Plans are complete for a new lodge and aquatic park in northwestern Iowa, part of a major economic development project along the shores of Storm Lake dubbed “AWAY-sis.” Mike Wilson, director of Project Awaysis says the lodge will have 80 hotel rooms. Wilson says there’s a conference center that’ll be able to handle events with 300 people. The restaurant will be built on three levels, to give everyone a view of the lake, and can seat 175 inside, another 50 to 75 on an outdoor patio. And a couple of board rooms will be able to hold about sixteen people. The aquatic center will include a big pool, several slides, and an outdoor “lazy river” that runs around it… features that Wilson says set it apart from most city waterparks.
Wilson says bids will be taken during the next two months, and construction should begin in April. The Awaysis project also includes a new public beach, a lighthouse, a renovated golf course, and condos. The project will be funded through a variety of sources including eight-million dollars in state funds, donations, and bonds to be paid back through revenues from the planned 80-room lodge.