To Citizens and Visitors

Welcome to Emmetsburg, Iowa!

We were recently named one of the top 100 places to live in the United States. Why is Emmetsburg so special? Because this little town offers some of the richest recreational opportunities anywhere in the area!

Our lake is called Five Island Lake for a good reason, it has five islands! You can visit them by boat in the summer and, for the adventuresome, drive to them in snow mobiles in the winter. You can camp on some of those islands year round. Where else in Iowa can you have the opportunity to camp on an uninhabited island!

We have all the lake amenities, including water skiing, swimming, a beautiful beach, some of the best fishing for miles, and indescribable beauty for mile after mile of lakeshore.

We also have canoeing and kayaking on the Des Moines River, just west of town, that provides a wilderness experience for those who want to commune with nature.

Our Wild Rose Casino and Resort provides recreational opportunities that are often found only in much larger towns. Wild Rose has a great casino, one of only 13 in the state. They also have a well-appointed yet inexpensive hotel, and three dining establishments all under one roof. Wild Rose itself is a great weekend get away experience

Emmetsburg has a Wellness Center with indoor swimming pool that is open year around. Those into fitness will certainly enjoy all the offerings of our community-built center. The Wellness Center is connected to our college, Iowa Lakes Community College.

If you’re interested in shopping, Emmetsburg has many different specialty stores that offer gift items that are in demand by the traveling public. And, if you’re looking for good places to have a meal, there are many different restaurants, in addition to those at the casino, offering everything from delicious Chinese food to good old American hamburgers.

When you come to visit us, be sure you see everything that Emmetsburg has to offer while you’re here. If you have a business that’s looking for a place to light, Emmetsburg is more than worthy of your consideration. We even have a brand new business park just waiting for the first occupants.

Enjoy your stay in Emmetsburg. We’re sure that you’ll quickly discover why we’re in the top 100 places to live.

John Schad
Emmetsburg Mayor