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A Day’s Worth of Rides <br />and Attractions <br />Standing here on a weekend afternoon would have given you a behind- <br />the-scenes glimpse of the Mystic Chute, one of the many popular <br />attractions at Big Island Park. Excited screams and the rattling of the <br />roller coaster next door would have filled the air. Other attractions <br />included an aviary of exotic birds, an aquarium, and a carousel. <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 />Ma <br />r <br />i <br />t <br />i <br />m <br />e <br /> <br />H <br />e <br />r <br />i <br />t <br />a <br />g <br />e <br /> <br />M <br />i <br />n <br />n <br />e <br />s <br />o <br />t <br />a <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 />LAKE <br />MINNETONKA <br />LANDING <br />STAIRS <br />BIG <br />ISLAND <br />N <br />S <br />EW <br />YOU AREHERE <br />ROLLERCOASTER <br />AMUSEMENTSBUILDINGS <br />MUSICCASINO <br />WATERTOWER <br />BATHROOM <br />BATHROOM <br />PICNICKITCHEN <br />PICNICKITCHEN <br />DOCKS <br />BOATHOUSE <br />ICE HOUSE <br />MEN’SDORMITORY <br />WOMEN’SDORMITORY <br />DANCEPAVILION <br />MYSTICCHUTE <br />A ride on the Mystic Chute began inside the <br />Amusement Building. Visitors boarded small boats <br />that were pulled through dark tunnels featuring <br />“enchanted” scenes, much like Ye Old Mill at the <br />Minnesota State Fair. At the end of the ride, cars <br />ramped up into the daylight, then slid down into a <br />pool, coming to rest back indoors. <br />This pair of photos was taken in 1912 by a family exploring the recently <br />abandoned park. They show the roofs of the Mystic Chute channels <br />(left) and the figure-eight roller coaster, (right). <br />The contours of the Mystic Chute <br />waterways—usually hidden by trees— <br />can still be seen today on the ground. <br />This image was made using airborne <br />laser equipment similar to radar. <br />Big Island Park <br />1906–1911 <br />Big Island Veterans Camp <br />1921–2003