MINIKAHDA MOTOR LODGE
The American Inn

The 36-room Minikahda Motor Lodge was built at 3924 Excelsior Blvd., next to Al's Liquors, in 1958. The developer was Oscar J. Husby.

The coffee shop was built as the Excelsior Embers Restaurant.

A one-pump Falcon gas station sat in the parking lot starting in 1966.

In 1968 it became the Ambassador Motor Lodge East, a sister motel to the Ambassador Resort Motor Hotel at 5225 Wayzata Blvd.

In about 1976, the Rasmussen family came to work at the motel:  Mary as resident manager, Anita (Mary’s mother) as head housekeeper, Del (Mary’s father) as chief of maintenance, and Joanne (Mary’s sister) on the housekeeping staff.

At some point the motel was willed to St. Olaf College.

1975


In 1981, still the Ambassador East, it was bought by Bonnie Adams and a silent financial partner. Bonnie changed the name to the American Inn and it became a Best Western motel. Adams (later Bonnie Crouch) refurbished and renovated the motel, which had become pretty run down.

In June 1998, records show that it was purchased by Midwest Hospitality, Inc. for $815,000.

1998


The St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority bought the property in November 2009 for $750,000 for future development, and demolished it in January 2010.  The photo below is by Seth Rowe of the Sun Sailor.

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.