SPRING PARK, Minn - Ice out was officially declared around noon Saturday on Lake Minnetonka, tying a 161-year-old record for the latest date in history.
The average ice out date for the lake is April 14, which puts the metro's largest lake 21 days behind. Ice-out records date back to 1855 and now Saturday's official ice-out declaration ties the latest on record -- May 5, 1857.
Freshwater Society and the Hennepin County water patrol say Lake Minnetonka is declared ice-free when a boat can pass through channels and navigate all portions of the lake. Saturday's declaration was determined after the water patrol and society members monitored the ice from shore, allowing boats to travel to areas where significant ice remained.
Before the official call was made by Hennepin County officials, activity on the lake had finally started to pick up with boat and dock companies finally starting to get on the water.
"This year we're about four weeks behind," Dean Villella of Dock and Lift says.
Villella and his crew of five put in 20 docks this week, but owners of the company say they still have nearly 375 docks left to go.
"We're still going to be putting in docks in July," Villella chuckles.
That's not as far off as you might think. Owners of Dock and Lift say it normally takes their crews 6-8 weeks to get all of their docks in.
This year they're hoping to speed things up and get the docks in within 5-6 weeks, which is faster than normal, but still means some homeowners might not get their docks until mid to late June.
"It's definitely a challenge," Jeff Jasan says.
Jasan and his crew at RSI Motorsports are in the same boat, literally.
They have close to 200 boats to get in still.
"It's kind of like rush hour. Once one car accident happens and then you got four lanes of traffic just backed up," Jasan explains.
He and his co-workers will be working 10-hour days until the boats are all in, so that homeowners like the Kinds can get out on the lake.
"It's always a big day when the dock goes in," Steve Kind says.
They're some of the lucky ones who already have their docks in.
"We were pulling around the corner and I looked over and saw the activity and I was like oh, I think they're at our house," Deb Kind says.
The family is hoping to have their boat up and running by the end of the weekend.
Other families won't be as lucky this summer. As the ice on Lake Minnetonka slow melts, so does people's time on the lake this summer.