Why The Oakwood Inn Okoboji Is Worth Discovering in Iowa's Great Lakes

In Iowa’s Great Lakes region, The Oakwood Inn Okoboji offers a different kind of getaway—one built around quiet surroundings, personal hospitality and the freedom to slow down.

For innkeepers Bridget and Bill Johnson, that experience has been more than a business. After more than a decade at the Inn, they have shaped The Oakwood Inn around the kind of stay they wanted to create: a peaceful place where adults can relax, reconnect and discover a different side of Okoboji.

Their story begins with a property that initially revealed its potential one layer at a time.

From a Snow-Covered Property to a Garden-Filled Inn

When Bridget and Bill first toured The Oakwood Inn, it had been closed and out of operation for about three years. Inside, the property had a distinctly 1990s Victorian style and was ready for a fresh vision. But as they walked through the rooms, they could see what it could become as a bed-and-breakfast.

Outside, winter had hidden much of the property's landscape beneath snow and leaves.

It wasn't until they purchased the property in the spring and began exploring the grounds that they discovered what was underneath: gardens.

There were a lot of leaves—fourteen trailer loads, to be exact. Somewhere between clearing them away and uncovering the gardens, the Johnsons realized they had taken on what Bridget describes as the “good kind of trouble.” Those gardens would eventually become an important part of The Oakwood Inn's identity, and they have continued adding to them ever since.

Why The Oakwood Inn Okoboji Is Worth Discovering in Iowa's Great Lakes — Image Credit: The Oakwood Inn Okoboji

Creating History Instead of Inheriting It

The Oakwood Inn was built in 1999, so the property doesn't have the centuries-old architecture or deep historic timeline associated with some traditional inns.

For Bridget and Bill, however, that has become part of its story.

Rather than preserving centuries of history, they have had the opportunity to create the property's history themselves. Over the years, individual rooms have developed their own personalities through the guests who have stayed there, celebrations held there and memories created within its walls.

The stories aren't necessarily about the architecture.

They're about the people.

And those people have helped shape The Oakwood Inn into what it is today.

Why the First Welcome Still Matters

There is one part of the guest experience Bridget still finds difficult to hand off: checking guests in.

The reason is simple. The first few minutes set the tone for an entire stay.

She wants to be the person who opens the door, welcomes guests, introduces them to the Inn and helps them feel that they've arrived somewhere they belong.

That personal welcome has become part of what The Oakwood Inn is known for, and it reflects the Johnsons' broader approach to hospitality.

For them, a stay begins with a genuine human connection.

A Guest Who Changed the Way They See Hospitality

One of the most powerful stories from their years as innkeepers began with a couple who arrived for a multi-day stay.

The husband initially seemed unhappy to be there, while his wife was exceptionally kind. The Johnsons wondered whether the Inn might not be the right fit, but decided to give the couple some space and see how things developed.

Over the following days, the atmosphere gradually changed.

By the final breakfast, the husband was laughing with other guests, pouring coffee for them and complimenting Bridget on breakfast.

Then, at checkout, his wife explained why.

They had lost their daughter just two weeks earlier, and this was the first time she had been able to get her husband out of the house.

The experience stayed with Bridget and changed how she approaches every guest.

You simply don't know what someone may be carrying when they arrive. Sometimes hospitality isn't about solving a problem or making a grand gesture. Sometimes it is about offering patience, giving someone grace and creating a place where they can hopefully leave feeling a little better than when they arrived.

The Decision That Defined The Oakwood Inn

Early on, Bridget and Bill learned an important lesson about the kind of experience they wanted The Oakwood Inn to provide.

Initially, they tried to welcome everyone, including children. But they soon realized that the property's gardens, quiet spaces and overall atmosphere were particularly well suited to adults seeking a peaceful retreat.

Nine months after opening, they made the decision to become an adults-only property, with the exception of full-property buyouts.

They haven't regretted it.

Instead, the decision helped clarify the identity of The Oakwood Inn: quiet luxury, peaceful surroundings and an experience designed specifically for adults who want to relax and reconnect.

For the Johnsons, the lesson wasn't about excluding people. It was about understanding whom they could serve best—and having the confidence to build the Inn around that experience.

When the Guests Leave, the Work Continues

During the busy season, The Oakwood Inn is rarely completely empty.

Rooms need to be turned over, laundry handled, supplies restocked and everything prepared for the next arrival. When the staff has those responsibilities under control, Bridget can often be found working in the gardens.

The quieter shoulder and off-seasons provide occasional moments to experience the Inn without guests.

The first response is often simply to take a breath.

Then comes another project: perhaps a garden bed to redesign, something to paint, a room to refresh or an idea for what's next.

After more than 10 years, Bridget has come to appreciate those quiet moments. They provide an opportunity to step back, see what they have created and imagine what the next chapter might hold.

