Spirit Lake (pop. 4,200) is at the center of the Iowa's Great Lakes Region. These recreational lakes offer fishing, swimming, boating and water skiing opportunities.
The Dickinson County Museum is housed in an 1888 Chicago-Milwaukee-St Paul Railroad depot in Spirit Lake. Exhibits depict the area's historic railroad, agricultural, resort and industrial eras.
The first Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery was established in 1880, with a replacement hatchery building constructed in 1915 and then enlarged in 1927. The facility collects, spawns, incubates, and raises walleye for use throughout the state. It also serves as the sole source of Iowa's muskellunge.
Address: Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery, 122 252nd Ave, Spirit Lake, IA 51360, United States
Phone: 1 (712) 336-1840, Fax: 1 (712) 336-0921
Hours:
8am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Sat
Tips: Hours apply to tours. The hatchery is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week when walleye spawning is in full swing (usually in early to mid April).