Located right on Interstate 90 with access to most major cities, Fairmont is a popular site for recreational activities any season of the year. The city’s population is 10,463 with a median home value of $97,000. If you prefer a stroll down memory lane you will find many sites to visit, such as the Fairmont Opera House, Pioneer Museum, Sisseton Model RR display, Red Rock Center, or Heritage Acres. Our multitude of specialty shops offers a real shopper's paradise.
Welcome to Big Açaí Okoboji, a local food truck offering healthy sorbet based bowls topped with granola, fruit, seeds/nuts and more. Go to their Facebook page: Big Açaí Bowls - Okoboji for their weekly locations/days/times.
Kuchel Homes is dedicated to building your dream home in your dream community. Kuchel Homes cuts no corners when it comes to building your home....from the planning, design, finishes and more we leave no stone unturned. Designed to Perform, Built to Last.
New Testament Baptist Church
2105 Gary Ave
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Services
Sunday at 11 a.m and 6 p.m.
Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Established in 2005, renovated in 2016, Pub19 Bar & Grill is your premier destination for great food and drink, and a superb dining experience. With an expansive menu and beautiful facilities, we’re certain you’ll enjoy your meal and your time spent with us. Indoor and outdoor seating is available!
Okoboji View is a public 18-hole golf course with membership availability. It is a beautiful golf course with an emphasis on nature and offers many challenges with fast greens, beautiful water features, tree lined fairways and rolling hills.
The newly remodeled restaurant and bar - renamed Pub19 Bar & Grill in 2015 - is full service and you can enjoy drinks and dining on the large new deck overlooking the golf course.
Whether you need a golf lesson or a professional club-fitting, or if you need to schedule your corporate golf outing, wedding rehearsal dinner/reception or class reunion, or just want to enjoy playing at one of the best courses in Northwest Iowa - Okoboji View Golf Course, a family run facility, is for you.
Come to Snappers Turtle Bay Cafe and enjoy the relaxing laid back island atmosphere that you can only find along the waters of Turtle Bay. Open to the public for lunch and dinner, Snappers menu is unique to Okoboji which offers quality food and service that is sure to please visiting patrons.
Enjoy an Unparalleled Golf Experience at Brooks Golf featuring 27 holes and immaculate bent grass fairways and greens!
Nestled among the Iowa Great Lakes is Brooks Golf. Originally constructed as an 18 hole layout by Val Brooks in 1932, the course attracted many famous players such Sam Snead, Walter Hagen, and Babe Didrikson Zaharias for exhibition matches and hosted the Iowa Open. In more recent times, Brooks has hosted the Iowa PGA Section Championship and the Barb Thomas Pro-Am.
Always known for its beauty and excellent course conditions, Brooks has matured into an excellent parkland layout for Midwest vacationers. In 1995, Brooks began an expansion to 27 holes, thus beginning one of the most aggressive improvement projects for golf in Northwest Iowa. Brooks Golf blends masterful design with superb playing conditions featuring bent grass fairways and greens. We welcome you to play and enjoy your stay in Okoboji.
Chaplin's is a great neighborhood bar with food, value priced drinks, the best karaoke, friendly and happy staff, plenty of parking and a welcoming atmosphere.
Best food in town? We sure think so. Rabab has outdone herself here in the Central Emporium! This upscale, fine dining restaurant will not disappoint. She offers Mediterranean and American dishes. The food is the best part, but Rabab's also has arguably one of the best views, overlooking beautiful West Okoboji lake. Not only is her food extraordinary, she offers an extensive selection of fine wines and cocktails.
Grace Lutheran Church
801 Hill Ave
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Services
Saturday at 4 p.m. (informal)
Sunday at 10 a.m. (familial)
Wednesday at 6 p.m. (interactive)
Calling all Mexican food lovers! Los Lagos has a wide variety of authentic Mexican food to choose from. Come in and sit down in the large, open dining room with a full-service bar. They offer happy hour drink and food specials that are sure to please!
