By Steve Weisman
When I mention Triboji Beach on the northwest corner of West Lake Okoboji, I often get the response, “Oh, you mean where that boat ramp is that has the island and the goats on it?” Most certainly, that’s the one!
Also known as Lazy Lagoon, the area is the quieter access on West Okoboji. The entire Triboji Beach development was owned by Alex Percival and included 178 acres. In May of 1928, Percival and the Sioux City Journal entered into an agreement to develop the area that included 2000 lots. In September of 1928, the lagoon was dredged with an island in the middle. The island was originally called Island Park, and the dredged “donut” area was known as the $5,000 Harbor.
Over the years, the Triboji lot/homeowners formed the Triboji Beach Betterment Association. According to Steve Brennan, president of the association, “Up until 2020, the Percival family still owned the island. As a board, we approached the Percival family about their ownership of the island and if they would be willing to deed the island over to the Triboji Beach Betterment Association, with the idea that we would maintain and preserve the integrity of the island.” In 2020, the Percival family deeded the island to the association.
The renovation work begins
Over the previous 90+ years, the island had been left to itself with Triboji residents, Boy Scouts and others trying to tend to the island. In recent years, it became the summer home for as many as eight goats, whose job it was to keep the plant growth in check. At the same time, there was also significant concern about the severe erosion damage that had occurred to the perimeter of the island over the years.
Brennan says, “The erosion was very significant, and we knew something needed to be done. We worked with Mike Hawkins at the Spirit Lake Hatchery to get his ideas. He felt the best option was to armor the island with field rock. In order to do this, we had to get permits from the US Army Corp of Engineers and the Iowa DNR. Once they were approved, in 2022, we put out bids for the project. Diamond Concrete of Spirit Lake was awarded the bid of $55,000.”
The work
Members of the Triboji community donated $35,000, which was approximately 65% of the bid. Brennan says, “Diamond Concrete has been great to work with and continued completing the project as we continue to raise the rest of the money.”
The project renovation was actually completed by the end of January. Construction workers used a backhoe to dig down along the outside edge of the island where it had eroded. According to Brennan, “This helped make a good base for the rock, while the fill was used on the island itself. They constructed a great barrier, and it really looks good.”
Fundraiser
With $20,000 needed to complete the project, the board chose to enlist the help of well-known fundraising artist, J. D. Speltz from Armstrong to produce a print entitled Lazy Lagoon, that captured both the history and the beauty of the island.
According to Brennan, “We met with J. D. and showed him the island and gave him photos taken over the years. It was important to us to include the geese and ducks that are always there in the late spring, the huge cottonwood trees, a tent that represents the boy scouts of the 1950s, the beauty of West Lake Okoboji to the east and, of course, a pair of goats on the island.”
The response to Lazy Lagoon has been extremely positive. Brennan notes, “I couldn’t be happier with the painting. J. D. put his God-given talents into creating something beautiful and thank him for that.”
In visiting with Speltz, he reflects on this most recent painting. “I’ve been doing these types of projects since 1980 and have done 1,700 paintings for groups and organizations across six states. I call this industrial wildlife because it combines man and nature together in harmony. This project for the Triboji Beach Betterment Association is near and dear to my heart because I spend a lot of time over around West Okoboji!”
The Triboji Beach Betterment Association began offering the prints for sale in late January. Cost is $75 for the print, and an additional $77 to have the print matted and framed.
To order a print, you can go to the Triboji Beach Betterment Association Facebook page for the order form.
The print is also displayed at Kabele’s Trading Post, Stan’s Bait Shop, Okoboji Gas Company, Vick’s Corner and Lunker’s Lounge.
Payments can be sent to Triboji Beach Association, 208 18th Street NW, Orange City, IA. 51041.
(photo by Steve Weisman) Rock barrier designed to protect the island from future erosion.
(print by J. D. Speltz) Lazy Lagoon captures both the history and beauty of the area.
