Rich History

Lafayette Club is a rare retreat for all seasons and occasions!

Members and guests alike continue to be drawn to this unique club!  Located about 20 minutes west of Minneapolis on 38 acres along the shore of Lake Minnetonka, Lafayette Club's roots go back to the first hotel which was built by railroad magnate James J Hill and opened on July 2, 1882. It was a grand opening, indeed. Billed as "the finest hotel west of New York City", the building covered nearly 5 acres and had hallways that were 10 feet wide, three grand staircases, 300 guest rooms, and a staff of 150 people. It hosted General Ulysses S. Grant, Vice President Adlai Stevenson, President Chester Arthur, President William Howard Taft, and many governors of the State of Minnesota. Vice President Adlai Stevenson lived in one of our cottages on the grounds. President Chester Arthur actually used the Hotel Lafayette for a summer White House!

Unfortunately, in 1897 the Hotel Lafayette was destroyed by a fire. Two years later Mr. Hill deeded the land to the founders of Lafayette Club in 1899 and, for more than 20 years, Lafayette returned as the center of social activities on Lake Minnetonka. That clubhouse was enjoyed by members and guests for two decades before it, too, burned down in 1922.

This beautiful hilltop was never destined to remain empty for long, though. Lafayette's unique Spanish Mission-style clubhouse was built in 1924 and, over the past century, has evolved from a majestic hotel to a distinguished gathering place. Today, we continue to preserve our long-standing history while providing a comfortable atmosphere for our current members and their guests to play sports, dine, socialize, and celebrate- all with beautiful lake views.