A big Congrats to the Harris Lake Park football team on a fantastic historical season. The wolves dominated the competition all year long, punching their ticket to the UNI Dome for the 8 Man Football Playoffs. In the Semi-Final game the Wolves were able to continue the undefeated streak and beat Fremont Mills 35 to 21, giving them the opportunity to compete for the 8 Man Football State Championship. The Wolves battled hard against Don Bosco, Gilbertville, but unfortunately came up a little short and lost a hard fought game 21-48. Awesome Job on a GREAT season Wolves, it was very fun to see how much the community came together to support you guys. CONGRATS!
Nectar is a fun, seasonal coffee shop, serving from a cute camper within walking distance to Arnolds Park Amusement Park! Nectar offers fresh-pressed juices, espresso drinks, REAL fruit smoothies, and baked treats - making Summer in Boji even better!
Best little gem on the lake. Located on West Lake you will be able to sit and enjoy a nice cold beverage, a wonderful staff, and one of the best views in town. They have a wonderful selection of drinks you can choose from. Make sure to try one of their margaritas, it is the best on the lake in my opinion! Whether you want to enjoy the fireworks on the 4th of July, or just any sunset in the summer, Pirate Jack's is the place to be.
Little Swan Lake Winery is a family owned and operated business located 1-1/2 miles north of the small town of Superior in Northwest Iowa. The tasting room, a remodeled 1920's barn, features 35 different wines all produced on site, a selection of gourmet cheeses, and buffalo meat from the owners herd which roams nearby. The vineyard consists of two acres of northern cold hardy grapes. The gift shop features clothing and wine related items. Little Swan Lake is dedicated to producing the finest and most enjoyable wines and invite you to spend an hour or an afternoon with them. The bed and breakfast is a renovated grain elevator and is a great place to relax and enjoy the beauty that is Little Swan Lake! They have weekly live music, check their website for the schedule!
All Pets has always gone above and beyond for our pets, providing amazing customer service, and pet service for years. Dr. Roti has always been so informative, and kind to us and our pets whenever our pets have had any illnesses, and even emergency care needed in the middle of the night. Their staff really loves each animal that walks into the door, and they put you at ease when you need to leave your pet over night. All Pets has state of the art diagnostic equipment, making them by far the best veterinarian clinic in the area. We wouldn't trust our pets with anyone else!
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.
Bella Via Salon is made up of individual stylists, that are always learning more to make their clients look, and feel their best. This full service salon offers all hair needs, including hair cuts, coloring, highlights, blow outs, updo's and more. They also offer manicures, pedicures, massages, and make up applications. They also sell professional hair care, and body care products. We have never left Bella Via disappointed, and are always impressed with the skill of their staff!
Buchanan Park
Located a block East from Hwy 71 on 13th Street in Milford and a half block South on P Ave, this is a surprisingly nice and quiet little park that my kids enjoy frequenting. We like to take the dog and throw frisbees. In addition, the park offers a basketball court, swingset and other playground equipment, and some picnic tables.
Lake Park has a couple choices to choose from when deciding to camp on Silver Lake. Both campground are on the lake and offer daily, weekly, monthly or even seasonal rates. The one "in town" is a great spot located near the public pool, ball fields, the city park, public fishing dock, and the dam that flows out of Silver Lake. The camping season runs from April 15 to October 15 each year. Click the link to find more information as well as their camping rates.
Okoboji Bible Conference Ministries
7 S. Highway 71
Arnolds Park, IA 51331
Every summer the Okoboji Bible Conference is held in the heart of the Lakes Area, drawing in thousands of Christians of all ages to the area. The conference has a number of speakers as well as musicians. 2017 will be the 83rd year of the Okoboji Bible Conference.
2017 schedule- July 30 - August 7, 2017
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 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!
Okoboji Youth Basketball Association (OYBA)
The Okoboji School system and basketball program is really blessed to have such a great nucleus of coaches and a system in place designed to really build the children through team work and skill building. OYBA has put together a board and a mission that is really great for the kids and is designed to develop the kids to prepare them for High School Basketball.
