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, for some reason, the motel was willed to St. Olaf College.

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 (now 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.

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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.