Whenever they have the urge to water-ski, Jill and Craig Timm can walk to their speedboat docked behind their home in Center City, Minn.

They live with their three children in Trophy Lake Estates, one of three gated communities in the state that are built around man-made lakes designed for water sports.

Although new-home sales are as slow as they've been in a decade, developer Grant Hustad recently broke ground on a fourth development in New Germany. The concept, popular in other states, is relatively new to the Twin Cities area. Hustad hopes it will appeal to homeowners who want the fun of a lake cabin without long travel times or the high fuel costs of driving there.

"We prefer to live and play at the same place," said Jill Timm, noting that they also have to maintain only one property. "After we come home from work, when the weather is nice, we can be on the lake."

The Timms are avid water skiers who were attracted to the development because they would be surrounded by others who share their passion for water sports. The couple, who previously owned a home in nearby Lindstrom, built a $700,000 two-story walkout in 2007.

The development also offers other family-friendly amenities, including basketball, volleyball and tennis courts, play fields and biking and walking trails. The lakes are stocked with fish, so Trophy Lake residents can fish off their docks.

Right now, the Timm children, all younger than 5, spend a lot of time swimming, but before long they'll be water-skiing like Mom and Dad.

Golf developments were an inspiration

Developer Hustad grew up on a lake in Glenwood, Minn. He and his family love to water-ski and over the years he's traveled with his daughters to many water ski tournaments on private man-made lakes in housing developments from Florida to California. He hadn't seen anything like it in Minnesota.

"I wanted to build a community where people can have their house in town and a cabin all rolled in one, and live where neighbors have the same interests," he said.

Specialty housing projects have been successful for golfers, so he designed one aimed at attracting people who like water sports. In 2000, Hustad built the first Trophy Lake Estates on 66 acres in Glenwood. The 16 lots line the shore of a man-made lake engineered specifically for recreational water sports, with a permanent ski jump and slalom course. The lakes in all the developments are about a half-mile long, 250 to 350 feet wide, 10 feet deep and wide enough at each end for a boat to turn around. "Their design makes every ride a good one," he said.

Hustad knew others shared his vision when he sold all the powerboat lots before starting construction on the Glenwood project. Two more developments -- Trophy Lake Estates in Pine Island (60 miles south of St. Paul) and Center City (35 miles north of Interstates 694 and 35W) followed.

The latest project is a 120-acre development in New Germany, about a half-hour west of Minnetonka, which will be the largest Trophy Lake venture yet, with 60 lots (45 of them lakeside) surrounding two lakes and a swimming pond.

"We've seen the market soften like everyone else," said Hustad. "So we're doing the New Germany project in phases."

Most of the 30 powerboat lots (owners can use a powerboat and build a dock or boathouse) in the first phase have already been reserved. Lot costs range from $75,000 for off-water to $195,000 for a powerboat lot.

Those prices are affordable compared with what lakeshore property goes for in the metro area, and that's a selling point for some buyers, said Bob Ritter, a Remax agent who sells lake homes in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. It's a concept he believes has limited appeal because it's geared toward "homeowners who like water sports and want to be around a lot of activity."

The man-made lakes follow a standard design, but owners can build a wide range of house styles and sizes. They can choose their own builder or from a list of preferred builders offered by Hustad, but each design must be approved by an architectural review committee.

Jay Larson, an investor in Trophy Lake Estates in New Germany, reserved a 1-acre powerboat lot that he plans to build on in 2010 so his teenagers can practice for slalom ski competitions.

"Water-skiing is a passion for us and for people who will live there," said Larson. "We've been waiting for this."

Lynn Underwood • 612-673-7619