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Big Island Nature Park Management Plan November 2011 ____________________________________________________________________________ 5 I. INTRODUCTION Park Description Big Island Nature Park consists of 56 acres of upland maple-basswood forest and wetlands on the east end of Big Island within the lower basin of Lake Minnetonka. The Park is located adjacent to and directly east of Three Rivers Park District‘s Big Island Regional Park, a 62-acre wildlife preserve. Big Island is completely within the corporate boundaries of the City of Orono, and in total is approximately 250 acres in area, of which approximately 50 acres is wetland. The Island actually consists of two large islands separated by a navigable channel dredged in the 1890‘s, plus a third, much smaller island known as Mahpiyata Island. Big Island has been known by a number of names since it was first viewed by white men in 1822. Originally called Cottage Island for the Indian timber shelters found there, it was informally referred to as Owens Island after Colonel John P. Owens who accompanied Governor Ramsey on his visit to Lake Minnetonka in 1852. It then became referred to as Meeker's Island for Judge Bradley B. Meeker who settled there in 1852. W.B. Morse purchased it in 1854 and for many years thereafter it was known as Morse Island. In 1887 and 1888, two subdivisions to create small parcels were platted, Morse Island Park on the most southerly point, and Pleasant View on the west end. This resulted in the construction of a number of individual summer homes. Today, the portions of Big Island that are not encompassed by Big Island Nature Park and Big Island Regional Park remain in private ownership, with approximately 50 mostly seasonal lakeshore dwellings dotting the shoreline. Beginning in 1906, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company developed and operated Big Island Amusement Park on the east end of the Island, providing transportation via streetcars from Minneapolis to Excelsior, and by steam-powered ferryboats to Big Island. The Amusement Park was family-oriented with expansive facilities for picnics, and a 1500-seat music casino that hosted performances of many well known bands of the time including that of John Philip Sousa. Other attractions included an aquarium, an aviary, a Ferris wheel and carousel, rowboat rental, a baseball diamond, a huge roller coaster and other rides. Notable was the 186-foot central tower at the north end of the grand mall, architecturally mimicking the famous tower in Seville, Spain, holding the Park‘s water supply and illuminated at night so as to be visible from nearly all points around the lake. The Big Island Amusement Park closed abruptly at the end of the 1911 season, likely for financial reasons. The onset of World War I resulted in its dismantling, leaving a few of the Spanish-style service buildings intact. In 1923 the property became the Big Island Veterans Camp, offering camping and other recreational opportunities to Minnesota‘s war veterans. A large dining hall was constructed on the high central knoll of the site, and a variety of cabins and campsites were developed. This Veterans Camp remained in operation for more than 8 decades until shortly before its sale to the City of Orono for parkland in 2006. The Big Island Nature Park property, like much of Lake Minnetonka‘s shoreland, has undergone a series of transformations over the past century. However, in contrast to the ever- intensifying nature of the Lake‘s residential development, the Big Island Nature Park property has experienced gradual reversion back to a substantially undeveloped state with a diversity of