Coney Island is the wooded island in Lake Waconia. Carver County, which manages it as part of Lake Waconia Regional Park, describes it as a 34-acre island. For about half a century it held a summer resort, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and today it is a quiet park you can reach only by boat.
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The Resort Years
The Zeglin family ran a resort on the island from 1889 until the late 1930s. Summer visitors came out to the island by boat, and the island was well enough known that the University of Minnesota football team held spring training there from 1903 to 1905. The resort era ended in the late 1930s, and the island has had no commercial use since.
Coney Island Today
The island is part of Lake Waconia Regional Park. Carver County lists a dock, picnic tables, grills, a seasonal biffy, a half-mile trail and a sandy landing beach. There is no ferry or boat service, so you need your own boat, kayak or paddleboard, or a rental. Check the Carver County parks website for current rules before you go.
How to Get There
Bring your own boat or paddle craft, or rent one. The DNR public access in Lake Waconia Regional Park is the main public launch; other accesses are listed on the DNR LakeFinder page. Watch the weather, since the lake can turn choppy quickly.
Boat rentals guide →See the Archives
The Carver County Historical Society in Waconia keeps local history collections, including material on the island's resort years.
Visit the Historical Society →Practical Notes
Pack out what you bring in. The island can be buggy in midsummer, so bring repellent. Lake Waconia has zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil: clean, drain and dry your boat and gear before you leave the lake.
Plan Your Lake Waconia Day
Pair an island visit with the rest of the lake and downtown Waconia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you visit Coney Island of Lake Waconia?
- Yes. The island is part of Lake Waconia Regional Park, managed by Carver County. It is reachable only by private boat, kayak or paddleboard; there is no ferry. Carver County lists a dock, picnic tables, grills, a seasonal biffy, a half-mile trail and a sandy landing beach.
- What was on Coney Island in Lake Waconia?
- A summer resort, run by the Zeglin family from 1889 until the late 1930s. The University of Minnesota football team held spring training on the island from 1903 to 1905. The island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
- How big is Coney Island of Lake Waconia?
- Carver County describes it as a 34-acre island. Lake Waconia itself covers 3,080 acres.