Iowa Great Lakes

This place is one of the most fun businesses in the lakes area for kids, or adults who are creative, and likes to paint! Kurio Kastle is a pottery painting "palace," for anyone and everyone! You pick from an extensive array of pottery to paint, from cute animals, to mugs, and dishware. You can then stencil or draw on them, then paint it! Your masterpiece is then glazed, and put in the kiln to fire. After that, you pick it up, and take it home to enjoy! Its even a perfect place for birthday parties.

The Style Loft Boutique, located downtown Estherville, has all the latest trends in apparel. They offer a wide variety of clothing brands and also have the seasons must-haves in shoes and jewelry as well. Check out The Style Loft, you won't be disappointed!

New to Spirit Lake is Lisa's Bakery. We have heard wonderful reviews of her caramel and cinnamon rolls and has a variety of other bakery goods. Set up for convenience, Lisa’s Bakery also offers a variety of take and bake meals for the busy working family or a nice break for the stay at home mom who wants a healthy satisfying meal for her family without having to be in the kitchen for hours. This place is all about convenience with a new fun twist on getting home cooked meals from Lisa's table to yours.

I grew up watching Cheers, if you want that same vibe at the lake, hit The Ritz just south of the bridge. Let alone, Taylor and her staff are the salt of the earth kind of people, the food is amazing! You can tell that a lot of thought has gone into the presentation and you can taste the love in the recipes. Did I mention, they know how to mix a good cocktail as well…..Okoboji style for those who know what I mean! Cold beers, huge glasses of wine, fun kids desserts and the famous Ritz fish bowl. You gotta try it!

For most leisure boaters in the Iowa Great Lakes, there are 2 main hot spots to go throw an anchor, sit back, and just relax. Sometimes this will result in numerous boats tying up to one another (you may not even know your neighbor), and sometimes it results in a little more privacy where you can chill just by yourself. Every weekend, boaters make the trek across the deepest parts of West Lake to either Gull Point (North AND South side) and Miller's Bay. Thought there are many other great areas to throw an anchor, relax, and swim, these are the two hot spots. If you aren't sure where to go on a Saturday afternoon or wonder where your friends might be, these two spots would be a good start.

Jimmy John's slices our all-natural meats and fresh veggies in-house every day. Our fresh-baked bread is made right here where you can see it, and our house-made tuna salad is fresh every day. The flavor of a ripe tomato, crisp shredded lettuce, combined with fresh-baked bread, fresh-sliced meat and real Hellmann's mayo - that's when the magic happens. Made with love every single day since 1983. That's Jimmy Fresh!

The Family Diner is Spirit Lake, IA is a local favorite! They offer up a large portion for small money, but whether you come early or late you may be in for a wait. With homemade bread and the largest sausage patty you have seen, The Family Diner is consistently delicious. They are open only for breakfast and lunch and closed two days a week. In my former career at Stylecraft, the family diner was definately a favorite when our friends would visit from North Carolina. They were always inpressed with the bread and rolls and corn beef hash.

Bobs in Anrolds Park is famous for the Bobs dog. This is a place the whole family will enjoy. You will be able to enjoy an old fashion maid rite, hot dog, and don't forget the amazing shakes! Located right in the heart of all the action in Arnolds Park you will be able to park the boat and walk up to Bobs. Eat on the patio over looking West Lake or take your meal to go and enjoy it on the boat!

Gary's is newly owned by Rabab, and sure to keep your taste buds coming back for more. The menu still features classic American comfort food, as well as some of Rabab's Mediterranean favorites. This comfortable, yet classy restaurant is perfect for date night, or family night. Gary's features their ever popular "pizza night" on Thursdays and Fridays, which is always amazing, and their "pasta night" on Wednesdays, which is sure to keep you full all night!

The Dry Dock, connected to Four Season's Resort offers a simplified menu, but consistent delicious food. One of the few restaurants on West Lake Okoboji, the Dry Dock offers up legendary breakfasts, great lunches and dinners, and the local favorite Friday Night Fish Fry. Sit inside or out after arriving by foot, car, or boat.

