Spirit of Okoboji

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Okoboji, IA
Spirit of Okoboji

Making lives better by creating and fostering opportunities the Iowa Great Lakes region offers to res

11/03/2026

Every OkoboTree sculpture starts with one question, is this tree ready? That's where Craig Wilson comes in. As our resident arborist, he makes sure every tree is structurally sound before it becomes a work of art.

Thank you for your expertise, Craig! 🌳

11/01/2026

You don't have to own a boat to enjoy the lakes." That's Erin Reed's philosophy, and as Executive Director of the Dickinson County Trails Board, she's made sure of it, overseeing 55 miles of trails used by hundreds of thousands of people every year. She's also on the OkoboTree board, helping weave art right into the paths we walk and bike every day.

Thank you, Erin! 🚲

10/30/2026

"Every sculpture starts with a tree, but it ends with a story." That's Carrie Meyer, Creative Director of OkoboTree , and she means it. From coordinating with homeowners to working alongside our artists, Carrie makes sure every sculpture has heart. Thank you, Carrie! Which OkoboTree sculpture is your favorite?

10/28/2026

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Kevin Mason as Spirit of Okoboji’s Museum Development and Public History Advisor, supporting the Friends of The Abbie Gardner Cabin Historic Site.

Few people know this story as deeply. Dr. Mason’s research has focused on Inkpaduta, Abbie Gardner Sharp, and the events of 1857 at Spirit Lake, and his article “Inkpaduta in Iowa: Dakota Decline, Dispossession, and Erasure” received the State Historical Society of Iowa’s 2022 Mildred Throne–Charles Aldrich Award for academic history.

He is the author of Retracing the Dragoon Trail in Iowa (Michigan State University Press), has served with the State Historical Society of Iowa Board of Trustees, Preservation Iowa, Wright on the Park, and the Winnebago Historical Society, and created Notes on Iowa, which shares Iowa history with more than 3 million people each week.

We’re excited for what this means for the Abbie Gardner Cabin and for sharing the Iowa Great Lakes’ history with future generations.

10/27/2026

Thanks to Kathy Fahy's leadership as OkoboTree's board chair, we've got a growing outdoor art gallery turning storm-damaged and dying trees into stunning sculptures across the lakes area. Thank you, Kathy, for seeing the beauty in something most people would just cut down and haul away and for your dedication as a board member with Spirit of Okoboji .

10/25/2026

From New York City museums to curating the Higgins Museum right here in Okoboji, George Cuhaj brings serious expertise to preserving our region's banking history. If you haven't stopped by to see the largest collection of National Bank Notes in the country, now's your sign.

Thank you, George

10/24/2026

Mary Dreier had no idea this was coming.

At the Iowa Museum Association’s annual conference at Reiman Gardens in Ames this week, we surprised Mary with a $100,000 gift to the Lakes Area Museum Alliance.

LAMA connects thirteen museums across Dickinson County. Mary has spent the last few years helping those museums work as one and her reaction says a lot about who she is.

This gift is an investment in those thirteen museums, the volunteers and staff who keep them open, and everyone who comes to the Lakes looking for the stories behind the place.

Thank you, Mary. We can’t wait to see what LAMA does next.

10/23/2026

Did you know there's a full 1928 Wi******er Store hiding in Spirit Lake? Jane Kruse and her husband David have preserved this incredible piece of history right on their own property, and they generously open it up for tours. Have you been on a tour yet?

Thank you, Jane, for keeping this story alive and as the Vice President of Lakes Area Museum Alliance!

10/22/2026

Swipe for a peek behind the scenes! 👉

Our Spirit of Okoboji team, including CEO Rich Heruska, joined Mary Dreier and the Lakes Area Museum Alliance crew at the Iowa Museum Association State Conference in Ames this week. Between the sessions, a big surprise and a whole lot of laughs, it was a week to remember.

We love working alongside people who are this passionate about sharing the history of the Okoboji region. 💙

10/21/2026

We think we actually pulled it off. We surprised Mary Dreier! 😄 Anyone who knows Mary knows that's no small feat.

We're so proud to support the Lakes Area Museum Alliance, and grateful to all of our area museums and the leaders and volunteers who keep the stories of the Iowa Great Lakes alive. Thank you for everything you do. 💙

Address

PO Box 105
Okoboji, IA
51355

Telephone

+17123182989

Website

http://www.spiritofokoboji.org/

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