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LADY OF THE LAKE

LADY OF THE LAKE

Battlefield Midwest

514 Buddy Holly Place • (641) 357-2424 battlefieldmidwest.com

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Battlefield Midwest offers laser tag, Nerf arena, an escape room, two-player VR and mobile events. Come in during walk-in hours or book a private event online. Enjoy Family Fight Night every Thursday, and Friday Night Fights for tournament-style play! Central Gardens of North Iowa

800 2nd Avenue North • (641) 357-0700 centralgardensnorthiowa.com

With winding brick pathways leading you through the public garden’s nearly three acres of themed flower beds, ponds, stream beds, and art, you will be immersed with fresh air and nature’s beauty. Weekly events throughout summer including Fresh on Fridays and Picnics & Performances, plus private event rentals and tours. City Beach

Downtown Clear Lake • cityofclearlake.com

Clear Lake is home to several beaches for fun in the sun! There are also several public access docks for you to enjoy. Brand new splash pad & bath house opened July 2020! Clear Lake Arts Center

17 South 4th Street • (641) 357-1998 clearlakeartscenter.org

A cultural complex offering visual arts exhibitions, a gift shop with unique wares and art by regional artists, studios for creativity and classes, a performing arts wing, and the Sukup Lakeside Courtyard and Sculpture Garden.

Clear Lake Fire Museum

112 North 6th Street • (641) 357-2613 • clearlakefire.com

Relive the history of firefighting at Iowa’s first fire museum, built to resemble a fire station from the early 1900s. It is home to some of Clear Lake’s earliest firefighting equipment, including a 1883 hand-drawn hose cart and 1924 pumper truck. A 9/11 memorial is featured in front of the Fire Station. Clear Lake State Park Beach

6490 South Shore Court iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/

Clear Lake State Park is one of the major outdoor recreation features in northern Iowa. The 900-foot sandy beach is near the park’s 10 acres of picnic grounds with tables & grills with plenty of shade. A concrete path runs the length of the beach and is universally accessible. Photo credit: Above Clear Lake

Kinney Pioneer Museum

9184 265th Street • (641) 423-1258

Take a step back in time and experience life on the Iowa frontier through the vintage exhibits and living history. Explore the pioneer village featuring a one-room school house, log cabin, jail, and blacksmith shop. Lady of the Lake

101 North Lakeview Drive • (641) 3572243 cruiseclearlake.com

For the true Clear Lake experience, you have to get on the water! The Lady of the Lake is an authentic paddle wheel excursion boat, offering scenic tours of Clear Lake. Wednesday nights are Dockside Night! Fishing

Clear Lake is a 3,684-acre natural lake with exceptional fishing all year long. Anglers find the best fishing for bluegill, bass, walleyes, crappie, and sometimes get lucky with a trophy-sized muskie. The amenities at Clear Lake include accessible facilities and pier, boat rentals, fishing jetty, a hard surface boat ramp, and the newly added fish cleaning station to make your fishing experience a memorable one. Photo credit: Above Clear Lake

Lake Theatre

14 North 4th Street • (641) 357-2414 • clearlaketheatre.com

State-of-the-art technology, great concessions all with the charm and service you’d expect from your hometown theatre! We strive to make sure we give you the best experience we can deliver, freshest concessions, friendliest smiles, biggest movies including premiers; all at prices that will make you smile. Fox House

449 North Shore Drive • (641) 357-6151

Dance Hall Operator and Surf Ballroom original owner/builder, Carl Fox, lived across the street from the Surf for many years in the home he built in 1948. Lovingly restored, this vintage lakeshore home features many unique furnishings and characteristics. Like the Surf, it is as though time stood still in the home – many artifacts having remained here throughout the years, giving visitors a glimpse of life in the ‘40s and ‘50s. Tours available by appointment only.

McIntosh Woods State Park

1200 E Lakeview Dr iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/

McIntosh Woods State Park is one of the major boating access points for Clear Lake. A modern boat ramp, the largest on the lake, is present with an extensive paved area for vehicle trailer parking. The park has a peninsula. This area includes an unsupervised beach, which is popular for swimmers of all ages.

Memorial Crash Site

Intersection of Gull Avenue and 315th Street Directions available at surfballroom.com

After you visit the Surf Ballroom, head to the crash site to complete the final piece of rock ‘n roll history. Just a short drive from Clear Lake, you can pay homage to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson at the site of their fateful plane crash. Bring your walking shoes - it’s a bit of a hike!

Surf Ballroom

460 North Shore Drive • (641) 357-6151 surfballroom.com

Known worldwide for its place in rock ‘n’ roll history, the Surf Ballroom keeps live music alive in North Iowa. Fans and musicians alike flock to the site where the 1940s big bands toured and where Buddy Holly, JP “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens played what was to be their final concert. A popular venue for touring national artists and local events, the Surf brings generations together. Donations accepted. Guided tours can be arranged.

Trolley Park

3429 Main Avenue • (641) 420-7754

Hop aboard a handcar and take a trip back in time. Visitors experience firsthand what it’s like to ride the rails as they travel around the park on a speeder, diesel locomotive, or old-time handcar. This educational, interpretive and interactive railroad museum provides history of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot that served Clear Lake from 1913 to 1984. Rides available by appointment. Pla-Mor Mini Golf

5801 South Shore Drive (641) 357-3580

Brush up on your short game and head on out to enjoy 18 holes… if you can get past the twists and turns. There’s no PGA card required to enjoy a day of fun in the sun at this quaint mini golf course located on South Shore across from State Beach.

Three Stars Plaza

474 North Shore Drive

Located one block west of the Surf’s front entrance, this circular park plays off of the musical significance of the Surf Ballroom and honors the final performance of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. The monument was built and dedicated in 2011 and features an art deco inspired central spindle, holding three 45 records in a position “ready to play.” At night, it is beautifully lit with bright blue neon lights around each of the records.

Veterans Memorial Golf Club

2000 North Shore Drive • (641) 3574457 veteransmemorialgolf.com

Named Iowa’s 9-hole Course of the Year in 2015, this public par 36 course offers an enjoyable round of golf for all players with beautiful views, wide bluegrass fairways, and well-kept greens. Also enjoy the practice range, pro shop and clubhouse with full bar.

- Denotes Clear Lake Chamber Member

DIRECTIONS TO MEMORIAL CRASH SITE

GPS Coordinates:

N 43º 13’12”

W 93º 23’0”

From US Hwy 18 in Clear Lake, go north on N 8th Street for 4.7 miles. (Road turns into Grouse Avenue)

When the paved road curves to the west, take the gravel road to the east (310th Street), then immediately north again on gravel (Gull Avenue).

Go north one-half mile.

At the T-intersection of Gull Avenue and 315th Street, you will see a large set of “Buddy Holly” glasses.

Walk along the south side of the fence row to the west about one-quarter mile.

A small memorial is located at the place the plane came to rest.

*The Memorial Site is located on private property. Please be respectful.

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