(Arnolds Park)– Even more changes have been made to this year’s University of Okoboji Winter Games.
Due to unsafe ice conditions, officials with the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce announced late this (Tues.) afternoon most of the events have now been moved to land. Some have been cancelled altogether.
Co-Chair Abby Larson says the events that have been moved off the ice are those that draw huge numbers of people. Those events are snowball softball, which will be played at the Milford Memorial Softball Complex; and the Lakes Area Hockey Shoot-Out to be held at the YMCA in Spirit Lake. Broomball has been moved to Cenla Campground south of Spirit Lake.
Children’s kite flying, bowling and mini-golf will be at Okoboji Boat Works, with the Snowmobile Radar Run at Parks Marina.
Spas on Ice and the Polar Bear Plunge will be located at Mau Marine.
The golf ball driving contest and children’s ice fishing have been cancelled.
The Ritz Flag Football and the OHV/ATV Ice Challenge will be held at locations that have yet to be determined.
All other events will go on as scheduled.
It had been announced earlier that all Winter Games activities were being moved to East Lake Okoboji, but officials are concerned the ice there will also deteriorate before the weekend with temperatures in the 40’s expected.
Designated parking areas include Emerald Hills Golf Club, the Arnolds Park Amusement Park parking lot and the Parks Marina lot west of Ranch 66 in Okoboji. RIDES will provide a shuttle service to and from each location for 75 cents a person.