Each winter, OYBA puts out teams ranging from 3rd grade up to 8th grade, both girls teams and boys teams.
I am one of the coaches for the 5th grade girls team, we have 24 kids out for basketball, for such a small class, those numbers are amazing.
We put together 3 traveling teams and each of our teams is signed up for 5 tournaments this winter season, the kids love it.
Whether you are new to town or have been here for a long time, if you have kids going to the Okoboji School system and want to play some ball, check out the website, call one of the board members or give me a call and I'll point you in the right direction.
Kabele’s Trading Post & Lodge
504 Hill Ave
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
If you are looking for fishing supplies, come here. Great selection of tackle, bait, fishing equipment and friendly service, often very willing to give you a little advice on where the “hot spots” are.
Check out their website for fishing reports.
ALSO, Kabele’s Lodge offers Nightly and Weekly Accommodations for those of you looking to spend some good quality time fishing in the area.
Los Pueblos is a family owned business known for serving some of the best food around with a very festive atmosphere. Enjoy one of their famous margaritas while you munch on some chips and salsa. Whether you are in the mood for enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, or fish tacos, they have something the whole family can enjoy!
First Presbyterian Church
1220 South Market St
Lake Park, IA 51347
Service - 10:30 am Sunday
Ries Eyecare
2213 Okoboji Ave
Milford, IA 51351
Another eyecare option in the Iowa Great Lakes area is conveniently located in Milford on Hwy 71 next door to Ingwersen Chiropractic and Healthy Living Program Center.
Services provided:
Exams- Comprehensive, Contact Lens, Medical for Glaucoma, etc, Foreign Body Removal, Red Eye and Emergencies and Post- operative Care
Welcome to Okoboji Elementary School, where we are blessed to serve over 470 students in preschool through 4th grade. We are continuously Pioneering Pathways for Every Student as we strive to make learning engaging and relevant for each and every student. We take pride in the academic instruction that our students receive and in the fact that our students consistently demonstrate high competencies in reading, math, and science, but also that they develop the critical thinking, communication, and problem- solving skills they will need to be successful beyond their years at OES. We are committed to making sure our students’ needs are met, whether it be basic needs, social/emotional needs, or academic needs.
We would love for you to arrange a visit to Okoboji Elementary School to experience the positive culture of the building and to see first-hand the compassion and commitment of our staff. We are confident that you will see it as a place where your child will thrive.
Yours in Education,
Justin Bouse
Okoboji Elementary School Principal
3401 Berquist Ave
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Local hardware store in Spirit Lake owned by Gary & Peggy Fick & Cynthia Fick. The selection and the service are excellent at Ace Hardware, if you have a need they are quick at helping you find it. You can find Ace HW by going on Hwy 71 South from Walmart, it is located on the East side of the road at the 3rd stop light.
Open at 7:30 am Monday through Saturday and 10 am on Sunday.
Ace Hardware has more than 4,600 stores in 50 states and 70 countries. Each store is independently owned.
Spirit Lake Spillway
Looking for some entertainment with the kids on a nice summer weekend, come check out the Spillway. The Spillway connects Big Spirit Lake to East Lake Okoboji allowing overflow water to move from Big Spirit Lake to the chain of lakes. This helps keep water levels under control on Big Spirit.
Depending on the time of year you visit, you may see hundreds, if not thousands of fish, mostly carp swimming upstream, it’s a neat site to see.
While you are here, you can launch your boat for a day on the lake, or you can visit Orleans Beach next door. Or you can grab lunch at the Spillway Drive In.
Come to one of the two locations: Spencer or Spirit Lake @ Allure & Co. to experience a community of people seeking to live healthier lives through exercising the body and mind.
The Studio Yoga & Barre offers a variety of yoga, barre, cycling and paddle-board classes for different levels of experience.
They also offer yoga and exercise apparel, as well as oils and health supplements.
