Excelsior Amusement Park on Lake Minnetonka

[@TBlake-yf2sr]

I went to Excelsior Amusement Park many times when I was little. The last time was just a short while before the park closed, although we didn't know that at the time. The church I attended took all of the altar boys to the park for a free day. It was a BLAST! The roller coaster was made of wood and it was like a living thing. There were seams and joints that expanded and it was just so wild! I also remember a room with a bunch of slides and burlap bags for riding down the slides on, as well as a big wooden cylinder you had to walk through as is spun. Now the parks are all plastic, vinyl and steel, no personality compared to the Excelsior!

[@RJSerp]

I enjoy reading the memories! Excelsior Park was awesome! I was only 4 years old in this video, so I don't remember a whole lot... The crazy thing is... my family arrived by a speedboat and we still don't know who's boat that was. Thanks for sharing!

[@KariChristensen-y4h]

I love this video. My family went there for the Minnegasco company picnics. Thank you for posting this. It brings back so many memories. I remember the spook house where you rode in on a car on a track. It was dark and things jumped out at you. Not sure if it was part of the fun house or not.

[@RJSerp]

Thank you for sharing your memories of Excelsior Park! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@JaniceLee-e7z]

Thank you So many wonderful memories

[@RJSerp]

@@JaniceLee-e7z Thanks for watching!!

[@alexcrowder1673]

I always saw the pictures of this place at the mcdonalds in excelsior when i was growing up. It was before my time, but i loved those pictures and always wished it was still around.

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!

[@cindyoconnell2471]

It must have been the nicest amusement park being on beautiful Lake Minnetonka in quaint Excelsior and what a wholesome time!

[@RJSerp]

@@cindyoconnell2471 it sure was! Thanks for watching!!

[@Photonsnmotion]

Brings back old memories

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevegoering]

had alot of fun there...thanks for sharing...

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!

[@sheilasmith1109]

Wonderful memories ❤. We went there often with our Grandparents! I could ALWAYS count on my older sister Laura to get sick and vomit from the rides and have to go home, when I wasn't ready to!😡 I loved going, especially after school let out for summer and they gave us free tickets for our report cards! A's gave you the most tickets, so I always had more rewards!😊! I especially LOVED the flying Air Plane ride! Then the flying swings! Inside the Fun House, the SMOOTH, WORN , wooden slides that you used a gunney sack to sit on and ride down were great if you held your legs tight together to avoid getting a slide burn from the sides of it! But most of all I loved the SPINNING PLATTER, where everyone sat in the middle and it spun faster and faster to fling people off it! I was always the best and last one on it! It made me feel invincible 😅! I also loved walking through the spinning, huge BARREL! I could also get though it and not fall down, cause if you did you'd take down everyone else around you! The train was a delightful end to wind down the day and my grandfather said he was going to set one up on our farm! But that Carousel was THE BEST because it was SO ENCHANTING! I had my own horses at home but that was like a Fantasy horse ride for me! My grandparents NEVER ALLOWED us to ever ride the Roller Coaster! Thanks to the fear they had because a man had stood up and fell off it and tore his arm off while they were there in the 30's or something.. BUMMER 😢 Oh how sad I was for never getting to ride THAT when I was a kid! Growing up on the Northern shores of Lake Minnetonka in Orono was THE BEST CHILDHOOD, EVER!

[@RJSerp]

Wow! Great memories! Thanks for sharing!!

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

This was terrific, I was there in the early seventies and then whoosh it was closed, in Long lake the Western Hennepin county historical society museum is open on Saturdays and has a plethora of displays regarding the history and surrounding areas. Wonder how many people self-identified themselves from seeing the kids in this video. I moved back to Minnesota in 84, bought a motorcycle and got lost in Minnetonka and decided this is where I will live, which I did and it is most likely where I will die.

[@RJSerp]

@@GreenCanvasInteriorscape Thanks for sharing!

[@SHEFLAND]

so much fun, especially Danceland

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!

[@handyatmusic]

0:33 I have a picture of me on that ride from 1970. I was 3 years old. Same with the boats at 2:00. I also remember the ride at 1:18. My dad and I also did this thing where you talk into a microphone and it cuts a small record of what you said, around 3 minutes long. My dad asked me about some of the rides we went on. I still have that record. These are some of my earliest memories.

[@RJSerp]

Great memories! I didn’t know about record making. Thanks for sharing!

[@daveb7811]

My favorite ride of all time at 1:16!

