(Arnolds Park)– A piece of history in the Iowa Great Lakes will soon be preserved at a local golf course.
The historic iron-framed swing bridge that was at the grade between East and West Lakes Okoboji back in the early 1900’s is being incorporated with a project at Emerald Hills Golf Course. Nick Christensen of Emerald Hills says it was donated to them by the late Butch Parks…
“Butch acquired a bridge that actually has some major history in the area and it sat back behind Snappers for many, many years and we needed a bridge for one of our two holes so I called Butch and said hey, do you want 60 more parking spots in the back? And he said yeah. What are ‘ya thinking? And he said what about that bridge? He goes if you come get it, you can have it. And what’s crazy about that bridge is, I believe it’s Mary at the museum, went out and looked at and said it’s not just any bridge, it is the swing bridge that connected east and west lake. This bridge was missing. We found it and we are so thrilled to get that refurbished and we’re going to place it on our new hole three and we’ll do a commemorative plaque out there with a little history on it. We’re thrilled to keep a piece of history like that in the great lakes area.”
He says the bridge is currently undergoing some restoration…
“It’s up in Windom right now, it’s going to get transported and probably installed here in August. They just cleaned it up pretty much, got rid of the old wood. Drew Hage of Spirit of Okoboji found some other wood that we’re going to use on it, solid, needs cleaning, but gosh, it’s going to be cool once it’s out there.”
Christensen added they’re very grateful to Parks Marina for allowing them to have the bridge.