Bombazi, by definition, means of the highest quality. Bombazi Salon is located in Arnolds Park, IA along the broadway strip. They offer hair care, pedicures, manicures, and waxing. All of our services are available for weddings and other parties. Tammy and her staff will take great care of you! Click below to view their webpage.

With summer right around the corner that means one thing for the Greens Space at Arnolds Park. The 2024 Free Summer concert calendar has been released spanning the whole summer with exciting performers. Who are you excited to see?

Terrace Park is located in Brown's Bay on West Lake, Okoboji. It is one of the largest public beaches on West Lake and has entertained beach goers for many years. Next to Terrace Park is Boys Town out of Omaha, Nebraska. I remember as a kid spending entire days at terrace park, either riding bicycle or taking a moped (yes a moped) down to meet with friends and playing king on the dock. In 2010, the morning after "the storm", Terrace Park was carnage. Boat were stacked on top of each other. Trees were uprooted, and hoists were tossed around. Boats and other water craft were found in Terrace Park that belonged to owners on the North end of West Lake.

Arguably the most iconic spot in all of the lakes area, Barefoot Bar is the one place you must visit when you're here for the summer. They have the best blended drinks, as well as every other cocktail you can think of, served in their signature cups. Its the perfect place on the lake to sit back and relax with friends, while enjoying the view, and all of the palm trees. Barefoot Bar also has a menu, to enjoy some food while you're soaking in the sun. Its even the perfect place for kids, with a full swing set, and even a slide that goes right into the lake!

A place for all ages, the Dickinson County Nature Center is a place that provides learning about nature, animals, and the environment. With many events for the community throughout the year, locals and tourists alike are sure to enjoy a fun time here. The ever popular Bee and Butterfly festival is a blast for kids, and kids at heart. We've enjoyed releasing a monarch butterfly, learning about different insects, and hearing about how bees make honey. They also provide classes for toddlers and kids to learn more about animals and nature. We always have fun checking out the animals they have at the Nature Center, and learning more each time we go.

Whether you need a new roof or roofing repairs, the team at Harvey’s Five Star Roofing can finish the job quickly & for an honest rate that works in your budget. Fully licensed, bonded and insured - Plus an unbeatable lifetime warranty!

Dr. Newell and his staff work as a team to provide our patients with the highest quality orthodontic treatment in a professional and caring atmosphere. Our clinics provide orthodontic treatment for children and adults ranging from limited tooth movement with retainers, full treatment with fixed appliances, cleft lip and palate, and complex orthognathic surgical cases. We also work with your family dentist as well as numerous other dental specialists to coordinate your orthodontic care.

Pike's Point is located at 15973 213th Ave, Spirit Lake, IA on beautiful West Lake Okoboji. It is one of the largest parks in the Iowa Great Lakes, and provides for all kinds of activities including fishing, swimming, bird watching etc. This park also has a rest room, and a beach. If coming by boat, one wants to be careful as the point extends far into the lake, and there is a warning buoy roughly 300 feet from the point of shore. In 2010, many trees here were uprooted because of some severe straight line winds during the storm that reaked havoc through the Iowa Great Lakes.

Cutting Edge Lawn Service has been proudly serving the Iowa Great Lakes Area for many years. They take pride in their impeccable customer service, and maintain strong relationships with customers, just ask your neighbors! To them, your lawn is theirs, and they want to keep it looking its absolute best. Cutting Edge's rates are competitive on all of their services, and top notch service as well. They are fully trained lawn care specialists that give 100% every time.
Their services include: Lawn Mowing, Lawn Aeration,Trimming,Spring & Fall Clean Up, De-thatching, Hedge Trimming, Raking, Weed Control, Gutter Clean Out, Landscaping, and Power Washing.

