Open House for New Lake Darling Lodge Complex
Posted: August 12, 2008

BRIGHTON, Iowa - The new Lake Darling State Park lodge complex will be showcased during a grand opening at 10 a.m., Aug. 27. The $1 million complex includes the lodge, a playground, a shelter, restrooms, an outside beach shower and an ADA approved sidewalk coning everything form the lodge to the boathouse.

"What excites me about the lodge complex is that these facilities are things we would not have gotten without the Friends of Lake Darling's leadership and drive and the generosity of the local communities," said Jeff Hildebrand, park ranger at Lake Darling State Park. "I also like to see the ownership that the local citizens take of Lake Darling and the complex as a result of this project."

The lodge holds 200 people inside and an additional 50 in the outside shelter. Hildebrand said it is an excellent place to hold weddings, receptions, family reunions, company picnics, business meetings, graduation parties, class trips and holiday celebrations. It has restrooms, a main room with a fireplace and a kitchen with a stove and oven, microwave, two refrigerators and a storage room for the tables and chairs. The main room has a sound system with a microphone and speakers.

The beach restrooms have extra large rooms to change into swimwear. The shelter near the beach will hold 50 people and has electrical outlets and an upright grill.

"We are holding this open house to thank everyone who donated time, skill or money to make this dream a reality and to celebrate the joint participation of individuals, private business, city, county, state governments, and the DNR in accomplishing this goal," said Merrill Lucas, park manager for Lake Darling.

The grand opening festivities will take place in the lodge, located near the beach. There have been more than 6,000 volunteer hours donated on this project so far, and more than $1 million raised. The fundraising began at the end of April 2006, with a legislative appropriation of $250,000.

The grand opening is co-hosted by the Iowa DNR and the Friends of Lake Darling.