Fall 2025

Beautiful craftsmanship is showcased in every product created by Lakeside Woodworking. Master craftsmen George and Whitney Thiessen have become mainstays in the Iowa Great Lakes area through their custom furniture and uniquely designed heirloom quality products like cutting boards or Lazy Susan’s. The base of each finished project comes from local wood, whether its walnut,…

Smoky Mountain Central Railroad at Clay County Fair Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the Smoky Mountain Central Railroad, a mainstay of the Clay County Fair. The KICD Depot opened in 1999 on the eastern side of the fairgrounds, captivating kids of all ages with its rolling train systems, 4,300 feet of track and…

PIRATE JACK RESTORATION Originally sculpted in 2024, developed a large crack through his hat, face, and beard—but was fully restored this year to his former glory. For anyone driving towards Terrace Beach in West Okoboji, a special sculpture will captivate your attention when rounding the corner. Earlier this summer, a large maple tree regally stood,…

Enjoy this fun bike ride along the scenic trails and lakeside roads around West Lake Okoboji. This year marks the 33rd year of Oktoberfest fun in the Iowa Great Lakes area. The ride will begin and end at Preservation Plaza. Terrain is mostly flat with some short rolling hills. Trails are swept prior to the…

Generally, a mound rising above the ground has limited significance unless the roads are icy or physical labor is required to go up and down. For instance, a hill named “Big Bertha” means nothing to most local individuals unless they’re in cross country. More noteworthy hills in the area have gained meaningful histories and became…

Shar-choo-choo What?! Today, we did a thing! Amy Thiessen from Lakeside Charcuterie invited us over to learn how to make a charcuterie board. (Good thing for spell check, because I can’t spell it, and I can barely say it.) It’s kind of a running joke with my youngest daughter—every time I try, she corrects me…