The Boonedocks is your one-stop-shop! They have it all. Full selection of beer, wine, grocery items, and of course gasoline. Located right in Arnolds Park!

Choose from a variety of luxurious condominiums and hotel-style guest rooms. Bridges Bay Resort features the area's only indoor waterpark 'Boji Splash, featuring the Cantina which serves a variety of delicious food and beverages. Bring the boat in the summer and enjoy being right on the water or get away for the weekend in the winter months and let the kids enjoy the indoor waterpark!

Consumers Lumber Company is the only locally owned and operated building center in the area. They have been proudly serving the best builders and homeowners with the best materials and services since 1906.
They have locations in Spirit Lake and Spencer Iowa with a complete line of building materials and builder’s hardware. They also have full showrooms of millwork, stone, decking and cabinetry.
Dollars spent with Consumers Lumber stay in Dickinson and Clay counties. They support all the area schools and youth organizations along with several other community charities. Consumers Lumber Company is also very proud of the fact that their 15 employees have over 200 years of combined service to our company and that they all live, shop and play here.
They offer timely and accurate project bids and drawings to better serve the areas builders and homeowners. They also provide free and fast delivery to the four county area.

"The Tressle" bridge used to carry the old railroad that traversed the area. Now the tressle is home to some of the areas best fishing. Served as a hot spot for fisherman, and a trail for walkers and bikers, the tressle is a classic structure of the Okobojis. We spent days jumping off of the tressle doing cannonballs, preachers, flips and the like. I know in my life my friends and I have caught literally tens of thousands of crappie and blue gill off the tressle bridge.

The beautiful Carpet One showroom in Spirit Lake features a huge selection of all the latest flooring, window coverings and more. They have certified flooring pros can get your project rolling with a free, no-obligation pre-measure - just call (712) 336-5559 today or visit their website at www.carpetoneiowa.com

I hear this one all the time from prospects looking to list their house. "Well, agent xyz told us that if we listed with her, she'd have it sold in a week." This would fall into the category of "If it sounds too good to be true, the probably is." The majority of agents are not going to make this claim, but rather will give you an honest market analysis, inform you as to how weak or strong the market is, especially the market in which your home resides, and present the objective facts. A good agent will then lay out an effective marketing plan, where the majority of the focus should be on "online marketing". Be careful to not get caught up in empty promises, reduced commissions, and being talked in to lowering your price below market value (unless you must have a quick sale). The key to choosing a good listing agent is to objectively determine who is going to provide you the best opportunity to sell your home. Will your listing agent also aggressively work to find buyers, or will they just list your home and wait for another agent to do the work.

Separated from the rest of the Iowa Great Lakes, Big Spirit has a lot to offer. Big Spirit is actually located in Iowa and in Minnesota. This quiet setting offers a number of different lake views as well as access to fantastic fishing. While your are there, stop at the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery. Every year they use gillnetting to catch and release walleye, muskie and pike using each fish to help breed a new batch of fish for the year. Often times the DNR catches very large fish and put them on display in one of their many fish tanks. The DNR professionals harvest fish eggs and release them after they hatch. Stop by and see the in the Spring, you will not be disappointed.

Located in the Great Lakes Mall, The Look is one of the most popular places to shop for clothes in the area. With the most stylish clothing for juniors to women, they have new styles arrive daily! This store is always up to date with the latest fashion trends, and you can always find something you're dying to have. This is my wife's favorite place to shop in the Okoboji area.

If you're in the mood for a movie, this is the place to go! They've recently updated all of their seating, so its comfier than ever to enjoy a movie here! They offer daily snack and drink specials, as well as free showings from time to time. Their screens are all digital projection, to ensure the clearest movies possible.

Whether you want to sit and enjoy great live music or eat a juicy steak with a lobster tail, this is a great place to spend some time. They have great ownership accompanied by a great staff. You just cannot go wrong. Located in the center of the action on Broadway Street, you are within walking distance of Arnolds Park Amusement Park. You should definitely stop in, enjoy a nice meal and listen to some great music.

