Mid-Summer 2026

Animal House of Okoboji Releases New Designs Imagine yourself drowning in the deep waters of the ocean. You are hopeless, helpless and alone. Time’s running out, and your life is on the line. But out on the horizon, you see a sailboat, and it’s coming straight for you. The water keeps churning and you start…

Red, White, Blue…and Complete Chaos! Take a look at these pictures. Seriously. They are fun. They are sweet. They are creative. They are full of what summer is all about! And honestly? They are basically a miracle. Because behind these perfectly patriotic sibling photos was complete and total kid chaos. Tears. Sand. Running. Watermelon juice.…

The Iowa Great Lakes are filled with hidden gems, little treasures waiting for visitors to stumble upon their magic. One such special location is found in the beautiful canals of West Lake Okoboji, just south of Gull Point State Park, where a charming, whimsical community resides and is really only viewable to kayakers and small…

Visiting the area’s farmers markets has become a summer favorite for my family. Many Saturday mornings are spent heading to Arnolds Park for the Farmers Market at the Park or over to the Dickinson County Fairgrounds for the Lakes Area Farmers Market. I love connecting with friends, many of whom are also vendors, guaranteeing us…

Skimming the glistening blue waters of West Lake Okoboji is a 1939 Larson Falls Flyer and a 1962 Chris-Craft Holiday. These beauties are handcrafted wooden and antique boats and part of the area’s rich boating history. The boats are also one reason why Carlie Long loves her Okoboji summers and how she became passionate about…

Queen II Celebrates 40 Years Reigning Over West Lake Okoboji There are icons in our community with powerful legacies. Their vision and sacrifice for bettering the Iowa Great Lakes area remain deeply ingrained within our roots and why one such special person holds a forever spot on the State Pier. Few people have impacted the…

Larry Dixon fell in love with the Corvette when he was just 15-years-old. His older brother’s friend, Dennis Dahlin, from Hawarden, Iowa drove out to their family’s farm near Hudson, SD in a 1967 435hp Corvette coupe. Larry remembers looking at the car in awe, as it turned onto his family’s farm. Dennis asked Larry…

One thing Jeff Holdorf has learned through the years is how his products create stories and start conversations. Whether it’s a lake map, a piece of local history, or a handcrafted gift, there’s usually a memory or personal connection intertwined. “Some of our favorite conversations start when someone points to a lake map and says,…