The Reality—and Reward—of Innkeeping

People often tell the Johnsons they've imagined owning an inn as a fun way to live.

They're not wrong.

Bridget and Bill agree that innkeeping is incredibly rewarding. They meet fascinating people from across the country and get to create experiences that guests remember.

But it is also a lifestyle.

During the busy season, 12- to 16-hour days, seven days a week, aren't unusual. The work requires endurance, energy and a genuinely welcoming personality. The Inn and its guests become a major part of everyday life.

For the Johnsons, however, that combination of hospitality, projects, people and hard work is precisely what makes the lifestyle rewarding.

They wouldn't trade it.

How Christmas Became a Family Tradition

One of The Oakwood Inn's most enjoyable traditions began because Bridget and Bill realized they needed some help.

In the early years, preparing the Inn for Christmas was a major undertaking. The couple would spend almost two full days pulling decorations from storage, sorting everything, checking lights and assembling the trees. Decorating could then take another two to four days.

Then came one Thanksgiving when an out-of-town relative suggested that the entire family help pull out the Christmas boxes.

At first, Bridget admits, giving up control wasn't easy.

But the solution worked.

What once took Bridget and Bill almost two days now takes the family roughly two or three hours. And it has become a Thanksgiving tradition, with family members choosing between doing the dishes and hauling out the Christmas boxes.

Somehow, the boxes keep winning.

For Bridget, the best part isn't simply getting the Christmas decorating finished faster. It's having the family together to create the Christmas atmosphere at the Inn.

The Side of Okoboji Visitors Might Miss

The Iowa Great Lakes are naturally associated with lakes, boating, restaurants and summer activities.

But Bridget believes there's another side of the region that deserves attention: its museums.

The area has a surprisingly diverse collection, covering subjects including local history, automobiles, currency, entertainment and maritime history, along with some more eclectic collections.

The Johnsons include these recommendations in “Bridget & Bill's Guide to the Best of Okoboji,” which guests receive when they check in.

For travelers who want to explore beyond the familiar attractions, the museums can provide an entirely different perspective on the Iowa Great Lakes.

And for Bridget and Bill, helping guests discover those less-obvious experiences is one of the pleasures of being innkeepers.

The Measure of a Successful Stay

Ultimately, the Johnsons have a simple way of measuring whether they've created the experience they hoped for.

They want guests to leave saying:

“That was exactly what we needed. When do you think we can come back? We should tell our friends to come with us!”

They want visitors to feel relaxed and refreshed—and perhaps just a little reluctant to go home.

But the greatest compliment is when guests are already talking about their next visit before they've even pulled out of the driveway.

That sentiment captures what Bridget and Bill have spent more than a decade creating at The Oakwood Inn Okoboji: a distinctly personal place in Iowa's Great Lakes where the gardens, the welcome, the quiet and the memories guests make all become part of the experience.

BOOK YOUR STAY AT THE OAKWOOD INN OKOBOJI

Frequently Asked Questions About The Oakwood Inn Okoboji

Where is The Oakwood Inn Okoboji?

The Oakwood Inn Okoboji is located in the Iowa Great Lakes region in the Okoboji area of Iowa.

Who are the innkeepers at The Oakwood Inn Okoboji?

Bridget and Bill Johnson are the innkeepers of The Oakwood Inn Okoboji. They have operated the Inn for more than 10 years.

When was The Oakwood Inn built?

The Oakwood Inn was built in 1999. Unlike some historic inns, it does not have centuries-old architecture; instead, Bridget and Bill have had the opportunity to create its history through the guests, celebrations and memories made there.

Is The Oakwood Inn Okoboji adults-only?

Yes. The Oakwood Inn became an adults-only property nine months after opening, with the exception of full-property buyouts. The Johnsons say the decision helped define the Inn around quiet luxury, peaceful surroundings and adult relaxation.

What makes The Oakwood Inn's gardens special?

When Bridget and Bill purchased the property, much of the landscape was hidden beneath snow and leaves. After discovering the gardens beneath them—including approximately fourteen trailer loads of leaves—they made the gardens an important part of the property's identity and have continued adding to them.

What can guests discover beyond the lakes in Okoboji?

The Iowa Great Lakes region has a collection of museums covering local history, automobiles, currency, entertainment, maritime history and other subjects. The Johnsons recommend exploring these attractions as a way to experience a different side of Okoboji.

What is the Christmas tradition at The Oakwood Inn?

The Inn's Christmas decorating tradition evolved into a family gathering after relatives began helping Bridget and Bill pull decorations from storage following Thanksgiving. What once took the couple nearly two days now takes the family approximately two or three hours and has become a favorite family tradition.

What do Bridget and Bill hope guests say after their stay?

They hope guests say, “That was exactly what we needed. When do you think we can come back? We should tell our friends to come with us!”

The Iowa Great Lakes Getaway with a Personal Touch: Inside The Oakwood Inn Okoboji