Wild Child, which features stylish clothing, accessories and awesome toys for children and newborns, is all about quality clothing and toys. Wild Child is the "go to" store for people with all budgets, and offers styles that cannot be found anywhere else, and strives to offer unique apparel and toys that are fun, functional and educational.

The Three Sons is your go to University of Okoboji shop!! They offer everything you need for the family from name brand items to your local Okoboji gear. The Three Sons has been a family owned and operated business since the summer of 1960. You will feel like family while you are shopping here. If you are on the boat in the summer don't forget you can also shop their inventory on the Arnolds Park Boardwalk! University of Okoboji gear is one of our favorite ways to represent Lake Okoboji on a vacation!

The Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association is a state-wide nonprofit dedicated to preserving the legacy of rock 'n' roll and the history of music in the state of Iowa. The museum opened in 2003. The museum allows visitors to discover the history of music within the state of Iowa. They also have the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. All the inductees for the year are announced in January. Over labor day weekend in Arnolds Park there is a celebration with a ceremony introducing the inductees and also a concert.

Main Street Bar and Grill is a longstanding bar/pub/lounge that also has a great selection of food. Wednesday nights they offer a wonderful steak menu. Great cocktails and great food in small-town Terril, Iowa.

Animal House of Okoboji, themed after the movie, is a young men's and women's clothing store, offering surf brands, and trendy clothes perfect for summer! They have a never ending array of shoes and flip flops, as well as swim suits, for your summers in Okoboji. Its located in the Central Emporium, so don't miss out while you're here visiting the lake.

If you're visiting the lakes area, and want to be pampered, Boji Toes gives the best pedicures in town! Also offering manicures, from traditional to shellac, as well as waxing, they really take pampering to the next level. I also know that they love to get male clients, and will even offer them a beer! Talk about great service!

Best pizza in town with an amazing view! Dock the boat and stop in the Ritz for a pizza and cold beverages. They offer live bands in the summer and during winter games! The Ritz offers a breakfast buffet and an amazing bloody mary bar on Sundays! Make sure to stop in when you are in town.

The Bedell Family YMCA offers many programs to kids and adults alike. Children can get their first experiences with various sports, and continue their interests as they grow into specific programs. Adults also are offered many sports, health, and wellness programs at the Y, they even provide childcare while you attend your program, or work out. The Bedell Family YMCA is also the creator of Camp Foster, an amazing camp for kids in the summer.

Katy Lynn Boutique is a fabulous women's clothing store offering a wide variety of clothing, shoes, jewelry and more. Excellent customer service with all hands-on-deck in helping you find that special outfit. You can also place clothing orders online. A fun clothing store that is sure to impress!

As your local Ace Hardware, we are one of 5,000+ Ace stores locally owned and operated across the globe. But we are not just about numbers. We are about helping neighbors, because each one of our stores is a part of your community. We are all committed to being "the Helpful Place" by offering our customers personal service, quality products and a convenient shopping experience from the local experts who know you best. As the helpful hardware folks in your neighborhood, we promise that helping you is the most important thing we have to do today.

Open 7 days a week and all year round, Fashion Formula showcases clothing for any season in sizes S to 2X! From dressy to casual in brand names such as Karen Kane, Erin London, Ethyl, Multiples, Jess & Jane and many other brands; as well as shoes, handbags, and accessories to complete any outfit.

Comfortec has trained and licensed technicians who can handle the job whether you have no heat or a loud noise coming from your equipment. We are a Carrier, Ruud and Lennox dealer giving us an advantage when it comes to working with different types of furnaces. We carry a wide variety of parts and can service any brand of furnace or AC. When it comes to needing someone to come handle your heating or cooling issue, we get there fast and get the job done right anywhere in our service region. Additionally, we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week because problems with your heating and cooling systems or plumbing rarely only occur during a normal workday.

