LEGACY OF THE ARNOLDS PARK HOTEL

Wesley B. Arnold was no dummy. He saw that with planned railroad land coming within yards of his house that overlooked West Okoboji, there would be some opportunity coming to town. When workers began arriving to perform grading and build the trestle between East and West Okoboji, he rented out rooms to them. Soon, though, he built a hotel.

He built his hotel between his home and the lake, giving guests a superior view, green grass to relax on, and cool breezes from the lake. Even after his death, it remained a desirable local accommodation, thanks to the nearby amusement park (that began with his water toboggan ride) and great location.

The family house, hotel, and half of the present-day amusement park passed to his daughter and son-in-law and was sold in 1939 to wealthy businessman Howard Turnley.

The Arnold home was eventually turned into the Peacock Tea Room, operated by Muriel Hanford Turnley, whose husband Howard had purchased the Amusement Park and operated the Roof Garden ballroom, the hotel, and the original Arnold homestead. Plus, he owned all the land that is now the Green Space. 

His wife, Muriel was quite the entertaining entrepreneur, and her Tea Room was a popular establishment for vacationers. “The place for discriminating people to meet” in 1940 also featured dancing and music. In fact, Muriel was fond of inviting musicians from the Roof Garden over for after-performance libations…and more music, which would often continue until dawn, much to the consternation of neighbors along the lake.

Muriel sold the Peacock in 1946, but it continued under different management for many more years.

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(Wesley Arnold’s hotel overlooking the lake. It was the popular close-to-the-train accommodation at the lakes from 1882 until torn down in 1939…but had failed to keep up with the times and had lost its luster by the 1920s.)

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(The Arnold home, prior to the construction of the hotel. This photo would have been taken from the present-day Green Space near the parking lot and Bob’s.)

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(1939 newspaper article noting the demolition—deconstruction, actually—of the hotel. Repurposing something useful like boards and timbers was commonplace. As the article notes, the wood was used to build rental vacation cottages on the present-day Green Space.)

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(Just as memorable as Arnold’s hotel, Muriel Turnley’s Peacock Tea Room. Howard Turnley had bought the Amusement Park (which included the Roof Garden, the hotel, and the original Arnold homestead) and owned all the land that is now the Green Space. His wife, Muriel was quite the entertaining entrepreneur, and her Tea Room was a popular establishment for vacationers.)

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(“The place for discriminating people to meet” in 1940 also featured dancing and music. In fact, Muriel was fond of inviting musicians from the Roof Garden over for after-performance libations…and more music which would often continue until dawn, much to the concern of neighbors along the lake.)

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(Muriel sold the Peacock in 1946, but it continued under different management for many more years.)