VENICE OF OKOBOJI

VENICE OF OKOBOJI

BY R. AUBREY LA FOY

The Iowa Great Lakes have attracted many dreamers. People who visualized and developed elaborate plans and projects designed to entertain, house, provide food and recreation for lake tourists and residents. It was so in the late 1800s and early 1900s and it has continued today. Rumors of new enterprises are always discussed over coffee or drink or two. Many of the early ventures are still around but many have disappeared, faded or forgotten.

One of the most elaborate dreams to bloom and fade was the Lakewood Park. Few people realize the area between Emerson and Millers Bay is laced with canals, lagoons and little ponds. Some of the canals and lagoons are explored and used in the summer but snowmobilers have discovered them and it is wonderful to travel between the two bays skimming the frozen canals. Ice skaters have used the canals for years.

John A. Beck of Fairfield, Iowa was one of our early dreamers and developers. Lakewood Park was to be the American Venice where gondolas were to glide on calm waters. There were to be lagoons, islands, waterways, rustic bridges, soft music and moonlight nights on the canals. A Dutch windmill was to be built with a reading room in the tower. The area encompassed over 1000 acres.

In late September 1911 a dredge was brought here from Royal Center, Indiana by train. Mr. E. B. Thomas was contracted to dredge and carve a canal system in 300 acres of land between Emerson and Millers Bay. The floating dredge weighted 100 tons and was 72 feet long and 16 feet wide and had the capacity of dredging 2.000 cubic yards per day. It was powered by steam and had its own electric system so was used at night.

Five openings to Lake West Okoboji were shoveled out: one north of Eagle Point, one south of Gull Point, two into Emerson Bay and one into Millers Bay. The one south of Gull Pont has been filled in and cottages have been built on the fill but the rest of the openings can be found. Three are used but the one that enters Little Emerson Bay is there but sort of hidden.

The project cost in the neighborhood of $20,000. Lakewood was plotted into 500 lots. Many of the early buyers were from Fairfield, Iowa. In 1914 Mr. Beck built Crescent Beach Hotel. He also built The Inn and a hacienda on Hi-Point. The hotel took its name from the crescent shaped beach between breezy Point and Eagle Point.

Early steamboats docked at the hotel and people came by train to Arnolds Park and then go to their cottages by boat. During the summer they rode the steamboats to Arnolds Park or Okoboji to get supplies. The road on the west side of Lake West Okoboji was not very good but Highway 86 is another story.

J. A. Beck was a well known figure in the area because he rode a fine horse and wore a long white coat while overseeing the Lakewood Project. It was reported that Mr. & Mrs. Beck were a “handsome pair.” Mr. Beck passed away in 1931.

In 1968 Jerry Enderson bought the property south of the Millers Bay store. He hired Syndergaard Excavation and later Wedeking Construction to complete the canals that are there today. Several years ago the Town of Wahpeton replaced the bridge over the canal that flows into Miller Bay.

Mr. Beck was a dreamer and although his vision of gondolas and quiet rides on canal never materialized. The canals were built and are utilized to this day. He built for the future!