Outdoor Kitchens in Prior Lake, MN

Outdoor Kitchens in Prior Lake tend to revolve around one thing: the water. Upper and Lower Prior Lake together make up the largest lake in the southern metro, with Spring Lake just to the west, and a summer weekend here often means people coming off the boat hungry. A good outdoor kitchen puts food, drinks and shade within a few steps of where everyone ends up, so the host is not running up and down to the house all afternoon.

Three lakes, many kinds of lots

Lower Prior Lake covers about 810 acres and Upper Prior Lake about 354, joined by a navigable channel under Eagle Creek Avenue. Spring Lake, about 290 acres, sits a few feet higher and drains into Upper Prior. Lake lots vary widely, from flat lawns to steep walkouts. We plan the kitchen location around your lot's grade, the view and how people move between house, patio and dock.

Features Prior Lake hosts ask for

• A beverage station near the patio door with an outdoor-rated refrigerator, so cold drinks do not mean trips inside.
• A built-in grill with plenty of landing space for trays of burgers and fish fresh off the boat.
• A covered bar or pergola to cut the afternoon sun on a west-facing shoreline and keep a sudden storm off the grill.
• A fire feature for after sunset, gas or wood, placed with the right clearances.
• Durable, wet-friendly counters that shrug off wet swimsuits, sunscreen and spilled drinks.

Slopes, walkouts and drainage

Many lake lots slope toward the water. That affects where an island can sit, how its base is built and where rainwater goes. We set footings or a reinforced base to the 3-1/2 foot frost depth state code sets for Scott County, and we grade the kitchen area so runoff does not wash across the patio or straight toward the shore. On walkout lots, a lower-level kitchen under a deck can be a good fit if it is planned for drainage from above.

Shutting down for winter

A lake house kitchen often sits idle for months. Kalamazoo, an outdoor kitchen appliance maker, advises shutting down refrigerators once daily lows reach 38°F, winterizing ice makers before temperatures drop below 45°F, and draining sink lines completely with shutoff valves closed and taps open. We design the plumbing with accessible shutoffs and drains so closing the kitchen for the season is quick, whether you live here year-round or close the place up after Labor Day.

Permits and shoreline considerations

Gas lines, electrical circuits, plumbing and roofed structures generally require permits from the City of Prior Lake. Lakeshore lots can come with extra setback and impervious-surface rules, so we check what applies to your property before finalizing a layout. Digging requires a Gopher State One Call locate at least 48 hours in advance, which we request when you hire us.

Plan it before the boat goes in

The best time to call is fall or winter, when design and permits can be settled before the ice goes out. Call (612) 451-0418 for a free written estimate and a site visit.

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