The Okoboji Project
The Iowa Great Lakes story is a vibrant quilt woven from the threads of American history: railroad tycoons and boat builders, the U.S.-Dakota War, every beat of American music culture, evolutions in biology, and countless summer memories.
Episodes
The house on Givens Point everyone has a theory about.
Explore photos of the folks who have called the Chateau home, photos of the cottage's current interior, and lots of historic Des Moines Beach photos on our blog.
Support The Okoboji Project with a one-time contribution or become a monthly supporter at okobojiproject.com — monthly supporters are thanked by name in every episode.
Grab an Okoboji Project hat in our new shop &md...
The family who built Arnolds Park and the surprising path across the country that led them here.
Explore portraits of the Arnold family, original land deeds, and shots the Arnold family home evolving decade by decade on our blog.
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An old airplane hangar, a dairy farmer, and a women's college from Missouri.
Explore every decade of OST's history, pre-theatre airplane hangar shots, and more on our blog.
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Visit The Okoboji Summer Theatre
Explore Stephens College
Thank you to Gary and Joleen Koch for sponsoring this episode!
Guests: Rob...
Put on your American flag t-shirts and bell bottoms! We're setting the clock to July 1976 to see how Okoboji celebrated the bicentennial summer.
Explore Dickinson County’s wild bicentennial history on our website with photos from the Spirit Lake parade, wild commemorative merch, and videos from the national celebration on our blog.
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Before the bike trails, there were the railroads. The story of the lines that brought Gilded Age battles, built towns overnight, and connected the Iowa Great Lakes to the rest of the world.
Explore every depot in Dickinson County, decades of railroad maps, and how the railroads are still visible in the Iowa Great Lakes on our blog.
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We'll pick you up at the train station, old sport!
Explore photos from Arnolds Park, Prohibition in Okoboji and these incredible party destinations on our blog.
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Explore The Dickinson County Museum and support their incredible work.
Guests: Cole Clawson, Director of The Dickinson County Museum
Jonat...
In Okoboji, romance is always in the air. For five couples, it’s where something lasting began.
Check out heart-melting shots from our guest's photo albums on our blog -- and some bonus pictures of backdrops from these beautiful love stories.
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Thank you to Bank Midwest for sponsoring this episode...
From homemade skis to world championships, we trace the homegrown history of wake sports in Okoboji -- and the lake rats who made it legendary.
Check out more videos, maps, and illustrations about The Iowa Great Lakes' glacial history on our blog.
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The Iowa Great Lakes region: shaped by ice, studied for over a century... and still revealing new discoveries.
Check out more videos, maps, and illustrations about The Iowa Great Lakes' glacial history on our blog.
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Explore incredible resources and community events at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Or l...
In northwest Iowa, The Flood of ’93 left more than damage. In 2024, those lessons rose with the water.
Watch The Sandbag Summer and explore more stories on our blog.
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Donate to Spencer's Flood Relief Disaster Fund.
Launched by the Spencer Chamber Foundation, this fund supports local organizations ...
The Queen isn’t a monarch—she’s a boat. A moving landmark, carrying the spirit of Okoboji. But her story is anything but smooth sailing.
Explore more stories from The Queen and The Queen II on our blog.
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Get your tickets to ride The Queen II this summer. And make plans to stop by the ...
The Loon Lake Cemetery was active for just fifty years, but a single myth reshaped its memory. We trace the records, names, and lives behind the legend.
Explore more stories from The Loon Lake Cemetery on our blog.
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Visit The Jackson County Historical Society in Lakefield, Minnesota. And consider makin...
What do bike trails, an art center, and (several!) clean water projects have in common? A group of locals who rolled up their sleeves four decades ago.
Explore some of our favorite community projects supported by the Foundation on our blog.
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Love Okoboji? So do we. Visit The Okoboji Foundation’s ...
For over a century, one lakeside store has stood at the crossroads of East and West Lake Okoboji. In this episode, we trace the history of The Okoboji Store, the families whose stories are built into its walls, and what it reveals about how this place has changed—and what’s stayed the same.
Explore photos from every era of The Okoboji Store on our blog.
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How did a community of fewer than 20,000 residents build an art center that feels like it belongs in a big city? The Pearson Lakes Art Center's history is a testament to Okoboji's deep creative spirit.
Explore the artists and people intertwined with the Pearson Lakes Art Center's history on our blog.
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Pick up your copy of Jonathan's book at The ...
The biggest question... WHEN IS SEASON 2 COMING? We got answers to that and plenty more!
+ Support us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.
+ Explore our website.
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Guests: Co-Creators Ryan Maris + Emma Myhre
Hop in the Chevy! We're taking you to the hottest spots in town for our season finale!
Meet the whole cast of characters and explore these incredible party destinations on our blog.
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Guests: Bob Boettcher and Don Gregerson
Six weeks. $7 million. How did a small Iowa community save one of the country's oldest amusement parks?
Explore news coverage of Save the Park's thrilling story, plus Sue's iconic photo, on our blog.
Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.
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Guests: Sue Richter, The Three Sons
Toby Shine, Okoboji ...
Stories, memories, and milestones from the first 100 years of Arnolds Park.
Visit every era of Arnolds Park's history with photos on our blog.
Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.
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Guests: Toby Shine, Okoboji Classic Cars
From transit to competition, sailing has always been a favorite way to experience The Iowa Great Lakes.
Dive deeper into Okoboji's nautical history from every decade on our blog.
Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.
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Guests: Steve Avery, C Scow Sailor and Lawyer
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