Storm Lake looks at 28-million dollar lake project

Storm Lake leaders are proposing a 28-million dollar lakefront project with hopes of making the northwest Iowa community a tourist destination. City administrator John Call says the project is made up of several components. The proposal includes a 95-room lodge, an indoor/outdoor aquatic park, an expanded campground, an excursion boat, a lighthouse, a fountain and a public beach. A new housing addition near the municipal golf course is also included in the plans. Call says they hope to get some state funding to help finance the project. Call says the Vision Iowa application will be sent to the state by the end of January. Without Vision Iowa, the city and Storm Lake Area Development Corporation would have to come up with funding for the aquatic center and lodge. He says the goal is to attract more visitors to Storm Lake. He says in recent years they haven’t capitalized enough on the tourism dollar. It’s just a proposal right now, but Storm Lake officials hope to get the project moving within the next two or three years.