BY: RACHEL WUMKES

I remember when I moved to this quaint little town eight years ago.  We made many ‘lake laps’ checking out all the hot spots.  One place, in particular, piqued my curiosity.  A rustic-looking building, tucked into the shoreline on the south side of town.  It reminded me a little bit of Kellerman’s.

Now, anyone who lived in the 80s and early 90s knows what I’m referencing, right?  Not only did this movie produce the best one-liner of all time “Nobody puts Baby in the corner” – but the entire scenario of the movie was literally every girl’s dream.  Head off to vacation with your parents, only to fall in love with the resorts dreamy dance instructor.

Sign me up!

Open between Mother’s Day and Labor Day each year, PM Park is a 104-year-old resort style business along the shore of beautiful Clear Lake, Iowa.  The rustic building, decorated in exquisite lake décor will take you back to a simpler time in life.  A time where life was effortless.  Easy.

You can have that again, out at PM Park.  It’s where Dirty Dancing meets summer camp.

The restaurant is open 7 days a week serving breakfast, lunch, and a light dinner.  Day in and day out, they strive to provide the best food and service to everyone who stops by.  And thus, at the end of every season, they celebrate the culmination of another incredible summer with a fireworks celebration over the lake.  It’s a “can’t miss” night as colors burst in the air, reflecting over the water.

Patrons can dine indoors or choose one of the many tables outdoor with a gorgeous lake view.  The sand beach allows your kiddos to remain entertained while you sip a tasty cocktail from the Tiki Bar and enjoy the company of family and friends.

There are also various lodging opportunities if you are looking to book a getaway from reality and enjoy the peacefulness of this lakeside destination.  Hotel rooms, apartments, and houses to accommodate large groups are available to rent on their website.  But you better plan early because they get snatched up quickly every summer!  To check them out, go to https://pmpark.net/lodging/  At this scenic resort oasis, you’re within walking distance of Clear Lake’s only Marina and Boat rental, the Tiki Bar, PM Park’s awesome restaurant, stand up paddle boards, a private sandy beach, and even fishing off the dock.

Sounds like heaven, right?

Now, for all you locals who live here all year long, you are the luckiest of all.  You get to enjoy the deliciousness of PM Park and the Tiki Bar any time you please, all summer long.  Keep an eye on their Facebook Page, because they have A LOT of awesome live music planned for this season, including the power rock trio playing on May 29th, Prone to Jones.  And the added bonus?  All Triathletes who participated in TRI Clear Lake that morning get in to the concert for FREE.

SCORE!

And in case you’ve missed all the hoopla surrounding their full-on weekend rock extravaganza guaranteed to knock your socks off, Roc the Lake, you can get up to speed HERE (<– just click it and read all the things).  It’s a blog post I wrote awhile back highlighting all the awesomeness of the event and how to snag yourself some tickets to this incredible show.

The ambiance, the peaceful lake views, the sunsets over the water… there are so many incredible aspects to spending time out at PM Park.  But most of all, enjoying an unbelievable meal and tasty drinks with friends and family.  Whether you are visiting the Lake for vacation, or live here full time, there’s just no better place to make memories to last a lifetime than at PM Park.

Cheers to a great summer, my friends!  It won’t be long before the hustle and bustle is upon us.  Days filled with sun-kissed skin, tank tops and flip flops.

And nights under the glow of the moon out at PM Park.