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

Wait, palm trees at Lake Okoboji?

Yes, along with tiki bars, mojitos and over-the-top decorations, the Barefoot Bar is the type of joint that wouldn't feel out of place in Key West, Florida.

"But everyone may not be going to Key West," Parks, who along with husband Butch, owns the bar located behind Parks Marina, explained. 

"That's why we decided to recreate a Florida-style bar in Okoboji."

Indeed, the Parkses have new palm trees shipped up from Florida every year. Also, the bar's docks and decks are rebuilt each summer and taken down at the end of the season.

"We thought if we're going to do this, it needed to be authentic," Parks said. "That meant the palm trees had to be real and all the tall leaves that are built into our tiki bars needed to be fresh."

After all, the Parkses spent considerable time researching tiki bars from Miami's trendy South Beach to the more eccentric ones that open up further down the coast.

"Every time we'd go to the Miami Boat Show, we'd gather research on tiki bars," Parks said with a laugh. "Hey, it's a tough job but somebody had to do it."

Over time, the Parkses' dream of an Iowa-base tiki lounge became a reality, even though it was simply a badly kept secret for nearly two decades.

"In 2002, we gave it a name (the Barefoot Bar)," Parks recalled, "and word really began to spread that it was a pretty cool place to be."

Well, this may be a bit of an understatement. She currently has a photo contest invited guests to pose with Barefoot Bar apparel from anywhere around the world, via Facebook.

"So far, we've had Barefoot Bar sightings as far away as China and Australia," Parks said. "It's pretty amazing!"

But who wouldn't be proud to show off one's allegiance to a place that is famous for such frosty drinks as the "Butchwacker" (Kahlua, Dark Creme de Cocoa, Dark Island Rum and ice cream) and "Miami Vice" (Pina Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri) and for it's stick-to-your-ribs bar grub.

"People rave about our pulled pork and smoked brisket but everything's good around here," Parks said, explaining that the food is still under the direction of chef "Phamous" Phil Jackson.

Still things can get pretty raucous during the Barefoot Bar's monthly Full Moon Parties as well as at the end-of-the-season Oct-Tiki-Fest.

"We try to bring both local and Midwestern musical acts to perform here," Parks said. "It's a great venue for entertainment."

It's an even better venue for chilling out.

"(The Barefoot Bar) merely takes advantage of the beauty of Lake Okoboji," Parks said. "Whether you're in a party mood or you simply want to relax in a wonderful lakeside setting, this is a place for you."