Where: 22820 Pillsbury Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
https://hotsamsantiques.com/
Was it worth it? Yes, I give it an 8/10.
*But if you don’t like treasures (aka “junk”) then this may not be the place for you
Highlight: Finding all the oddities that are tucked away, you could come here 10 times and find something new each time!
Suggested time here: 1-3 hours
When we visited: September 2021
Not Your Average Antiques Store
If you like the weird and wonderful, you must make a visit to Hot Sam’s in Lakeville! Just off of I-35, this place is a photographer’s paradise, a treasure hunter’s delight and a home for all things quirky! We stopped here on a beautiful summer Saturday and were lucky enough to get the whole 10 acre antique junkyard to ourselves!
Admission
There is a cost to enter Hot Sam’s and take photos.
- $5 per person (includes using your mobile phone camera)
- $25.00 per DLSR & Mirrorless camera
- There is no cost for coming in and shopping in the antiques store.
Payments are taken inside the antiques store, so just check-in there when you arrive.
History
Jake Hood opened the shop with his mother Gladys in 1985 as a way for her to sell her antiques. Gladys passed away in 2010 but Jake and his significant other Kathy Sakry keep her legacy going strong! You can just take one look around and it’s easy to see how much time and effort went into not only collecting, but restoring and displaying all of the pieces here.
If you get the chance, stop and visit with Jake and Kathy. They were wonderful hosts! You may also get to meet their little weiner dog Alley-Oop!
Treasure Trove of Junk
You’ll quickly realize that this place is like no other that you’ve seen before! Sharks, old cars, creepy dolls, UFO’s, giant creatures, it has it all! I won’t post all of my pictures because I want you to have some fun surprises of your own, but scroll on to see a few of my faves!
Photo Shoot Anyone?
This treasure trove is an ideal place for a photo shoot! There is even an old boxcar available to use as a dressing/makeup room for outfit changes! As much as I wanted to take more time here and get some artsy shots of my boys, they were NOT in the mood to be models. They just wanted to play on the merry-go-round and follow the resident chickens around.
Will I be back?
I’ll definitely be returning to Hot Sam’s again one day! Although if I bring my two tweens back with me, I’ll probably give them an old cell phone to take their own photos with. I think that would keep them entertained for longer. You could also play an epic game of I-spy here!
If you’re looking for another interesting and artsy Minnesota location, check out my post about Franconia Sculpture Park in Schafer.
Have you been to Hot Sam’s Antiques & Foto Park? Is this the kind of place you’d love or hate? Please comment below!
More Info:
- Summer hours are 10am-6pm, Open 6 days a week, Closed Thursdays
- Call ahead to confirm opening hours, sometimes they are closed for private events (952-469-5922)
- Everything in the park is for sale
