A couple weekends ago, after Travis and I went to look at an apartment, he took me for a ride along Lake Minnetonka’s majestic Crystal Bay.  He took me to one of the most beautiful and prestigious gardens in the state – the Noerenberg Gardens.  It is located in the north shore of Crystal Bay in Orono.  It offers a tranquil retreat to the quiet elegance and grace of days gone by.

Widely regarded as one of the finest formal gardens in Minnesota, this endearing place of endless blooms and enchanted history once was home to Grain Belt Brewery founder Frederick Noerenberg and his family.  Noerenberg’s daughter Lora Noerenberg Hoppe bequeathed her family’s estate to Three Rivers Park District in 1972 with the directive that the estate be maintained as a garden for the public’s enjoyment. The park’s formal flower gardens are open for tours, informal viewings and outdoor events.  The gardens include a wide variety of unusual annuals and perennials, an assortment and a large day lily collection.  The park features accessible brick pathways and an ornamental boathouse/gazebo overlooking the lake.  Noerenberg Gardens is the perfect place to sneak away for an evening stroll or a weekend outing.  It is an ideal location for shutterbugs with the variety of subjects and beautiful scenic views to capture.  The peaceful lakeside setting has made it idyllic location for young couples to wed.

As you stroll through the gardens, you will notice several striking architectural features, many of which are original to the Noerenberg estate.  These structures showcase a variety of architectural styles that were popular at the close of the 19th Century.  With its distinctive Oriental style, the Noerenberg boathouse/gazebo is a Lake Minnetonka landmark.  Boaters often use the boathouse/gazebo as an aid to navigation as they work their way along the lake’s many bays and inlets.

A memorial colonnade now stands in place of the Noerenberg family home, which was razed at the direction of Lora Noerenberg Hoppe when the estate was donated to the park District.  The colonnade features a circle of eight white columns on a raised granite foundation.  The columns replicate columns that graced one of the mansion’s porches.  They encircle a commemorative plaque which reads,

“Noerenberg

Memorial County Park

is Dedicated to the

Use of the Public

in Memory of the

Frederick and Johanna

Noerenberg Family

Who Once Lived Here.”

These are few of the many striking edifices in the park.  There are still more to see and for someone who just loves to getaway from the hussle and bustle of the city life, here you will find tranquility and relaxation.