There is a published history of the resort that reads as follows:
In 1948, Hobart Ross (an entrepreneur and owner of Manhattan Beach), bought 68 acres of farmland for $15,000 and started to build Vacation Village (now known as VILLAGE WEST RESORT). This resort featured 114 units ranging from one to four bedrooms, a clubhouse with restaurant and grocery store, and a large Village Hall for dances, conventions, movies, and kids activities.
The great VACATION VILLAGE opened in 1949 and was the place to vacation in OKOBOJI. Many of you may remember the small cabins aligning the lake. Hobart’s sons, Bob and Keith Ross co-managed Vacation Village together until 1970 and then Bob Ross took over until the property was sold in 1984 to CHW, Inc.
After 1985 Long Lines Ltd., Village Resorts Inc., and Village Lakeshares, L.P. were title holders to the property.
In 1989, Village Lakeshares, L.P. started the Sunrise Cove program on Village West Property.
In August of 2000, Iowa Resort Holdings, L.L.C. purchased the resort. Along with major renovations, plans were put in place to begin a new construction expansion to the existing resort. The first building was a 50 unit hotel with 3 meeting rooms attached. Additional Lock-out Suites were started behind the courtyard of the new hotel building. The resort now has 52 Townhouses, 58 Lock-outs, 30 One-Bedrooms, 25 Studios, 86 hotels, and the Rustic and Mansion Home.
Village West Resort is the largest Resort in the Iowa Great Lakes Area, offering housing , restaurants, convention facility, marina, boat rentals on the lake, and a beautiful sand beach. Village West is independently owned and operated by Iowa Resort Holdings L.L.C. located in Okoboji.
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We have been collecting many of the documents that were given to prospective and new owners at the time of the original development of Sunrise Cove. We will publish these here as we are able!
This brochure was given to new owners at the time of sale, as was this one.
Continue to the Taking Action page to see what actions are group has initiated to date.