Shows
The Okoboji ProjectWake SportsFrom 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Follow Tyler on Instagram and TikTok. Follow Mia on Performance Stand Up Paddle and Vail Mountain Bike Camps.Guest: Tyler Stewart, Pro Wake Surfer2025-07-0925 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Life of the LakesThe 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Explore incredible resources and community events at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. Or learn how to get involved with CLAMP!Read a preview of The Iowa Great Lakes Water Diagnostic Study from t...2025-06-2525 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Flood of '93In 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Donate to Spencer's Flood Relief Disaster Fund.Launched by the Spencer Chamber Foundation, this fund supports local organizations helping the community recover, providing emergency housing, cleanup, repairs, and more. Your donation goes directly where it’s needed most.2025-06-1126 minThe Okoboji ProjectHer Majesty, The QueenThe 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Get your tickets to ride The Queen II this summer. And make plans to stop by the Maritime Museum in Arnolds Park to soak up even more of this incred...2025-05-2829 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Legend of The Loon Lake CemeteryThe 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Visit The Jackson County Historical Society in Lakefield, Minnesota. And consider making a gift to power their outstanding programs and scholarships.Guests: Nick Riordan, Director of The Jackson...2025-05-1425 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Okoboji FoundationWhat 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.Follow The Okoboji Project on Instagram and FacebookSign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Love Okoboji? So do we. Visit The Okoboji Foundation’s website and follow them on Facebook to see how locals and lake lovers are making a difference—toge...2025-04-3033 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Okoboji StoreFor 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.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Visit The Okoboji Store this summer! And follow them on Instagram and Face...2025-04-1642 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Pearson Lakes Art CenterHow 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.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Pick up your copy of Jonathan's book at The Little Red Gift Gallery!Plan your visit to the Pearson Lakes Art Center and explore classes...2025-04-0452 minThe Okoboji ProjectYour Questions, Answered + MAJOR Okoboji Project Updates!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.+ Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Co-Creators Ryan Maris + Emma Myhre2024-09-1322 minThe Okoboji ProjectA Night Out in 1952Hop 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.Support us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Bob Boettcher and Don Gregerson2024-07-0316 minThe Okoboji ProjectSaving Arnolds Park: Part 2Six 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.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Sue Richter, The Three SonsToby Shine, Okoboji Classic CarsJohn Paulsey, CEO of Arnolds Park Amusement ParkRebecca Peters, Local Music Historian2024-06-2620 minThe Okoboji ProjectBuilding Arnolds Park: Part 1Stories, 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.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Toby Shine, Okoboji Classic Cars2024-06-1918 minThe Okoboji ProjectLet's Set Sail!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.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Steve Avery, C Scow Sailor and Lawyer2024-06-1220 minThe Okoboji ProjectCamp FosterHow one of the Midwest’s oldest summer camps keeps the flame of tradition alive and fosters growth in every camper.Explore decades of summer fun with Camp Foster's rich history. Also, please consider donating to Camp Foster to support their incredible work.Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Andrew Fisher, CEO of the Bedell Family YMCAJosh Carr, Director of Camp Foster2024-06-0529 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Lakeside Laboratory120 years later, it's a museum, a public park, and a groundbreaking laboratory.Explore how The Lakeside Laboratory evolved over its history, from the first photos of the lab to contemporary walking guides. Also, please consider donating to Friends of The Lakeside Lab to support their incredible work.Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Dr. Mary Skopec, Executive Director of The Iowa Lakeside LaboratorySue Richter, Director Emeritus of Friends of...2024-05-2928 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe Roof GardenLouis Armstrong. Johnny Cash. The Beach Boys. The Roof Garden hosted decades of chart-toppers on the shores of West Lake Okoboji -- and inspired generations of musicians. Explore more photos and stories about The Roof Garden on our website. You can also find our curated Roof Garden playlist on Spotify!Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: Tom Tourville, Local Music Historian and WriterRebecca Peters, Local Music Historian and Writer2024-05-2228 minThe Okoboji ProjectInkpaduta, Abbie, and The Spirit Lake MassacreDiscover the true story behind The Spirit Lake Massacre as two historians share accounts from those who lived through it.Buy Dr. Beck's book, Inkpaduta: Dakota Leader, on Amazon and Birchbark Books in Minneapolis.Explore more photos and stories about The Gardner Cabin, one of Iowa's first tourist sites, on our website. And sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Guests: Dr. Paul Beck, History Professor at Wisconsin Lutheran CollegeMary Dreier...2024-05-1545 minThe Okoboji ProjectWhat's The Catch of The Day?True stories (and tall tales!) from thousands of years of Okoboji fishing.Explore more photos and stories from Okoboji's epic fishing history on our website.Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project!Guests: John Grovesnor, Professional Fishing GuideMary Dreier, Director of The Dickinson County MuseumClark Lingbeek, Owner of Lost Gar and Paddlefish BarBlain Andera, CEO of The Iowa Great Lakes Chamber of Commerce2024-05-0826 minThe Okoboji ProjectThe University of OkobojiHow a mythical university brought a community together… and funded essential services for The Iowa Great Lakes.Explore more photos and stories from The University of Okoboji on our website.Supporting us on Patreon to hear bonus Okoboji Project stories.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and never miss an episode of The Okoboji Project! Guests: Emil Richter and Matt Richter from The Three Sons.Follow updates from the store that started it all on Facebook and Instagram.2024-05-0125 minThe Okoboji ProjectWelcome to The Okoboji Project!Why do hundreds of thousands of people flock to a little town in northwest Iowa every summer? The Okoboji Project sits down with historians, story-ellers, and local legends to uncover the rich history of The Iowa Great Lakes.Subscribe to The Okoboji Project newsletter to see bonus content from Okoboji's storied history.2024-04-1801 min