Beaver Lake

The Hutt may be a newer restaurant in the Lakes area, but they bring a big presence with them. A former owner of the Dry Dock, is the new owner of The Hutt. She has made this restaurant a great attraction to locals and tourists, being open year round. Having traditional american food means The Hutt is appealing to all! Don't miss out on their tasty breakfast during the summer, and their bloody mary's!

Bridges Bay Resort is built on the land purchased a few years prior which used to be owned by the Nielsen family of Arnolds Park. This huge complex consists of a hotel, 3 condo buildings (a 4th is under construction), and over 100 vacation cabins. A popular part of the resort is the indoor waterpark that cabin and condo owners have access to, but also, so does the public for a fee. Braccos is a fantastic summertime restaurant and bar which is frequented by boat, by car, and by foot, especially from the owners of the condos and cabins. All of the units at Bridges Bay have an opportunity for a boat hoist, and it is an extremely popular destination for out of towners looking for a vacation spot in Okoboji. Because Bridges Bay is not within the city limits, many owners utilize property management companies to help them rent their units by the day, week, and month. I've personally sold and shown many condo and cabin units and would be delighted to help.

Remington's in Okoboji has great appetizers, salads, sandwiches, steak and much more. Remington's also has daily lunch and dinner specials. Happy Hour Mon - Fri 4pm - 6pm with free popcorn. Saturday is "Game Day" 11am - 4pm with drink and appetizer specials. Lunch and dinner reservations are taken, along with large group reservations with seating up to 150 people. Remington's offers a semi-private dining room that seats 50 people.

My local expertise, experience in other markets, combined with the power and influence of RE/MAX, enables me to help achieve all your objectives in your home purchase or sale. Call me, Lynn Thompson to discuss today's Real Estate opportunities.

Jimmy John's slices our all-natural meats and fresh veggies in-house every day. Our fresh-baked bread is made right here where you can see it, and our house-made tuna salad is fresh every day. The flavor of a ripe tomato, crisp shredded lettuce, combined with fresh-baked bread, fresh-sliced meat and real Hellmann's mayo - that's when the magic happens. Made with love every single day since 1983. That's Jimmy Fresh!

Here's the scenario. You are building a house or remodeling your house. Material costs are up. Labor costs are up. You ask yourself, where can I save a buck? Before answering this question, you must be careful, especially if your home is located in an area where other quality homes are built, whether on the lake, off the lake, or in higher valued developments such as golf course developments, etc. Growing up in construction and with a plethora of new construction and remodels under my belt, let me share with you some of the easy things that your future buyers will recognize when they are looking for quality.
1. One of the first things buyers of higher end homes will look for is to determine if the owner used hollow core doors. It's an immediate sign that the seller was looking for ways to save money (where else then did they cut back that I can't see???)
2. The second most obvious is the counter tops. Did the sellers spend for a quality granite, quartz, or other hard surface, or was formica used?
3. The third item that might stick out is the cabinetry. Do the drawers have dovetail construction with hardwoods? Did they use "soft close" drawers? Are there pull outs for the pots and pans?
4. Flooring is an easy one also. Was laminate used, or is it engineered or hardwoods? Does the carpet convey a quality feel and plushness? Is there a nice thick pad underneath the carpet?
5. Though there are many other items to look at, cheap vs quality lighting and plumbing fixtures are probably the next major focus.

There is nothing wrong with with using lower cost materials, especially when trying to keep a project within budget, especially when trying to build more house for less money. Just be aware that most buyers looking to spend in excess of $300k for off lake homes and $500+ for East Lake chain homes, and $1M+ for West and Big Spirit will expect the very best materials and finishes.

Emerald Hills Golf Course is one of the premier golf courses in the Iowa Great Lakes. Golfers throughout Okoboji will tell you that compared to the rest of the golf courses around, Emerald Hills is probably the most challenging. When I grew up as a kid, we lived just a half block from the back side of the course. We would sneak on with a couple short little clubs and balls we found walking the course and sometimes spent more time being chased by the sprinklers than trying to hit golf balls. Emerald Hills was owned by Gordy and Bette Benit many years ago and they can be credited with growing this course into the masterpiece it has become. Later purchased by Randy Rohlfsen and a few others, Emerald has flourished as one of the best courses around. If memory serves me right, Randy has been there since the early 1990's and has always had a strong conviction to help young golfers. He has taught and coached numerous high school teams, and they also put on a 5 day junior camp every year which has been a tremendous hit. I grew up on this course and can honestly say, you better be hitting the ball straight!

Ruthven Meat Locker is a local family owned business. Ruthven Locker at the Lakes is their 2nd retail store (with the original Meat Processing plant being a staple in the small town of Ruthven, Iowa). They are a full service meat shop providing their customers with excellent high quality cuts of beef & pork. Also provided are smoked meat snacks which they make right on site in Ruthven. Sure to please even the pickiest of palates! Ruthven Meat Locker prides themselves on promoting other local small businesses by selling them in our Spirit Lake store. You find everything from fine wood pieces to local honey, microgreens, baked goods, and delicious cheesecake. The Butcher’s Wife is always available to answer your questions and take special orders. Come on in and you’ll soon see that the rumors are true!

Talk about a fun place to shop--this is one of the best! The owners and staff (including Britt, the furniture dog) are so personable and welcoming that you'll find yourself hanging out in their store because it's so much like home (or what you'd like your home to be)! They have great furniture, rugs, lighting to fit any budget. They also sell vintage pieces which don't last long in the store! And plants, yes, they even have plants! Plan to spend some time when you come here because there's so much to see! Located at 3520 Hwy 71 South, Spirit Lake or go to midwestmodernfurniture.com.

Snook’s of Okoboji started primarily as a retail flooring store. After a transfer of ownership, the new owner, Bill Adams, has transformed our store into a one-stop home store. We now not only retail flooring, but also offer a wide selection of furniture, bedding, window treatments, decor and outdoor living. With the ability to purchase from the floor or order custom, we’ll make sure you get what you’re looking for to suit your space. Let our family help your’s.
Stop by today or shop online at snooksofokoboji.com.

The Waterfront has been a really great addition to the Iowa Great Lakes. Located on the Bridges Bay campus, it is easy to find by car or boat. Streak, seafood, pasta, crepes, pizza and numerous delicious sides on the shores of East Lake will have you always coming back for more. Also try their Sunday brunch, it will not disappoint.

Where muscles burn, skin sweats and community happens!
The District is a boutique fitness studio offering classes including indoor cycling, TRX® and more. The District strives to create community while encouraging and motivating all levels of fitness. Whether you're looking to PR your next race or just coming to workout with your friend, consider The District in your daily routine.