'Rare' Private Island on Lake Minnetonka Lists for $7.2M
The 2-acre Gale Island compound, on the market for the first time in over 50 years, features multiple structures and 1,841 feet of shoreline.
A unique private island estate on Lake Minnetonka has been listed for $7.25 million, marking the first time it has been available for purchase in more than five decades. The 2-acre property, known as Gale Island and located in Shorewood, Minnesota, offers 1,841 feet of lake frontage.
The compound includes several structures, dating back to the late 19th century. The oldest is a three-bedroom summer house, built in 1874, which was later remodeled. A main house with three bedrooms was constructed in 1950, featuring a remodeled kitchen and added family and dining rooms. A guest cabin, built in 1954 and updated in 2009-2010, provides two bedrooms, a kitchenette, and a sitting room. Additionally, there is a three-story waterfront tower with hidden beds and a kitchenette, and a log cabin across a channel, accessed by a bridge, that is currently used for storage.
A waterfront barbecue gazebo, built in 1957, is also part of the estate, complete with a stone patio overlooking the lake.
Jeffrey Dewing of Coldwell Banker Realty, the listing agent, described the property as a "rare opportunity," noting the significance of an island estate on Lake Minnetonka coming to market. The property has been held by the same family for 53 years.
The island's location offers convenient boat access to nearby towns like Excelsior and Wayzata, known for their dining and shopping options.
Dewing suggested the property is well-suited for multigenerational living or as a family retreat, and has also been used for events such as weddings. The island was originally purchased in 1871 by Harlow A. Gale, a Minneapolis real estate developer, and remained in the Gale family for approximately a century before being owned by St. Olaf College as a retreat. It later returned to private ownership.
