Okoboji Brings Fun Year-Round

Okoboji, a favorite summer destination, lies along the eastern shore of West Okoboji Lake, one of Iowa’s natural glacial Great Lakes. Visitors and residents enjoy fishing and boating on the pristine blue waters and lounging on sandy shores and lush green grass in this summer playground. The town offers a variety of accommodation venues, tasty places to dine, plenty of outdoor activities, and quaint shops to browse. Okoboji is a fabulous place to visit in the summer, but in the winter, when the lake freezes over, the winter festivities begin.

Places to Stay

The Oakwood Inn offers comfort any time of year. Owners Bill and Bridget Johnson provide luxurious rooms with well-appointed furnishings and delicious breakfast offerings. During my visit, I stayed in a spacious suite with a large jet bubble tub, a fireplace, and a lovely balcony overlooking the inn’s 2-acre oasis of gardens. Breakfast was a three-course affair beginning with yogurt and granola, followed by a scrumptious cinnamon roll topped with cream cheese frosting, and ending with a breakfast enchilada made with white tortillas, eggs, sausage, chorizo, cheese, sour cream, and green onions. Yummy! https://theoakwoodinnokoboji.com/

Another fun place to stay is Little Swan Lake Winery, located outside of Okoboji in nearby Estherville. This fun Bed and Breakfast offers three rustluxe rooms housed in a grain elevator. Scott and Diane Benjamin run the family-owned business, offering wine tasting, delicious dinners, and lots of local entertainment. Be sure to check out the bison onsite; they are fun to watch and delicious to eat. http://www.lslwinery.com/

Things to Do

Okoboji Classic Cars is a car lover’s dream and an incredibly cool place to visit, even if you are not a car lover. This astonishing showroom, with more than 80 decked-out cars spanning over 100 years, was initially built as an elaborate man cave. The walls are covered with colorful period-appropriate murals, creating an environment that takes guests back in time to the 1960s with soda shops and drive-ins. https:// okobojicc.com/

The Great Lake Maritime Museum highlights the history, hardships, and joys of everyday life on the water in Okoboji. Start by watching the informative video in the side room, and then wander through the main room filled with boats, tools, and exhibits. Placards throughout the building showcase local lighthouses, explain the boat-building process, highlight the advancement of building techniques, and describe local shipwrecks. https://okobojimuseum.org/

The Dickinson County Nature Center is in Kenue Park, an almost 70-acre area that is unique because of its oak savanna. The center features educational exhibits, including an indoor beehive, live animals, and a bat cave. This beautiful stop is interesting for adults and children of all ages. Colorful signs with easy-to-understand information on how the local environment and animals work together in harmony educate guests. At the same time, play structures and interactive displays entertain and inform the children. Outside, guests can wander along the many walking trails in Kenue Park and discover the meadows, osprey nests, and trumpet swans. Modern restrooms and picnic tables are available. https://dickinsoncountyconservationboard.com/

The Fish House, a favorite community hangout, is a must-visit in both summer and winter. It is believed to be the world’s largest fish shack; however, the building is a large boat. During the summer, the walls come off, life jackets hang along the roofline, and the “house” sits out on the water.

In the winter, the Fish House becomes the Fish Shack (a nod to the villages that pop up on the ice). Walls are constructed, and a 4-by-6foot rectangular hole is cut into the floor. The ice underneath the shack is cut with an auger, and a railing is built around the hole. People fish from inside the shack because the fishing season is never really over in Okoboji. https:// www.parksmarina.com/okoboji-boat-works/ the-fish-house/

When I visited in the winter, flames blazed in the corner fireplace, heating the room; live music filled the air; TV monitors displayed sporting events; and customers dined on burgers and beverages at bar-style tables. https://www. parksmarina.com/okoboji-boat-works/the-fishhouse/

Where to Shop

The Barn Swallow Artisan Gallery is a fun place to shop and the perfect place to pick up a gift: puzzles, games, T-shirts, garden art, and more. https://www.thebarnswallow.com/ For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to stop at Goodies Handmade Candies Inc. for a decadent truffle, some tasty fudge, or a refreshing ice cream cone. https://www.goodiescandies.com/

Restaurants to Try

Waterfront Grille sits on the shore of Lake Okoboji. The menu includes steaks, seafood, pasta, burgers, salads, and more. I enjoyed one of their specialty pizzas with chicken, prosciutto, and a delicious white sauce. https://waterfrontokoboji.com/waterfrontgrille/

Tweeter’s Bar and Grill serves classic American food and is open for lunch and dinner. I arrived on a Sunday night, so I tried their Sunday Special, the pan-fried chicken dinner with corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a brownie. It was the quintessential Sunday dinner. Tweeter’s has a full bar and serves delicious hand-crafted 1919 Root Beer. https://tweetersokoboji.com/

Festivals to Attend

The University of Okoboji Winter Games is a winter free-for-all event, with the next one scheduled for January 23-26, 2025. During my winter visit, I discovered that the locals utilize this season to the fullest; the lake is frozen over for about two months each year, and this is when the real festivities begin.

This wild festival includes human foosball, snow softball, the polar plunge, snowmobile drag races, broomball tournaments, ice carving, the drill or die ice auger races, music, and a variety of tasty food. Most activities take place on the frozen lake. https://www.uofowintergames. com/

Okoboji offers visitors loads of summertime activity and amusement, but I suggest you visit in the winter when the real fun begins.

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