Where World-Class Competition Meets World-Class Education
A transformational sports, hospitality, and entertainment campus anchored by the School of Hospitality & Tourism.
Shaped by our past. Building the future of hospitality.
Request a Private BriefingThe economic engine of Okoboji needs a new foundation.
Hospitality remains the economic engine of Okoboji, yet the region faces structural workforce shortages, compressed seasonality, and growing competitive pressure from other destinations.
The Okoboji Glacier responds with a long-term solution — aligning education, industry, and philanthropy to build the next generation of hospitality leadership while strengthening regional economic resilience.
A fully integrated ecosystem where learning, operations, and visitation intersect daily.
School of Hospitality & Tourism
Hands-on leadership training embedded across lodging, culinary, events, and guest services.
Hospitality Resort & Event Center
A teaching hotel and conference environment serving large-scale gatherings.
Year-Round Sports Complex
Tournament-driven visitation and applied sports management experience.
Family Entertainment Center
Experiential operations training in a dynamic indoor environment.
These are not stand-alone attractions. They are applied classrooms.
A long-term economic strategy for the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Independent third-party feasibility analysis projects that the Okoboji Glacier will deliver meaningful, year-round economic and workforce impact across the Iowa Great Lakes region.
A significant founding commitment has set this vision in motion.
The project has secured a founding commitment of $20M+ from the Kinnetz Family, including both capital investment and land contributions. This leadership gift establishes strong momentum and positions the initiative to become a national model for destination-based hospitality education.
The campaign now invites visionary partners to help shape a landmark investment in the Midwest.
Request a Private ConversationEvery year the region delays, the gap widens.
The Okoboji Glacier changes this trajectory — anchoring education to industry and transforming seasonality into sustainability.
Founded in 2017 by Timothy Kinnetz, The Spirit of Okoboji fosters community unity and drives regional success through a variety of impactful initiatives, including music, museums, conservation efforts, expanding housing in the region, and the planning of the Okoboji Glacier.
The Okoboji Glacier represents its most ambitious initiative to date — aligning education, industry, and philanthropy to secure a four-season future.
Join us in building the future of hospitality.
We invite you into a conversation about legacy, leadership, and the long-term future of the Iowa Great Lakes region.
Request a Private Briefing