Back Channel Brewing Co.
Fresh pumpkins, apple cider, donuts and gift shops all provided at the Minnetonka Orchard.
Gale Woods Farms offers different learning programs for the public to learn about agriculture.
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Minnetonka Orchards and the Holiday Lighting Event
Residents can pick apples, try handmade apple cider donuts or visit the animals in the petting zoo at the Minnetonka Orchards. In late November, the city lights the Christmas tree in an event with live music, a wine and beer tent and hot chocolate.
Other information
Minnetrista has an overall grade of A-plus from CrimeGrade, meaning it is significantly safer than cities nationwide. There are 8.4 property crimes reported per 1,000 residents, and the rate of violent crime is 0.9 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. The city and local businesses spread awareness and safety information through events like Trista Day, a festival with pony rides, food trucks and a petting zoo with safety education booths. National Night Out happens every summer, with an initiative for community and police partnerships to prevent crime and increase communication.
Over 20 years of residential real estate experience. I specialize in relocation to and from the Twin Cities working with companies such as General Mills, University of Minnesota Physicians, Cargill, and more. I pride myself on my responsiveness, market knowledge, strong negotiation skills, and my ability to provide for a smooth transaction for all my buyers and sellers.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
