A Hidden Gem Along Big Spirit Lake

Templar Park Once Home to a Grand Resort for the Templar Knights of Iowa
For those driving along the west side of Big Spirit Lake today, it can be hard to imagine the splendor of days past. Many areas once visited by thousands hide their treasures beneath prairie grass and old Burr Oak trees. Quiet beautiful landscapes along the lake are now used as fishing holes, camping sites or have become boat launches.

While still enjoyed by many different people, these same land parcels once hosted grand occasions where young and old gathered to relax and enjoy life. Like many places, one quiet piece of land is often missed today. If observant, a viewer may question the large archway reaching out of the grass or have heard of rumors of large elaborate buildings.

Templar Park Recreation Area has been owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources since 1982 and is a favorite spot for a quiet picnic or fishing in the nearby lagoon.

But for 75 years, the 10-acres was visited by thousands of families for a summer vacation and once showcased the impressive Summer Home for the Knights Templar.

Transformation of Farmland
As the area was beginning to grow in the late 1800’s, Spirit Lake was becoming more than just a place to settle. The railroad was entering the community from different directions and bringing in people from around the region.

The Orleans Hotel was one of the first ornate resorts in the Iowa Great Lakes area in the late 1800’s. Located near the current Spillway Drive In, the hotel served the general public and was situated near a Burlington Railroad stop.

“People came from different states to enjoy life in the Iowa Great Lakes. Antlers Hotel and Orleans Hotel were one of the first larger, grandeur hotels in the area, predating most anything on West Lake Okoboji,” said John Smeltzer, board member of the Spirit Lake Protective Association. “However, there was a continuous effort by the community to spur growth. Around 1884 is when you first start seeing things talked about Templar Park.”

What was first known as Kingman Point on Big Spirit and owned by Alvarado Kingman, the prime piece of lake property became of interest when the Grand Commandery of the Iowa Knights Templar began searching for a resort amongst the lakes to serve as a summer outing ground for the members of their order. Members of Spirit Lake and the railroad approached Kingman to purchase the 10 acres and then donated it to the commandery.

“At this time, the Iowa Knights Templar was growing by leaps and bounds throughout the State and people wanted a place to vacation,” Smeltzer shared. “They received this gift of land with open arms and their first encampment on the Hill took place with tents in 1890. However, many of the people stayed at Orleans Hotel that year and the Queen I took the guests back and forth across the lake.”

In a year’s time, the first building was built upon Templar Park and included offices, a dining room and a conventional meeting type room. The two-story structure included verandas and a small kitchen, but little residence for guests.

A severe windstorm or what some called a tornado came through in 1898, destroying the first structures on the property. In a year, a larger three-story resort with 150 rooms was built out of wood. The building expanded and consumed the entire ten-acres overlooking the lake.

At this time, the lake experienced a period of low water depth and the Queen I was moved to West Lake Okoboji. The Orleans Hotel was closed for fear the lake would disappear.

“Big Spirit Lake has a nice shoreline but it’s wind swept. The other issue is the prairie lake has fluctuations of water through the years, so in this period, the lake level was down around nine feet and residents were fearful that the lake would disappear. In comparison to West Lake, which is 135 feet,” Smeltzer explained.

Tragedy also struck the Templars in 1917, when a large fire began in the wood structure and consumed the entire property and at least 200 trees nearby. The Templars rebuilt once again, and opened in 1919, with a beautiful new concrete building with Spanish tile and stucco.

“I compare it a little to the story of the ‘The Three Little Pigs,’” Smeltzer said. “Each building was like straw, wood, and brick, and they didn’t want this building to be burned or blown down.”

The white walls and red tiles on the roof were striking. Windows were arched, as well as architecture throughout the property. The social center of the entire park was maintained in the rotunda of the main building, which was 40x80 feet and two stories high. All rotunda porches were glassed and screened in, while heating was provided by a furnace and large fireplaces. The main building was over 300 feet in length, with three floors having 150 identical rooms in dimensions, equipment, and ventilation. The dining room was grandeur and on the main floor of the north wing.

There was also a large Pavilion type building built down by the lake, allowing for a larger meeting space and social events.