From Okoboji with love: A James Bond-inspired hotel brings a unique British panache

OKOBOJI, Iowa |  A few days prior to the May 2017 grand opening of her 71-room resort, The Okoboji Commons Hotel co-owner Misty Katzfey couldn't recall the name of Timothy Dalton.

"Goodness, it's on the tip of my tongue," she admitted, inside the hotel located at 1302 Highway 71.

Momentarily forgetting British movie stars shouldn't ordinarily be a concern for an experienced businesswoman like Katzfey. But you have to realize that the suites of The Okoboji Commons Hotel are all named after actors who've portrayed Sir Ian Fleming's superspy James Bond over the past 50 years. 

"The Sean Connery is our big luxury suite with the beautiful view of the lake," she said. "The Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig and Roger Moore suites are quite luxurious."

Then Katzfey suddenly remembered  Dalton, James Bond in 1987's "The Living Daylights" and 1989's "License to Kill."

"Our Timothy Dalton Suite is also gorgeous," she said with a laugh. "I can't believe I forgot his name."

Katzfey has good reason to be a bit overwhelmed.

In September 2015, she and business partner Kristi Leigh purchased the property that sits on a 6.2-acre site on East Lake Okoboji. 

Over the past year-and-a-half, they've transformed the space into a urban hotel with elegantly furnished suites, gazebo, wedding tent as well as a James Bond Meeting Room.

So, we're sensing The Okoboji Commons Hotel has a bit of an Anglophile theme going for it, right?

"Absolutely," Katzfey said. "When we were thinking about decor, we kept on going back to a mod, 1960-ish vibe that was both a bit retro but still a lot of fun."

"Then it struck us," she said. "Why not give the entire place a James Bond feel? That would immediately set us apart from any other hotel in Okoboji."

Another thing that sets The Okoboji Common Hotel apart is the Smack Shack, which Katzfey said is "a smashing place to grab a gourmet sandwich."

Oh sure, we guess a person who could order a Double Smack Burger (a beef patty with cheese, lettuce, a special "Smack" sauce served on a Brioche bun); a Smack Dog (an all-natural beef hot dog served with jalapeno and sweet relish); and, even, a Smack Cubano (sliced roasted pork, ham, provolone, pickles and mustard on a toasted hoagie roll).

But that doesn't sound very British to us.

Katzfey takes the bait. The Smack Shack also has a London-to-Okoboji variation on fish and chips, a favorite in the United Kingdom. 

The Okoboji Commons Hotel offers three pieces of beer-battered cod along with some Smack Shack fries made by executive chef Jeremy Neppl.

A graduate of New York's Culinary Institute of America, Neppl trained under celebrity chef Michael Chiarello before creating classic cuisine in Chicago and Philadelphia.

"Jeremy is originally from the lakes region," Katzfey said. "He wanted to come back home and we're lucky to have gotten him." 

Hmm...will Neppl actually feel at home with a resort that's decorated with scenic views of London and the Union Jack depicted on pillows?

Katzfey is convinced Neppl will feel comfortable at The Okoboji Commons Hotel and so will you.

"Inside, you'll feel like you're in a new and urban hotel but, outside, you'll see the beauty of Okoboji," she said. "Our guests will experience the best of both worlds."