Close Menu
Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Wednesday, May 21
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Threads LinkedIn
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe
    • Donate
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Legacy»King’s Valley may have been EP’s first black-owned business
    Legacy

    King’s Valley may have been EP’s first black-owned business

    Kathie CaseBy Kathie CaseFebruary 3, 2021Updated:February 6, 20214 Mins Read
    Edgar King Kennedy's draft card, noting his Eden Prairie farming and restaurant enterprise.

    Most people probably think of Eden Prairie’s settler history uniformly as agrarian, protestant, and primarily of northern European descent. But, besides its rich indigenous past, Eden Prairie’s last 170 years or so have been peppered with endearing examples of African Americans welcomed into the community as laborers, tenants, and business owners.

    One such example comes from the memories of Roger Dressen. A descendant of Eden Prairie’s first pioneers, Roger was born on a farm near Pioneer Trail in 1930. He tells the story of a man named Edgar Kennedy King, who along with his wife, Grace, purchased in 1938 the “Lantern Inn” on Riley Lake, on land that today is the public boat launch area.

    The Inn’s origins date to 1934, when Helen Hatleberg of Chippewa, Wis. purchased land from the Schmidel family — which owned all of the land that is the Bearpath neighborhood today – to open a resort on the lake. The small enterprise rented out wooden fishing boats, offered lakeshore cabins for rent, and hosted galas celebrating New Year’s Eve and other festive occasions.

    The resort owned and run by Edgar and Grace King was on Lake Riley, near where the public boat launch now exists.

    Roger has many memories from the King era, when his family sold eggs, chickens, and vegetables Fridays and Sundays as cars from the cities stopped along Pioneer Trail. Some people became frequent visitors and Roger remembers one woman, Mrs. Session, who would send a post card with her order so that it was ready for her trip back home on Sunday. She would arrive in a Packard with a driver wearing white gloves and a hat. Roger has such fond memories of this wealthy, African American woman in a limousine who treated him so kindly.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn McReavy
    Roger Dressen remembers selling farm produce to King’s Valley patrons as they stopped along Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie.

    The Kings are believed to be the first black family ever to own and run a business in Eden Prairie. They expanded the resort to offer weekend get-aways featuring barbecues, jazz bands, and concessions lakeside. Renamed “King’s Valley,” the resort drew faithful customers from Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the farm communities within driving distance. Additionally, Edgar and Grace lived and farmed the property that surrounded the area south of what is the public beach today.

    Edgar died in 1948 and, four years later, public records show the property in probate selling for $12,000. Back in the ‘50s, the Eden Prairie Township had not yet begun to acquire parkland, so in 1952 the property sold on the open market to Kenneth “Dutch” Schaitberger. Renamed “Dutch’s Resort,” the property stayed in the Schaitberger family until, in 1975, the City of Eden Prairie purchased 36 acres to develop what is now Riley Lake Park.

    Today there’s nothing left but memories of the resort on Riley Lake with its rich history and storied past. But the next time you are taking a walk on a misty summer evening down by the beach at Riley Lake, stop and listen, and you might still hear the sounds of dancing, laughter, and boisterous chatter. You might even catch a glimpse of Mrs. Session being helped out of her limo by her chauffeur and dancing her way down to the water.

    Thank you, Roger Dressen, for sharing a piece of your Eden Prairie past! And a belated thanks to the Kings, who helped to preserve one our most precious community amenities of today: the park at Riley Lake.

    (This article is being published during Black History Month and was provided by Kathie Case, who leads the Eden Prairie Historical Society.)

    Comments
    We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleSWLRT project delayed beyond 2023
    Next Article This Week in Eden Prairie History

    More to READ

    6 Mins Read

    Remembering Jimmy Carter: A teen’s week with the president and his family on the Mississippi

    December 30, 2024
    11 Mins Read

    As Eden Prairie grew, Jerry McCoy built a strong foundation for its schools

    November 23, 2024
    8 Mins Read

    A life of love, lessons and loss for 91-year-old EP woman

    November 12, 2024
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Giant beaver is one signature away from becoming Minnesota’s state fossil

    May 21, 2025

    Eden Prairie High School program gives seniors a head start on careers

    May 21, 2025

    Shakopee man charged in Eden Prairie sexual assault of 15-year-old girl

    May 21, 2025

    EPHS synchronized swim team advances to state meet

    May 20, 2025

    Minnesota legislative session ends, still with a long to-do list

    May 20, 2025
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    INN Network Member Guidestar Seal
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2025
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.