Samantha Eberly of Cherokee, Iowa, fishes at Arnolds Park, Iowa in May. Sioux City Journal Photo by Justin Wan
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Samantha Eberly of Cherokee, Iowa, fishes at Arnolds Park, Iowa, in May. Sioux City Journal Photo by Justin Wan
Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
Charley Whittenburg, CEO of Historic Arnolds Park, unveils a proposed design to upgrade the Roof Garden during a news conference in Arnolds Park, Iowa, in May. Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
OKOBOJI, Iowa | Northwest Iowa's tourism hot spot, Dickinson County, needs all sorts of cool blue in creating a map, indicating the natural glacial lakes that bring hundreds of thousands of fun-seekers here each year.
Start with West Lake Okoboji, the deepest natural lake in Iowa with its maximum depth of 138 feet. The Wisconsin glacier formed West Lake around 14,000 years ago.
Big Spirit Lake, Little Spirit Lake, East Lake Okoboji, Upper Gar Lake, Lower Gar Lake and Lake Minnewashta complement West Lake Okoboji, their big cousin. Just 12 miles west along Highway 9 stands Silver Lake, on the west side of Lake Park, Iowa.
The Dickinson County cities of Arnolds Park, Lake Park, Milford, Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Terril, Wahpeton and West Okoboji range in size from around 5,000 (Spirit Lake) to 300 (West Okoboji). They embrace these bodies of blue water and what they mean to the quality of life for those who choose to live here or visit.
Year-round, the Dickinson County population is just north of 16,000. By the peak of the summer, on July 4, that figure grows well beyond an estimated 120,000 people.
Some come for the stability work offers through a variety of homegrown manufacturing outlets. Others offer their wares and services seasonally, targeting that surging population base during spring and summer, giving rise to Arnolds Park Amusement Park and the nation's seventh-oldest roller coaster, The Legend.
Officials at Arnolds Park Amusement Park in May announced exciting changes and additions, including a full-scale renovation of a Siouxland entertainment staple, the Roof Garden Ballroom, while expanding the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum and more, part of a $12-million upgrade.
An anonymous group of donors has already pledged $6 million to the Restore the Park campaign, which builds upon the effort 18 years ago to "Save the Park." The second phase commences this fall with the expansion of The Maritime Museum and renovation of The Majestic Pavilion, which will include new flooring for the former skating rink and more.
A new home for The Iowa Rock-n-Roll Museum will also be realized in this effort.
Charley Whittenburg, CEO of Historic Arnolds Park, unveils a proposed design to upgrade the Roof Garden during a news conference in Arnolds Park, Iowa, in May. Justin Wan, Sioux City Journal