Silver Lake Country Club is a great 9 hole golf course, situated just west of the town on Lake Park. I grew up playing this course, although it does not have any water or sand hazards, it has plenty of length at 3220 yards. A brutal stretch from hole 5 through 7. Hole 5 is a par 3 170yds, with a sloping green that makes it nearly impossible to stick the tee shot. Holes 6 and 7 par 4's boasting over 425+ yards each make for some tough pars. Overall this course is very fun to play, at some of the best prices around the Lakes Area. I encourage you to get out some day and check it out. They usually have specials if you tee off before noon on Fridays.
South Shore Estates is the newest lakeshore development on Lower Gar. Here you have access to West Lake, East Lake, Minnewashta, and Upper Gar.
The Pools at Boji Bay Funhouse Pavilion
2501 Boji Bend Dr
Milford, IA 51351
Affordable individual and family memberships are available for the outdoor pool areas.
The pool area includes 2 outdoor pools(very kid friendly depths), a hot tub and splash pad with life guards on duty. Also, the Clubhouse caters to your family if you are looking for drinks or poolside snacks.
Stop in during the summer for a good time with the kids.
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!
The Humane Society of NW Iowa is an amazing non-profit organization in the lakes area. They are a no-kill shelter, run on donations from locals, and special events in the area throughout the year. The facility has started "PAWS with a Cause," a program that gives back to the community, by bringing animals to care facilities in the area, as well as provide a program for the youth in the area to teach them about how to be a responsible pet owner.
Lake Park is one of the few cities around the Iowa Great Lakes that has an outdoor public swimming pool. It offers some great rates for annual memberships. 2016 family membership was $100 and an individual membership was only $65. They also offer swimming lessons, starting as early as infants and toddlers. Specific evenings also offer classes for adults. The pool's normal hours of operation in the summer are 1PM to 8PM.
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.
Dawn’s Dance Connection
3140 18th St
Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Dawn's Dance Connection is a dance studio that has been located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, for the past 25 years. They teach children ages preschool to high school seniors. There are many fun class options available - tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, ballet, lyrical, pointe, and tumbling.
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!
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
1305 Okoboji Ave
Milford, IA 51351
Office: 712-338-2274
Mass Schedule
Winter
Saturday at 4:30 PM
Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Summer
Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday at 7 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Ruthven Meat Locker is a local family owned business. Ruthven Locker at the Lakes is their 2nd retail store (with the original Meat Processing plant being a staple in the small town of Ruthven, Iowa). They are a full service meat shop providing their customers with excellent high quality cuts of beef & pork. Also provided are smoked meat snacks which they make right on site in Ruthven. Sure to please even the pickiest of palates! Ruthven Meat Locker prides themselves on promoting other local small businesses by selling them in our Spirit Lake store. You find everything from fine wood pieces to local honey, microgreens, baked goods, and delicious cheesecake. The Butcher’s Wife is always available to answer your questions and take special orders. Come on in and you’ll soon see that the rumors are true!
Getting's Garden is a strawberry farm where you can pick delicious Iowa berries. You can also purchase already picked berries at our Market. Stop and get a fresh strawberry shake or slushy.This is a great family outing, so bring your kids along!!!
Okoboji Brewing Company is proudly locally owned and brewed. They brew high quality craft beer, from IPA's, Stouts, Ales, Porters, and more. They have an extensive beer menu in their taproom, which is a comfortable spot to enjoy a brew, watch TV, and get food delivered from your favorite spot in the area. You can sometimes find a local food truck parked outside, to pair with your favorite Okoboji Brewing company craft beer.
Playful Cupcaketions does an incredible job making cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, and cookies. She really goes above and beyond to make your custom cake creations come to life. We've used her multiple times for our son's birthday, and cake smash cakes, and they've never been short of amazing. We've tasted her delicious cakes at weddings as well, and they're always as beautiful as they taste. We trust Playful Cupcaketions with all of our cake needs.
Yesterdays Restaurant has been an Okoboji favorite and is only opened seasonally. Yesterdays has a complete dinner menu that features nightly specials. They have a wonderful martini menu that will not disappoint. Make sure to also make reservations in the Japanese Teppanyaki Room. Watch as asian inspired meals are prepared and served by your personal chef.