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The only US city erased from google maps and it's ultra wealthy in Minnesota

Posted on 1/28/26 at 4:58 pm
Posted by Ailsa
Member since May 2020
5606 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 4:58 pm

There is exactly one city in America you could not explore on Street View: North Oaks - a private, gated enclave in Minnesota known for extreme affluence and exclusivity.

This wasn’t a glitch.
It wasn’t outdated data.
It was intentional.

Every entrance to the city is marked "No Trespassing".
Cameras and license plate readers track who comes and goes.

There are no public roads - property lines extend all the way into the street, eliminating public right-of-way entirely.

When Google tried to map it, the town nearly sued to stop it.

So one man decided to test the system.

He studied aviation law, passed the Federal Aviation Administration drone pilot exam, launched from public land outside the city, and mapped every road from the air - legally.

Now the city is visible.

If this is legal, why doesn’t every wealthy city do it?
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 5:01 pm
Posted by Y.A. Tittle
Member since Sep 2003
110300 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:00 pm to
quote:

If this is legal, why doesn’t every wealthy city do it?


Most all gated communities do. I didn't know there was a whole city anywhere that was deemed a "gated community" though.
Posted by Saint Alfonzo
Member since Jan 2019
29393 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:00 pm to
I don't know how much of a gotcha this is. We live in a gated community and there are no street views on Google.
Posted by Junger
Member since Jan 2026
270 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:01 pm to
Posted by deltaland
Member since Mar 2011
101482 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:10 pm to
quote:

Most all gated communities do. I didn't know there was a whole city anywhere that was deemed a "gated community" though.


Sounds a lot like Hot Springs village
Posted by NC_Tigah
Make Orwell Fiction Again
Member since Sep 2003
137022 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:15 pm to
quote:

this wasn't a glitch
Just stupid! There is NO GATED COMMUNITY ANYWHERE that Google Street Maps includes.
Posted by Rex Feral
Member since Jan 2014
16394 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 5:35 pm to
They can do it because the property lines go to the center of the street. The homeowners own the streets so they can decide who drives in them.
Posted by dalefla
Central FL
Member since Jul 2024
3833 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:08 pm to
quote:

Most all gated communities do. I didn't know there was a whole city anywhere that was deemed a "gated community" though


My neighborhood, gated with signage, and we own the roads, wasn't on Google Streetview until sometime last year. I guess Google doesn't respect private property. Should I sue them to have my house removed from street view?
Posted by dalefla
Central FL
Member since Jul 2024
3833 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:08 pm to
You may want to check again. Mine popped up on street view a couple of months ago.
Posted by dalefla
Central FL
Member since Jul 2024
3833 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:10 pm to
quote:

Just stupid! There is NO GATED COMMUNITY ANYWHERE that Google Street Maps includes.


How much you willing to bet. Mine wasn't on Google Street view until a couple of months ago but it is now.
Posted by jimmy the leg
Member since Aug 2007
43492 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:11 pm to
Your neighborhood is a gated city? Do yall have a Mayor?

ETA - to hell with Google.
This post was edited on 1/28/26 at 6:12 pm
Posted by jimmy the leg
Member since Aug 2007
43492 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:13 pm to
Is North Oaks a gated community, or a city?
Posted by dalefla
Central FL
Member since Jul 2024
3833 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:15 pm to
Not a city but private property with no public roads, nonetheless.
Posted by jimmy the leg
Member since Aug 2007
43492 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:16 pm to
quote:

Not a city but private property with no public roads, nonetheless.


Cool.

The OP link stated that North Oaks was a city. That is why I am curious about it.
Posted by Trevaylin
south texas
Member since Feb 2019
10336 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 6:20 pm to
Can you imagine the cost of the North Oaks Homeowners Association Dues?
Posted by touchdownjeebus
Member since Sep 2010
26434 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:02 pm to
My neighborhood is the same way. You can get aerial views, but zero street views.

This is a nothing burger.
Posted by OldNo.7
Fort Worth
Member since Sep 2012
1490 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:09 pm to
Every single street and street name, along with multiple properties are visible on Zillow. It’s not even that exclusive, most properties are 800k-1.2~ mil.

Posted by touchdownjeebus
Member since Sep 2010
26434 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 7:13 pm to
I hate when they sensationalize shite like this.

Audubon place, that’s exclusive. Those houses don’t even make the market, lol. They had IDF repel in during Katrina.
Posted by Saint Alfonzo
Member since Jan 2019
29393 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:09 pm to
quote:

You may want to check again. Mine popped up on street view a couple of months ago.

Nope, still no street view of our spot.
Posted by HagaDaga
Member since Oct 2020
6922 posts
Posted on 1/28/26 at 8:21 pm to
I believe people can request their home be "removed" which is essentially blurring your property.

Don't know how though or anyone who's tried it. Give it a go and let us know how it goes. Thanks dude.
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