The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-08-04
BEAUTIFUL LAKE OkOBOJI
Whichs Tells of the South Dakota Press Assocfa.
tion's Visit to Iowa's Charminq Lake Resort

| Soou Heat C4u Ue uad dU any OF the
hotels for fifty centA Clubs are torm-
ed among the coetsxes and all meals
taken at one central place on the
cooperative plan. The first view OF
cottage life is not inviting. There is
an instant comparison IN the mind
with the cozy and comfortable home
lett behind. But this soon wears of
when ono notes the hundreds OF
wealthy families living and enjoying
life in cheap frame building such as
they would use for hen house at
home.
-Four splendid hotels add to the
conveniences of Okoboji lake, the
Park at Arnold's, the Okoboji owned
and managed by the c. NJ. s. St. Paul
company, the Manhattan directly
across the lake from Arnold's, and the
Inn, half way between. All four have
large and nicely finished dancing
pavillonS in connection and every
night in the week a hop takes place at
one or the other of them with a first
class orchestra in attendance-and
there is never wanting a crowd. The
summer dwellers along the shores of
the lake go by launch or steamer to
the evening hops and a boat always
leaves promptly at midnight for all
points on the lake to take them back
again. There is very little formality
about these evening hops: young fel.
lows wade into the two-steps sans
coats as we'll as hats and the young
women come in their dainty afternoon
gowns, sleeves rolled to the elbow,
while pater takes the madame and
shows the coming generation that
they are not the only pebbles on the
beach when it comes to tripping the
light fantastic.
Fact OF the matter is: Okoboji is
truly western. 1t is patroniZed by the
great middle and wealthier class of
1owas best citizens, with good
sprinkllng Of South Dakota, Mime
sofa and Nebraska families. There is
a total absence OF Goldfish aristocracy
and any vuglar display of the coin of
the realm is conspicous only by it's
absence. 1t is safe to say that fully
one-half of the cottagers are people of
moderate means. They have found
that month or six weeks outing at
the lake is worth all it's costs and
more, too, and that they have only
one life to live they might as we'll use
a little of their income or earnings in
an annual vacation.
lE the long evening twilight the
lake makes and animated scene. 1t is
then that everybody forsakes their
cottage and seeks the lake, either for
row. sail, spin in the public or
| private gasoline launches or upon one
OF the roomy passenger boats, or dons
bathing suit for dip in the clear
and refreshing waters. To the idle
lookcron, reposing upon q comfortable
Seat, the scene is fully as enjoyable as
though an active participant in any
of the many diversions, ana long after
the sparkling, slzZing electric lights,
lining the shores and steamboat land
ings, have cast their shadows through
the shades OF perfect summer night
there isa reluctance to quit the scene
even tnongh it be to court Il drcamlcss
and health-giying sleep.
1t was at such Il spot and amid such
embracing surroundings that the
South Dakota Press association passed
a most delightful week beginning
July 20. OF the details little need
be said. 1t is enough to say that Sec
rotary Cogan had perfected every ar
rangement and was there in person to
see that there was no hitch. So well
pleased were tho members of the as
ISOLATION and their wives and children
Tor respective wives and children, we
should saY) that there was an unani-
nous demand for repetition next
year at the same spot. The associa-
tion was quartered at the Park hotel
and splendldly cared for under the
management OF Landlord Edwards
and his accommodating clerk, Frank
Lucas, who formerly liyed Gannyalley-
ward and now has his home at Charles
City. To those who want to see what
the lake is like, week at this hotel
will bring much JOY and comfort. The
association put in the first day by
chartering the steamer Okoboji for a
trip through the cham of lakes to
within five minutes walk of Spirit
lake, separated from the othor lakes
| by a narrow ishmus. The G.. NJ. & st.
Paul railway crosses the lakes where
east Okoboji and west Okoboji join
and which is snanned by draw
brigc. The west lake is shallowcr and
It's shores deserted 70 far as cottagers
count Spirit Lake has many dwellers
about its shores, but tine surroundings
are not as inviting and picturesque as
west Okoboji.