Construction The Twin Cities of
Minneapolis-Saint Paul boasted one of the most extensive
streetcar systems in the
United States at the turn of the twentieth century. By 1905, lines reached the suburbs of
Stillwater in the east and
Excelsior in the west. The
Twin City Rapid Transit Company (TCRT), which owned and operated the system, announced in 1905 that it had plans to construct a grand
amusement park on of land that it had purchased on
Lake Minnetonka's Big Island. The announcement was part of TCRT's master plan to attract tourists and excursionists to the edge of the system on summer weekends, when ridership was typically low. The company was already operating another amusement park called
Wildwood near the eastern end of the system on
White Bear Lake. As Big Island Park was located on an island, TCRT built three 1,000-passenger
ferry boats and a transfer terminal in the town of
Excelsior to carry the visitors to and from mainland. Each of the ferries were long and were double-ended so they did not have to turn around after each crossing. TCRT also built six
Express Boats that could provide limited service to Big Island Park in addition to serving commuters around Lake Minnetonka. Big Island Park opened on August 5, 1906, with construction still underway.
Amenities TCRT commissioned
LeRoy Buffington, a prominent local architect, to design Big Island Park's structures in the
Mission Revival style of architecture. Many of the park's buildings, including a light beacon modeled after the
Tower of Seville, were equipped with
electric lights. The light cast from the top of the beacon could purportedly be spotted from downtown
Minneapolis on a clear night, approximately 15 miles away. A 1,500-seat music casino was completed in 1907 to serve as the park's premier entertainment center. Among the biggest acts to perform at the casino were the New York band and orchestra of Frederick Innes and the Banda Rossa Orchestra under the direction Eugenio Sorrentino. Most headliners, however, were local. Other attractions at Big Island Park included a
roller coaster, a
carousel, boat rentals, a
flume ride called the
Old Mill, and another ride called the
Scenic Ride Through Yellowstone Park. The park was also known for its picnic facilities, a popular activity at the time.
Closure Due to excessive operating costs and lack of revenue during the
off-season, TCRT closed Big Island Park in August 1911 and abandoned the property shortly thereafter. Most of the buildings and rides were dismantled over the winter of 1917–1918.
Rebar within the structures was melted down and used for the
World War I effort. After brief use as a state
game farm, the property was eventually sold to several
veterans associations and used as a
campground for nearly 80 years. After the campground closed in 2003, the
City of Orono purchased the property for $5.7 million and reopened it as a municipal park in 2006.
Big Island Park today Few remnants of the original amusement park remain today. Several foundations, a ditch that once contained the
Old Mill ride, and components of the grand entrance remain extant. Camping and alcohol are not allowed on the premises, but picnics, hiking, and other recreational activities are encouraged. A public dock is located at the site of the original steamboat wharf. == See also ==