A growing number of travelers are ready to dive into all Storm Lake has to offer.

  The community’s attractions and events enjoyed a healthy summer season in 2025.

  “Many families are discovering Storm Lake for the first time, or they are remembering visiting as a child and want to recapture that experience,” says Amy Von Bank, general manager of King’s Pointe Resort.

  The numbers reflect the community’s drawing power.

  In the 98-days summer season from Memorial Day to Labor Day:

• The community-owned resort King’s Pointe recorded 7,266 room-nights occupancy, up from 5,783 in 2024. Several summer weekends were sold-out well in advance. Multiple weddings were hosted, as well as large convention events that at times nearly filled King’s Pointe’s capacity.
• The outdoor waterpark saw 34,664 adventurous guests (an actual turnstile number would be higher, since season pass holders are only counted once in the figure.) Attendance is up approximately 4,800 from 2024.
• Sunrise Pointe Golf Course recorded nearly 8,500 rounds of play, up 450 from 2024 (member play is not fully reflected in the figure). Membership was up 25 from a year ago, to 228.
• The Sunrise Park cottages were also popular, with 260 rental nights from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Sunrise Pointe Campground also logged a busy summer, with 154 staffed camping days for the season. Visitors from the local area and all of the surrounding states set up camp, and the site was filled for weekends and all three summer holidays.

  “What we hear all the time is that people enjoy the laid-back pace here in Storm Lake. Access is easy to the lake and the parks along the shoreline. It has all the amenities, but at the same time is not overly crowded and a person can get a boat in the water easily,” Von Bank reflected on Storm Lake’s appeal. “People appreciate the opportunity to unplug and unwind.”

  Families especially connect with Storm Lake, she feels. “They are able to enjoy the beautiful parks, the newly-renovated waterpark, the trails around the lake, unique shops and restaurants, and all of the other amenities. It’s exciting to see kids learning to fish, or just exploring,” she added.

  The events in the community, as well as the sports and activities at BVU add to the number of people discovering the community throughout the year. “We see people coming to the resort for a business event, and telling us they can’t wait to come back to Storm Lake with their families,” the GM said.

  The chief attraction is the summer outdoor recreation that the community offers in many forms, Von Bank believes. “Then the lighthouses, the culture, and the friendly community just make the visit that much more memorable.”

  Kim Woltman, who oversees the city’s campground, agrees. “We see a lot of families coming to camp who enjoy the new playgrounds, attend the waterpark, hike or bike the LakeTrail, and enjoy shore or boat fishing. People don’t want to travel just to see things, they want to do things.”

  The summer events for 2025 also proved successful; including Kids’ Fest in June; the Star Spangled Spectacular in July; Storm the Lake Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon; Wood, Wine & Blues festival; and Storm the Lake car show in August, among others.

  There’s already a strong demand to book summer travel for 2026, according to King’s Pointe, winner of the Iowa Tourism Outstanding Lodging Property award. Rates for next summer will be released in mid-January.

  According to the most recent State of the American Traveler poll, travel remains a top priority for 60 percent of American families. Over 85 percent of those responding have at least one leisure trip planned for 2026.

  With a degree of uncertainty over economic conditions, some are planning to travel closer to home, yet the average of poll participants has remained steady - an expectation for 3.8 leisure trips in the coming 12 months.

  For King’s Pointe, Storm Lake sells itself – it’s a matter of getting the message to an ever-wider potential audience.

  “We’ve just arranged to feature the waterpark in the previews at several movie theaters,” Von Bank said. “We’re using lots of different ways to get the word out there on all the things Storm Lake has to experience.”