Mid-Summer 2023

The tantalizing smells rising from the kitchen at the renown Taco House in Milford regularly draw people to its doors. People are willing to wait, often lining up behind the brick windows to order the famous beef tacos or Nachos Royal. From mid-March to late October, limited advertising draws hundreds of customers throughout the week.…

Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery Plays Vital Role in Area Fish Production In the late 1800s, fish were so plentiful in the Iowa Great Lakes, people came with their spears and hooks to fish from miles around.  “At the time, there were so many fish, people would catch and throw the ones they didn’t want up…

Arnolds Park Amusement Park Builds New Dormitory for Seasonal Employees A beautiful new three-story building has arisen from the old Parkside Cottages just south of Historic Arnolds Park Amusement Park. On Friday, May 19, the community and park staff met to celebrate the completion of the new dormitory for the park’s seasonal employees. Many in…

The second annual Animal House Beach Clean-up took place on June 1, with over 75 participants partnering with Animal House, Unsalted No Sharks and Pura Vida to clean up ten popular spots in the Iowa Great Lakes area. The locations included five different beaches in the Okoboji area, including Arnolds Park Public Beach, Arnolds Park…

When you’re craving Grandma’s chicken, Gingham Inn To Go in Spirit Lake is the place to stop! The popular restaurant brings years of Lakes Area traditions to the community and is one of the few places to find pan-fried chicken. This Lakes Area tradition initially opened in the early 1900s near the Spillway in a…

My name is Kylie Sebert. I’m a native of Spirit Lake and recently moved back to West Des Moines! I have a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, with an emphasis in fiction. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook as @litwithkyiejo. As with most writers, one of my passions is discovering and…

A morning on the water with Doug Burns Your local fishing guide for the Iowa Great Lakes! For those of us who love getting outside and spending a day on the water chasing fish, we are fortunate to live in such a great community with endless opportunities to do so. As an avid fisherman all…