A Peek at Minnetonka’s Past: Hwy 7 & Co Rd 101

The place for teens to see and be seen in the 1960’s and early 1970’s was Snuffy’s, a drive-in hamburger joint located at the corner of Highway 7 and County Road 101 in Minnetonka. A drive-in theater was located just across the highway from Snuffy’s, where the former Kmart store is today.

Mildred Engler, a Minnetonka resident, recounted her memory of Snuffy’s in an oral history given to the city: “…[Snuffy’s] was a very popular place. It seemed like the kids had to go to Snuffy’s every evening before they could go to bed. They had to go over there and meet all their friends. We always thought that was just something else. [In the mid 60s]… the kids would come there from Mound and all around…you had to go there and see what was going on over at Snuffy’s.”

The city and the Minnetonka Historical Society often receive inquiries from people who are looking for photos of Snuffy’s, the drive-in theater, the 7-Hi Mall (shopping mall that existed prior to the SuperTarget on County Road 101) and other points of interest that previously existed in the area. Unfortunately, no photos exist in the city records or the historical society archives.

If you have photos of or stories about any of these places that you are willing to share, contact Laura Ronbeck, special projects coordinator, at 952-939-8219. The city wants to see your photos and hear your memories of these important pieces of Minnetonka’s history.