Pillsbury Home on Lake Minnetonka
The palatial Pillsbury Mansion on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a massive estate called Southways, designed for the infamous Pillsbury family, the grain producer and now well-known food brand name. It is truly a landmark in our mn real estate market! Started in 1916 and completed in 1918, the main house measures a whopping 32,400 square feet. John and Eleanor Pillsbury had the home built as a summer retreat for the family. The Pillsbury children grew up horseback riding, playing football on the expansive lawns, and boating on nearby Lake Minnetonka.
Since its construction, the Pillsbury Mansion has not only housed the Pillsbury family, but played hosts to Presidents and other dignitaries. The entire estate, situated on 13 acres of Brackett’s point on Lake Minnetonka, consists of seven structures total. A caretaker’s cottage, garage, tea house, pool house make up some of the buildings linked by covered passageways. Its wine cellar alone can hold up to 15,000 bottles of wine. Worth multiple tens of millions of dollars, the Pillsbury Mansion itself was owned and occupied by the Pillsbury family until 1991, when 104-year-old Eleanor Pillsbury passed away. At that time, the mansion was sold to a co-owner of the Vikings football team.
The Pillsbury Mansion has nine bedrooms, each with stunning detail such as carved moldings and fireplaces. The exquisite tile work is unequaled. The outdoor pool are boasts a priceless view of Lake Minnetonka. Lavish gardens also make up the estate, and includes a unique giant outdoor chess set. The manicured gardens offer private sitting areas with lake front views and testify to the luxurious lifestyle of times long ago, when well-to-do families employed gardeners whose sole purpose was to maintain sprawling gardens and an atmosphere of beauty. Southways recalls days long gone, experienced by few, those families living in the ultimate luxury, and literally sparing no expense to keep themselves comfortable and entertained.
It is truly a Lake Minnetonka real estate treasure and icon.
I am a licensed Realtor in the State of Minnesota. This website is not a multiple listing service, but each Minnesota & Minneapolis real estate agent is a member of the Regional MLS of MN, inc., a provider of the Minnesota MLS.
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