[@RJSerp]

Great times for sure! Thanks for watching!!

[@daveb7811]

FYI - I found a large B/W framed print of this ride at a motel liquidation store in So. St. Paul on Concord St. They had a lot of them for around $10. I about fell over when I saw it!@@RJSerp

[@karabancroft698]

What a great video - thanks so much for sharing this glimpse back in time at a local treasure! Any other local spots in any of your family's old home videos? I grew up in the area and love seeing what it was like back in the day before my family moved here.

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment! I have about 20 or so #OldHomeVideos on this channel.

[@kpd3308]

Used to go there every year for the Prudential annual picnic. Never thought of it as a place you could go any other time.

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!!

[@kpd3308]

@@RJSerp thanks for posting. Great memories!

[@GregReinhardt-l8x]

As a kid, I jumped out of the little boats and jumped into the lake. Also took a ride in the front seat of the roller coaster and nearly fell out the front!. My older cousin pulled me back in....oh the memories!

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching and sharing your memories!

[@mbrawthen]

I lived in Excelsior, in the late 1950’s early 1960’s! We lived at 122 West Lake Street on a Ten Cabin Lake Resort named Bayers Grove. We lived in the big house! The Amusement Park was great! Often Spent all day and into the late evening in the Funhouse! Also, I liked the Bumper Cars. I didn’t see it shown in this video, but I did see the Domed Building where the Bumper Cars ride was located.

[@RJSerp]

Great memories! Thanks for sharing!

[@HemiJoel]

We used to go there twice per year. Once on "report card days" when we brought our school report cards in and got free tickets for A's and B's. Also, my mom worked at Supervalue, and they had their annual employee picnic there. I have so many good memories of that place. The fun house was awesome!

[@RJSerp]

Great memories! Thanks for sharing!

[@tjsage4676]

Oh I was there so many times before it got torn down 1:35

[@RJSerp]

Thanks for watching!

[@tracisayhi]

I grew up in Excelsior but the park was already torn down by the time I arrived. Thank you for sharing this!

[@RJSerp]

Growing up in Excelsior would’ve been awesome! Thanks for watching!

[@sidewinder666666]

My first job was at Excelsior Amusement Park when I was 16, in the Summer of 1971. I was mostly a games operator on what passed for their "Midway". Still consider it to be the most-fun job I ever had. This video brought memories of that year flooding back, thanks for posting it!

[@RJSerp]

sidewinder666666 Great memory! Thanks for sharing!

[@karabancroft698]

@sidewinder666666 Any chance you remember a tiger being a part of one of the games? Its mouth appears to open/close and the eyes light up. It is at Excelsior Historical Society's museum in Excelsior, but they're not sure what it is. Wish I could attach a pic.

[@sidewinder666666]

@@karabancroft698 Yes, I vaguely do remember something like that, but I'd really need a pic to be sure. There were a LOT of different game booths in the Park... lots of variety. I live in St. Paul so perhaps a trip to Excelsior is in order.

[@cfapps7865]

Enjoyed this a lot. Hung out on that bay many nights. Always wondered what that place looked like.

[@ohboyohboyohboy5226]

what song is this? love the video. thank u for sharing!

[@RJSerp]

Thank you. It’s Bo Diddley “Surf, Sink or Swim”. Thanks for watching!

[@SOUNDGARDEN69]

Loved that place '''never be another one like it''' great back ground music for a kool place that it was.. I Guess it was early 70s before i looked at your post''

[@RJSerp]

ROCKENROLLGYPSY ELECTRIC thanks!

[@kleinabomber]

Fantastic! This is around the first and only time I was there. Thanks for sharing

[@marshaliss4526]

What great footage! Brings back so many fond memories of my childhood! Thank-you!

[@sampsonchild8912]

I used to caddy at the Mtka Country Club and spend the money on the roller coaster.

[@BigIslandMNMinnetonka]

wow! this video is amazing

[@RJSerp]

Big Island MN thank you!

[@kkp5200]

I remember the airplane when I was about 6 @1:16 my memory was that it went over the water.

[@shaneglen6358]

Still there

[@DanaTheInsane]

@@shaneglen6358 Excelsior park???

[@shaneglen6358]

@@DanaTheInsane Flying Eagles, Valleyfair.

[@bobbabai]

The music is very much 1963

[@RJSerp]

You are 100% correct! (I should’ve used an instrumental from 1973.) Thanks for watching!

