The Great Lakes's more quiet and less crowded option in Lake Park
In the Iowa Great Lakes region, most towns crowd between Big Spirit Lake and the Okoboji lakes, attracting permanent residents and vacationers alike. Meanwhile, at Silver Lake, the Lake Park community puts some distance between itself and other lakeside towns. The area attracts summer vacationers, but Lake Park is home to more permanent residents than some of its neighbors. “The lake is a bit quieter and a bit less crowded,” says broker Michael Jensen with Jensen Real Estate. “There’s outdoor areas where you can fish and camp. They have a nice golf course.” Market Street in town has local restaurants and a grocery store, plus locals aren’t far from Spirit Lake for additional amenities.
Lake Park's homes around town and along the lakefront
Lake Park homes split between two distinct areas: in town and along the lake. In town, Nationals, cottages and ranch-style homes sit along streets lined with narrow sidewalks and old-growth trees. Homes on the northern side of town range from $40,000 to $160,000, while those closer to the lake sell between $145,000 and $400,000. The lakefront offers a mix of ranch-style homes and custom builds on long driveways. Some residents can walk out to private docks, and those in communities like West Bay Estates can walk to the golf course. Lakefront homes can range from $400,000 to $900,000, with newer and larger builds on the higher end of the spectrum.
Boating, fishing and golfing along Silver Lake
While Silver Lake might be quieter than other nearby Iakes, there is still plenty to do. Year-round fishing is popular, and three ramps around the lake offer water access for those without a private dock. Silver Lake City Park also has a disc golf course, a playground and athletic courts, and Silver Lake Country Club has a full course open to the public. Lake Park Municipal Pool is open during the summer.
Downtown's bars, pubs and locally owned grocery store
Gunderson’s Restaurant serves burgers and steaks, and Johnny’s Pub across the street offers drinks and pizzas. Carstensen’s Meat and Grocery is a locally owned and fully functioning grocery store. “Most people do go to Spirit Lake for groceries, but it’s nice that they have a grocery store,” Jensen says. “You can get what you need, but you’re just 11 miles away from the Walmart.”
Connecting to the rest of the Iowa Great Lakes region
Market Street runs through the center of the community with Lake Park’s local shops and restaurants. Highway 9 connects the town with the rest of the region, including Spirit Lake, about 13 miles away. Lakes Regional Healthcare is in Spirit Lake, 12 miles from Lake Park.
Lake Park's public schools and ongoing construction and renovations
Harris-Lake Park Elementary School receives a B-minus from Niche, followed by Harris-Lake Park Middle School/High School, which serves sixth through twelfth graders and receives an A-minus. The district recently received $18.6 million to renovate and upgrade the schools, including more fields and a new gym for the elementary school.
Summer festivals and monthly winter snowmobiling groups
For 40 years, Lake Park has hosted the annual Farmers Appreciation Days for a weekend in early August. A parade heads down Market Street, but there are also vendor markets, beer gardens and pickleball tournaments, all culminating in the bonfire. This region of Iowa can get significant snow in the winter, but residents make the most of it through organizations like the SnowHawks, a local snowmobiling group. Members meet once a month to catch up, plan outings and head out into 100 miles of snowmobile trails that they also help maintain.
Written By
Caroline Ernst
