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March 2026 Newsletter from Debbie Parks

ABC News’ Mary Bruce reports on the annual tradition that brings thousands of people to Okoboji, Iowa.

It was another cold day Saturday at the University of Okoboji Winter Games, but that didn’t keep folks from attending their favorite activities.

(Okoboji)–  The annual Battle of the Bartenders has grown to be one of the highest attended University of Okoboji Winter Games events in recent years, and this year’s event was no exception. Trevor Johnson is a Marketing Specialist with Parks Marina, which hosts the event each year. He says last (Thurs.) evening’s event again raised a significant amount of money for local charities… “So last night we were able to raise $14,300 in one hour and, you know, we’re missing our fear

OKOBOJI, Iowa (KCAU) — The 46th University of Okoboji Winter Games are here! And the festivities kicked off on Thursday night with the “Battle of the bartenders” at Parks Marina. The frigid temperatures didn’t keep attendees from packing into Parks Marina for the 12th “Battle of the Bartenders” competition. “Every year, we kick off winter games with the Battle of the Bartenders,” said Jared Ransom, marketing coordinator of Parks Marina. “Local bars create specialty drinks, an

A funeral service for Butch Parks, age 81 of Okoboji, will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 16, 2026 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake.

Parks Marina in the Iowa Great Lakes is filling up a boat with toys so kids in the area can have a good holiday season.

It all started as 4 walls and a 10 by 20-foot hole.

Some of the most iconic properties at Okoboji soon will have new owners.

By selling special t-shirts, Parks Marina in Okoboji has raised over $5,000 for victims of flooding in Spencer.

From shore or on the water, it routinely turns heads. Tucked up tight against the docks at Okoboji Boat Works, or meandering across West Okoboji Lake, it’s always a sight to see.

Giving Back recognizes businesses and organizations that are helping our communities. Here’s a look at who gave back for October.

The main attraction of the Okoboji area of the Iowa Great Lakes is its beautiful blue water, and there may be no better place to gather and enjoy the glacier-carved hotspot than Parks Marina on East Lake Okoboji.

When Debbie Parks puts her mind to something, she doesn’t go half-way.

It's early May and Debbie Parks said the palm trees are already swaying away at the Barefoot Bar.

OKOBOJI, Iowa | When the full moon rises above East Lake Okoboji, the place to be is the Barefoot Bar, a slice of Florida with its palm trees and tiki hut bars and restrooms … and Full Moon Parties every summer month, no matter what day of the week it is. So say Butch and Debbie Parks, owners of the once-kind-of-a-secret bar located behind Parks Marina at Okoboji that is entering its second decade. “It’s the one thing that has made us famous,” Debbie said of the parties. “We