[@solleronsv]

Boy, the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society would LOVE a copy of this amazing and rare video to preserve in our archives and share with the public! We get requests for this kind of footage several times a year. Please consider us: www.elmhs.org. Thanks!

[@RJSerp]

Yes. I sent the full 5:18 unedited version back in August 2018!

[@jdwest34]

RJ, I belong to the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society. Would you allow us to utilize this footage somehow? We would love to include it to our Excelsior Amusement Park exhibit.

[@RJSerp]

Jacob Westman Absolutely! I have the video saved in MP4 format on my computer. I wonder if I could email it?

[@DanaTheInsane]

@@RJSerp Is it possible to get a hold of the full 5 minute version you mentioned? Don't know if you use Google drive, but its a good way to host files like this to share with other people.

[@RJSerp]

@@DanaTheInsane Here you go! drive.google.com/file/d/1sAGK02aphHXPjYno-z-v_fsIK7GaFK1k/view?usp=sharing

[@RJSerp]

This version has slightly cropped video and new music added. drive.google.com/file/d/1eL4OknHhItE-3uRaM5OqCvwnFuFXhWYG/view?usp=sharing

[@DanaTheInsane]

@@RJSerp Thank you!

[@my2catsvideo]

Thanks for posting this I remember going there as a kid

[@andrewhallin]

Thank you for sharing such great memories.

[@patriciacasey6270]

I REMEMBER THE PARK WELL. I USED TO ENTERTAIN DURING THE SUMMER AT COMPANY PICNICS ETC WITH MY DANCE GROUP. THEY GAVE US ROLLS AND ROLLS OF FREE TICKETS. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN ESPECIALLY THE OLD WOODEN RAILS ROLLER COASTER. I FELT TERRIBLE WHEN IT WAS TORN DOWN.

[@Zipperlee]

Thanks for sharing. How I remember turning in report cards for free tickets! We used to go here by boat - same public docks (well, same location) If I recall correctly, the roller coaster was condemned more than once but that might have been, um, fake news? I know there were accidents on it.

[@michaelbauers8800]

DIdn't Valley Fair rebuild their roller coaster for Valley Fair? I don't know for sure, I had heard people say that more than once when I was young.

[@Zipperlee]

@@michaelbauers8800 I do not believe Valleyfair took the roller coaster but they did rebuild the merry-go-round I'm pretty sure. :-) I grew up on North Arm & it was a big treat to go there!

[@StudioZ7]

To this day, when I hear the word "Excelsior" I think "amusement park."

[@RJSerp]

StudioZ7 haha me too!

[@nimatonthebeat]

Nice..would it be possible to use a few seconds of this clip for my music video? just need some vintage amusement park rides to edit in with my shots.

[@RJSerp]

Nima T on the Beat Yes! Definitely! Can you edit from here?

[@nimatonthebeat]

@@RJSerp yeah I should be able to download it off here, thanks!

[@carolcollins3094]

I am on the Merry-go-Round.

[@marissamork6585]

Is it still standing??

[@RJSerp]

Marissa Mork No. Nothing remains. Maynard’s is here... maynards-excelsior.com/

[@DanaTheInsane]

It was replaced by a new Park in Shakopee three years later. Been gone since 73.

[@overbanked]

@@DanaTheInsane Yup Valleyfair!

[@josephlamere]

Do you still have this film? Would be interesting to preserve it with a film scanner. Seems to be the only publicly posted video of the park.

[@RJSerp]

I have this video clip (and an unedited 5:18 minute version) saved on my computer. Unfortunately, I do not have the original 8mm film anymore.

[@DanaTheInsane]

@@RJSerp Please put up the unedited version! I was so young when it closed and I want all the memory refresh I can get!

[@RJSerp]

@@DanaTheInsane drive.google.com/file/d/1sAGK02aphHXPjYno-z-v_fsIK7GaFK1k/view?usp=sharing

[@The1320master]

i'm pretty sure that roller coaster is the one at valley fair ..

[@RJSerp]

radman1986 I thought that too, but the old roller coaster was torn down in 1974. I believe the Scrambler & the Carousel at Valley Fair are from Excelsior. The High Roller was built new. Thanks for watching!

[@Zipperlee]

The carousal from Excelsior is at Valleyfair - perhaps that's what you're thinking of?

[@DanaTheInsane]

Thats a myth.

[@Chantal-Brose]

What ever happened to it all?

[@RJSerp]

It was tore down in 1974... The property is now used by Maynard's Restaurant and Wharf. maynards-excelsior.com/about-us/

[@HELLADJ]

neato!