Welcome to Orono
Beautiful community with many things to see and do
Orono is a city on the north shore of Lake Minnetonka with natural, rural beauty. Miles of trails wind through Orono’s stunning scenery with the waters of Long Lake and Lake Minnetonka as their backdrop. The community offers many recreational activities, from horseback riding and biking to boating and fishing on the lake. Orono’s pretty outdoor spaces include the gardens at Noerenberg Memorial Park and the sprawling wilderness of Big Island.
Orono’s exclusive neighborhoods offer some of Lake Minnetonka’s most exceptional properties. Here you’ll find grand multi-acre estates and private neighborhoods where large homes on generous lots comprise communities with a park-like atmosphere.
What to Love
- Exquisite homes
- Outdoor recreation hotspots
- Good restaurants
- Excellent public school district
People & Lifestyle
Orono provides its residents with an excellent balance of urban convenience, and rural space and outdoor recreation opportunities. Local parks and the waters of Long Lake and Lake Minnetonka provide plenty to do in the great outdoors. Orono also offers excellent restaurants and a close-knit community atmosphere. Orono runs its own police force and has a highly regarded school district. The Orono Public School District is one of the top districts in Minnesota and ranks very high nationally.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Orono is one of the largest Lake Minnetonka communities by area, and there are many great shops and restaurants within its boundaries. Nestled between Spring Park and Minnetonka Beach to Orono’s south, the Navarre neighborhood’s commercial area has numerous locally-run shops and restaurants. The Narrows Saloon is a local favorite, serving classic bar eats and drinks in a laid-back setting with regular performances from country and blues musicians. The Lake Room is a dining standout, offering exquisite craft cocktails and a chef-driven menu of creative cuisine prepared using the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. Other good restaurants and taverns can be found along the shoreline of Lake Long to Orono’s north. Birches on the Lake Brewhouse & Supper Club is the highlight here, serving upscale surf and turf and outstanding craft beers in a stylish setting. Birches has an expansive patio overlooking the lake and a cozy interior that transforms into a lively piano lounge on the weekend.
Things to Do
Orono Public Golf Course is Lake Minnetonka’s oldest golf course, first opening in 1924. This nine-hole course offers challenging play in a picturesque setting. During the winter, Orono Golf Course is open for sledding at the weekend. Noerenberg Memorial Gardens opens from May through October. The beautifully landscaped gardens feature a vast array of plant life set against the picturesque backdrop of Lake Minnetonka’s Crystal Bay. Orono is also an ideal starting point for exploration of Lake Minnetonka destinations, such as Big Island’s 56-acre wilderness. Once the site of a popular amusement park, Big Island has become one of Lake Minnetonka’s most pristine natural destinations as part of a major conservation project. Boat docks at Big Island make it easy to stop-off here for hikes and picnics.
Schools
Orono operates its own Orono Public School District. Highlights include:
- Orono Discovery Center, Public, PK
- Orono Intermediate Elementary, Public, 3-5
- Orono Middle, Public, 6-8
- Orono Senior High, Public, 9-12