Many thanks to the Stannard family for their help with this page! 

The Minnetonka Mist was located at 4050 Shoreline Drive in Spring Park across from Lake Minnetonka.  This was approximately the site of the old Hotel Del Otero, and in fact, the street behind it was Del Otero Street.

The site was first a gas station, and then a liquor store called the Bottle Basket.

Paul D. Stannard bought the Bottle Basket in 1969.   (Stannard also owned Knutson Liquor in Hopkins in December 1972.)

 

He then built a bar in 1970, but local ordinance required that in order to have an on-sale license, food must be served, so Stannard added a restaurant in 1971, and that was the Minnetonka Mist.

 

Paul and his wife Dorothy M. Stannard owned the Minnetonka Mist for over 35 years.  Their son-in-law, Gregory J. Suddendorf, was the General Manager, also for 35 years.

With great views and great food, this was a major local hangout for all age groups. There was a deck where you could eat and look out on Lake Minnetonka that is fondly remembered.  People could drive or boat to the restaurant’s dock.

 

Dale Thomton played there in 1973 – 1974.

After Dale Thomton, there was a band called the “Road Gang” that played for many years.

 

---

 

FROM MIST TO CONDOS

Comes a time when shorefront property becomes so valuable that there’s an irresistible urge to build condos on it.  The family sold their land, and the restaurant’s fixtures were auctioned off in September 2004.

A 120-unit condo building called the Mist was built in 2006.