Work + Play - Iowa Unique Venues for Summer Parties

Ahhhh … summer in Iowa! Remember being a kid and having what seemed like an endless stretch of hot days and fun times ahead of you? Of course now that we’ve grown up, most of us don’t have the luxury of spending our days playing on the beach or bobbing around in a boat. But that doesn’t mean that work has to be all dull conference centers and stuffy boardrooms. We think it’s high time to combine work with play and have the best of both worlds! And we know just the places to do it!

What a thrill!

With group discounts, picnic facilities, on-site catering, rides, waterpark and lodging, Adventureland is a gas for any group. Speaking of making a splash, a day at Lost Island Waterpark might just be the ticket. Your group will want to soak in all the attractions including the thrilling Molokini Crater, Adventure Golf and the Kailahi River. 

Sail Away

Nothing says summer like a cruise on the lake. Board your bunch onto the Queen II at Arnold’s Park. A perennial Okoboji favorite, this steamboat has a capacity for up to 200 guests and offers full service bar, PA system, tables and chairs and gorgeous views of Lake Okoboji. After your cruise, guests can enjoy the rides and entertainment at Arnold’s Park.

You’re on a roll

Why not get a little competitive and have your team rock out to some good rolling? Get team building and take them to the Perfect Games for bowling, food and fun. With onsite arcade, laser tag, restaurant and meeting space, they’ll have the best of both work and play.

A sure thing

Want to bet your bunch would love a casino night at PIZAZZ! Entertainment + Casino Resort? What better way to bring them together than through fun-filled gaming, lively entertainment and good food. With an event center and a beautifully appointed hotel, golf, spa and fine dining, odds are good your event will turn out great! For a gathering that makes a real splash, put your money on Grand Falls Casino Resort with its gaming, slots, golf, shopping and hotel with spa. The Ameristar Casino Hotel Council Bluffs features 1500 gaming machines in a casino modeled after the historic riverboats of the 1800s. With more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxury hotel, casino, entertainment and dining, Lakeside Hotel Casino is an all-in-one destination for your group, while the world-famous Harrah’s Council Bluffs offers a luxurious hotel, thousands of slots, table games, fabulous dining, shopping and live entertainment. And opening in August of 2015, Wild Rose Casino + Resort will welcome guests with a 73-room luxury hotel, meeting facilities and shopping, as well as casino, dining and entertainment.

Time for tee

Corporate golf matches and tournaments are a great way to encourage healthy competition and foster team building. There are myriad course choices and each has their own special appeal. The Preserve at Honey Creek Resort State Park on Rathbun Lake is nestled within 240 acres of rolling prairie. With its comfy hotel, indoor water park, delicious dining, and nearby Rathbun Lake, you’ll find everything you need in one location. Willow Creek Golf Course offers great golf tournament options with a 27-hole course featuring three unique nines with varying degrees of difficulty.  With its spacious banquet facilities and full-service professional catering staff, you can host everything from a small corporate outing to a large charity tournament. 

Get on track

Iowa Speedway is in the lead for being one of the best places for a group gathering. With enough space for large groups, your gang will get up and go experience race weekends with awesome tailgating, live music and post-race parties on the track.