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YOU AREHERE <br />LAKE <br />MINNETONKA <br />LANDING <br />STAIRS <br />BIG <br />ISLAND <br />NS <br />E <br />W <br />ROLLERCOASTERAMUSEMENTSBUILDINGS <br />MUSICCASINO <br />WATERTOWER <br />BATHROOM <br />BATHROOM <br />PICNICKITCHEN <br />PICNICKITCHENDOCKS <br />BOATHOUSE <br />ICE HOUSE <br />MEN’SDORMITORY <br />WOMEN’SDORMITORY <br />DANCEPAVILION <br />MYSTICCHUTE Summer Jobs <br />on the Island <br />Looking across this grassy field, you would have seen <br />the men’s dormitory for summer workers tucked into <br />the distant trees. The women’s dormitory was located <br />on the other end of the island—with plenty of distance <br />in between. It’s not known how many people worked <br />at Big Island Park, but given the number of attractions <br />and size of the crowds, it was a multitude. <br />The men’s dormitory, pictured here in 1955, was <br />located in one of the working areas of the park, <br />which included the ice house, ice cream factory, <br />horse barn, and the staff kitchen and dining hall. <br />When the Veterans Camp opened in 1921, the <br />building served as a bunkhouse for single men. <br />This was one of the last remaining buildings <br />from Big Island Park, not demolished until the <br />late 1980s. <br />Da <br />r <br />e <br />l <br /> <br />a <br />n <br />d <br /> <br />L <br />a <br />V <br />e <br />r <br />n <br />a <br /> <br />L <br />e <br />i <br />p <br />o <br />l <br />d <br />A group poses with gamekeeper Dan Schmid <br />(standing) at the office and living quarters <br />for the Big Island Game Farm. The building <br />is believed to be the former staff kitchen and <br />dining hall at Big Island Park, one of several <br />structures given new uses after the park closed. <br />Off in the distance to the right you can see the <br />back of the men’s dormitory. <br />Ex <br />c <br />e <br />l <br />s <br />i <br />o <br />r <br />- <br />L <br />a <br />k <br />e <br /> <br />M <br />i <br />n <br />n <br />e <br />t <br />o <br />n <br />k <br />a <br /> <br />H <br />i <br />s <br />t <br />o <br />r <br />i <br />c <br />a <br />l <br /> <br />S <br />o <br />c <br />i <br />e <br />t <br />y <br />The Big Island Game Farm <br />Rows of bird coops once filled the <br />open area in front of you. From 1915 <br />to 1919, Big Island was home to the <br />state’s first game farm, where birds <br />were hatched and reared before <br />their release into the wild. The <br />farm’s biggest claim to fame was <br />its successful introduction of ring- <br />necked pheasants—an import from <br />China—to the upper Midwest. <br />William Beebe, A Monograph of Pheasants, 1922 <br />Big Island Park <br />1906–1911 <br />Big Island Veterans Camp <br />1921–2003