Lake Okoboji Resort & Conference Center — Hotel in Okoboji

Brides beware!!! 1 star is too good for this place! My son and daughter in-laws wedding reception was June 28th 2025. This location ruined there reception! We arrived at 5pm and the event room was 85 and climbing. We asked if the ac was on or broke and we were told it's a metal building this is the best that it gets, we asked if they had fan to at least move the air and we were told they did but they couldn't find them. Guest left before they were able to eat because they were so hot. Most of the other guest left right after they ate. No one was left to watch there first dance as Mr. & Mrs, cutting the cake and all the other things that you do on your big day! I called first thing Monday morning to see what the issue was with the hall and was bounced from person to person and told the lady in charge would get right back to me when she got in. I called Tuesday morning still nothing, Wednesday was a waist as well and again on Thursday I was told she would be calling me. Finally at 6:30 Thursday night I received a call from the person that has the contract for the restaurant and event spaces. This was the guy that had just taken over 6 weeks prior to the reception and told me that he didn't get our money because it was paid before he took over so wasn't really his problem (even tho our invoice showed 6/13/2025 so he was the one paid). He said the ac was shut off at 9pm the night before and hotel staff forgot to turn it back on until 10am day of. The place was cooling nicely until the DJ open the overhead door for an hour to unload his equipment ( we talk to the DJ he didn't, he went through the side door) even tho he was told not to according to them! There was no discount he could give because it was the hotels fault according to him. I then again called the hotel and talked to the GM that had no clue about any of this and she was going to get to the bottom of it and call me back. Well it's been 2 weeks and still no call. My warning to all brides do not book this for your reception you will...

Whatever you do, Do Not stay in room 1105. There is a smell in that room that is putrid and won't go away. We made the front desk aware and they offered to put an ozone machine in the room (we couldn't be in there for an hour while the machine ran) to help take away the smell. It helped somewhat...the room still had a smell, but it was different and not as bad as before. Unfortunately, this was only temporary and 4 hours later it stunk again. It made me gag and dry heave. I had a room spray with me and that couldn't even touch the smell. I couldn't leave fast enough in the morning. No shower, no breakfast, just up and out of there!

We had also asked about getting a different room, but because we needed 2 rooms next to eachother (traveling with 4 kids and they don't have suites) they couldn't move us. Even though the parking lot was nearly empty. I suspect they just didn't have enough housekeepers because I could see that the room on the other side of us was empty, but not cleaned. I noticed several other rooms the same, curtains open, lights on, empty, but not cleaned. So that's unfortunate they're not able to find enough help to keep up with everything.

In response to the owners response If you read a few of your other Google reviews there are people that mention awful smells throughout the facility. I'm sure some rooms are totally fine. But, they should ALL be fine. I wasn't going to mention our plugged sink because maintenance did come right away - which was awesome - but, the man smelled so bad. His BO overtook the original stench while he was in our room. Part of being a manager is having those hard, and uncomfortable, conversations with employees about personal hygiene. I see so much potential here, but a lot of work needs to be done to be top notch. Thank you...

Came from Kansas to spend the weekend with family, we left earlier than planned so I called to make sure it would be okay to check in early (3am) ..on the phone they said it would be okay and no extra charges. Drove all the way there and got in at 330 am and the check in guy first said he wouldn't be able to get us in and I said I talked to somebody and I just drove 7 hours with 3 kids and were ready to sleep. He finally checked us in and said they're wouldn't be any extra charges and we went on our way to our room...took a roll cart to only find out on our own there wasn't any elevators so had to unpack our luggage and take it down some stairs in several trips to room all while juggling tired/asleep kids. Room was nice, no complaints on room ...except outside on back patio area the light bulb was MELTED at the metal screw in part! The swimming pool was alright but there was no towels everytime and had to get them from front desk and NO bathrooms in the swimming area and the hot tub is surrounded by a privacy fence so you can't keep an eye on your kids swimming so how the hell are you supposed to relax? Lastly, as we were packing up I get a room call saying our card declined and we need to go to front desk. Our bank statement showed that it already went through and was paid for. We went down to desk and the same guy that checked us in told my husband we were being charged extra for checking in early even though he said we wouldn't be and we had to pay $100 more. I didn't go down there with him bc I was with kids but if I would've I would be talking to the manager because we are not happy with our stay and will not be coming back...