Spencer Golf & Country Club, established in 1919, is a Semi-Private Golf Club featuring its well manicured 18 hole championship golf course and full service restaurant experience. Outstanding membership rates are available to residents, non-residents, and corporations. If a membership isn't right for your needs, non-residents of Spencer are welcome to play anytime that the course is available, as often as you would like. If you are looking to host a corporate outing, organization fundraiser outing, or group golf outing, look no further than Spencer Golf & Country Club. We can accommodate groups as big as 200 golfers and more with all the professional golf tournament services. The Country Club is also an excellent choice for your next business meeting, banquet, or wedding reception.

For more than 45 years, we have been providing tax preparation, business planning, financial reporting services and personal financial planning. Founded in 1974, Erpelding, Voigt & Co., LLP has grown to encompass more than 49 professional associates and staff in five locations. As a progressive accounting firm employing the latest technologies, we have developed a reputation for professional excellence through the consistent high quality services we provide. We bring a wealth of knowledge and value to each of our clients.

Arrowood is a year-round conference center and hotel with over 100 guest rooms, whirlpool suites and a "Great Room" for hosting group events and hospitality suites. Formerly known as Village East, the resort offers an outdoor pool, deck, playground, volleyball and croquet courts and a heated indoor pool area. Hotel goers can also enjoy an on-site salon, Minervas Bar and Eatery and lit parking. Located on Brooks National Golf Course, Arrowwood Resort offers some of the finest lodging around. Years ago, Brooks Golf Course clubhouse was actually housed on the rear side of Arrowood, but since then, the course has been converted to 27 holes with a a new separate clubhouse. Also, the Racquet Club was a part of the facility, offering workout facilities, racquet ball, and tennis. However, with the addition of the YMCA, the racquet club was unsustainable and converted into retail.

Minervas is located in the Arrowwood Resort in Okoboji. Their menu offers a little of everything! From classic pastas and aged steaks to seafood everyone will leave satisfied. They offer a great "Pick Two" option for lunch and the atmosphere is excellent. They also do a pasta night that seems to be a staple in the community. Getting to pick your sauce and everything that goes into your pasta which is then made right in front of you is certainly a treat for the whole family!

Referred to locally as the lake turning over the thermocline is a feature of lakes with deep water. The water on the top of the lake changes temperature much more variably during the year. On West Lake, it can reach as much as 75 degrees in July while the water below, greater than 35 or 40 feet deep is relatively stable around 45 degrees. In the fall and early winter, the top strata of the lake will cool to below 45 degrees, and then because it becomes denser, it will "sink" below the lower strata, thus, displacing it and making the lake "turn-over". In the deepest part of West Lake (near the 136ft mark), no light is availble, and hence little life is known whether fish or plant. Typically questions are raised as to why the surface water gets dirty for a short period of time in the fall, this this is the standard answer.

Dixon Family Chiropractic is a clinic located on Hwy 9, east of Walmart, next to Pizza Ranch and has convenient hours.....open 6 days a week at 7:30 am, evenings and Saturdays. Formerly in the convenient health care building south of the 4 way stop in Spirit Lake, Wade and Adalee offer a friendly staff and professional services.

At Winther, Stave & Co., LLP we use a team approach. You have a team of accounting professionals at your disposal, not just one person. With specialists in many different areas, we can draw on that breadth of knowledge and experience to help with services ranging from taxes, to payroll, to wealth preservation.

Check out Okoboji's newest urban metro hotel, the Okoboji Commons. Featuring 71 guest rooms, a meeting room that can hold up to 125 people. Conveniently located next to the bike trail, Brooks Golf Course, Okoboji Summer Theatre, and many Okoboji attractions. The hotel grounds are immaculate featuring gas fire pits, a gazebo, a large deck overlooking East Lake, a sand beach with hammocks, fire pits and a new dock to tie up your boat. Check out Okoboji Commons next time you are vacationing in Okoboji, you will not be disappointed!