605 Profile

Relax around the resort in the warmth of a heated outdoor pool, try your hand at bumping a volleyball over a net with your feet in the sand, or roast marshmallows over a fire pit for the perfect s’mores—whether it’s golden brown or charred.

Being lakeside, the area is often buzzing with water sports from family fun like tubing to more laid back activities like fishing.

“Then there is lounging, campfires, boat rentals, pontoon rentals, and the whole camping experience,” said Grave.

Each of the six campsites has a 90-foot asphalt pad, promising more than enough space for outdoor activities on your site. They also offer full hookups with electric, water, sewer, cable, and wifi accommodations. Picnic tables and a fire pit are included.

www.VisitWatertownSD.com 605-753-0282

written by Dawn Geertsema + photo by John Snyder

“Yankton Thrive is an organization that was created in July 2021 with the merger of the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce and Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG),” said business services director Becky Wiswall.

In the area, Yankton Thrive works on economic development, workforce development, tourism, and business services.

Wiswall says she loves to work with members to figure out the best way to help them, meet new people, and plan events.

She shared some insight into her life with 605.

I enjoy spending time with family and friends, trying new recipes, traveling, enjoying my family’s lake cabin in the summer months, jumping on the golf course in our backyard to play a few holes, and enjoying cold beverages on any patio.

Our downtown here is quaint and thriving with so many fun shops and restaurants for a town our size. I can’t usually walk out of Boston Shoes to Boots without at least one pair of shoes, and 9th Street Clothing Co. has cute clothes and an amazing selection of BrüMates (my favorite “fancy” koozies). The Blue Pig Pizza at Cheers Pizza Plus is also a personal favorite, as well as chicken wings from Czeckers Sports Bar & Grille. The margaritas at El Tapitio and any of the seltzers from Ben’s Brewing Company are also on my must-have drinks list.

I have a son named Knox, who is 21 months old—like most boys he’s busy! My first born is a big fur child named Cru—he’s a 4-year-old, 130-pound Bernese Mountain Dog. He doesn’t let me forget he was the first, either.

I ended up somewhat falling into this position. I moved to Yankton in the summer of 2020 and was looking for what my next position would be after owning my own business for some time before that. A mutual friend of my now boss, Nancy Wenande, and I introduced us, and we had met for coffee months before my position was created. Once this position was going to be posted, we ran into each other. The description seemed right up my alley.

Any of the trails and beaches around the lake are great. Our city Parks & Recreation department organizes and hosts many amazing summer events—Music at the Meridian every Thursday in July and August as well as Kids in the Park on Saturdays in June. You can’t forget about Riverboat Days in August, and our new Huether Family Aquatic Center that opened last summer. Other must-stops are walking across the Meridian Bridge, The Mint for lunch, Tastee Treat Drive-in for dessert, and the Ice House for a cold one.