This charming century cottage is nestled on the shores of Smiths Bay, West Lake Okoboji, in Okoboji, Iowa, blending historic lakeside tradition with practical modern living. The main home features five bedrooms and two bathrooms, complemented by a grandfathered guest house offering an additional bedroom and bath—an exceptional setup for hosting guests or extended family. Its architecture reflects classic lakeside cottage style, designed for year-round comfort and featuring expansive windows to showcase 50 feet of private shoreline and stunning views. Situated within walking distance of local favorites like the Okoboji Store and O’Farrell Sisters, the property has a private dock and recent approval to remodel the guest house. Listed at $1,499,000, this rare opportunity delivers timeless appeal in a prime West Lake location.
Garage and Driveway
A spacious detached garage with light gray siding and a white double garage door stands to the right, featuring a peaked roof and a small window above. Wooden stairs with a landing lead to a side entry door. The garage sits adjacent to a paved driveway, partially bordered by patches of grass and mulch. Mature oak trees with dense green foliage provide shade and frame the property. In the background, the main house is visible with matching gray siding, multiple rectangular windows, and a simple lawn area, creating a harmonious and practical exterior layout surrounded by nature.
Waterfront View
A tranquil riverbank is bordered by mature trees with lush green foliage, their branches gracefully arching over the water. The calm river reflects the blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Stone pillars and a simple metal railing run along the foreground, marking a boundary between the yard and a descending path leading towards a dock. Across the water, contemporary low-rise buildings and small homes are visible among more greenery, while a street with light traffic follows the river’s curve. The scene combines natural beauty and suburban development, evoking a peaceful, scenic outdoor atmosphere.
Lakeview Room
Expansive windows framed in natural wood offer panoramic views of a lake and lush trees, filling the space with natural light. Pale gray walls create a fresh, airy atmosphere, complemented by white-painted hardwood floors that bring a vintage, rustic charm. A ceiling fan with wood-toned blades and a central light fixture adds a touch of modernity and comfort overhead. Baseboard heaters line the lower wall edges, providing practical warmth. The simple, neutral palette and minimal ornamentation allow for versatile decorating, while the connection to outdoor scenery establishes a sense of tranquility and openness in the room.
Dining Area & Kitchen
Open-plan dining area connects directly to a spacious kitchen with an inviting breakfast bar. The dining space features a blue accent wall and white painted wooden floors showing visible wear, adding rustic character. Natural wood trim outlines doorways and baseboards, complementing the honey-colored cabinetry in the kitchen. The kitchen is equipped with upper and lower cabinets, a white vent hood, and contemporary lighting fixtures including a flush-mount ceiling light and a chandelier-style fixture. Neutral wall colors and ample natural lighting, likely from nearby windows, create a bright and homey atmosphere. Several doorways lead to adjacent rooms or hallways.
Living Room Corner
A spacious living area with a rustic, weathered white wooden floor that adds character and a sense of history to the space. The walls are painted a soft, light gray, providing a neutral backdrop that enhances the room’s brightness. Two large windows with natural wood trim let in abundant natural light and offer a view of the outdoors. In the corner, a wooden door, matching the trims, provides access to a storage area or closet. Radiator baseboard heating lines the perimeter. To the right, a partial wall borders the open stairwell, adding architectural interest while maintaining an open flow.
Laundry Entryway
A small, functional room featuring a bold cobalt blue accent wall paired with neutral white on the remaining walls. The floor is covered in gray and beige ceramic tiles with a stone-like pattern, adding durability and visual interest. Wooden trim lines the baseboards, door frames, and two prominent wooden doors, one perhaps leading to storage or a utility closet. Two open doorways reveal adjacent rooms; one contains a white utility sink and visible shelving, suggesting a laundry or mudroom. The ceiling is white with a simple, dome-shaped light fixture providing ample illumination for the space.
Bedroom with Closet
A simple, empty bedroom with a distinctly minimal aesthetic. The faded white wooden floorboards have visible scratches and stains, contributing a rustic, lived-in feel. The walls are painted a soft, neutral white and are unadorned. There is a large closet with wooden sliding doors on the right side. A single wood-framed window allows natural light to enter, casting subtle shadows in the room. The black modern ceiling fan and central light fixture give a touch of contemporary style while the baseboard heater under the window hints at the home’s age. The room feels clean, spacious, and ready for customization.
Yard and Deck
A quaint backyard scene featuring a two-level wooden deck attached to a gray outbuilding, with stairs leading up to a small balcony. The structure is surrounded by mature trees offering generous shade, and a rustic stone retaining wall borders vibrant green hostas, ferns, and ground cover plants. The grassy lawn is enclosed by a weathered wooden fence, adding a sense of privacy and seclusion. A gently sloped concrete path with a simple white railing curves past, suggesting easy access to the home. The color palette blends soft grays and earthy browns with lush green, creating a peaceful oasis.
Attic Living Area
A spacious attic room finished with warm-toned wooden paneling on the walls and white-painted tongue-and-groove ceiling. Skylights in the sloped ceiling allow natural light to stream in, highlighting two ceiling fans with wood blades. One end of the room features a wall-mounted countertop and set of worn wooden cabinets, suggesting a potential kitchenette space. There is a partial enclosure and a small adjoining room or closet with an open doorway. Flooring is a mix of worn carpet and exposed black-and-white tile patches, giving the area a rustic and slightly unfinished look. Overall, the space feels rustic, open, and flexible for various uses.
Attic Living Space
A spacious attic room with angled ceilings finished in light-stained wood planks, offering a warm and rustic atmosphere. Natural light streams in through two skylights and a set of glass double doors leading to a balcony, framed by teal-painted trim. To the left, an open doorway reveals a small adjoining bathroom with matching woodwork. A ceiling fan is mounted centrally, beneath the peak of the roof, while a small gas wall heater is positioned on the right wall. The carpeted floor shows some wear, and built-in cabinetry provides practical storage beneath the sloped ceiling.
Backyard Deck
A grassy backyard with a gently rising slope leads to a raised wooden deck at the rear of the house. Large, mature trees frame the view and provide natural shade. The house features light gray horizontal siding, symmetrical windows on the upper floor, and a pair of glass doors opening onto the deck. Underneath the deck, stacked stones and wood are visible, adding rustic charm. Neighboring homes in red and gray tones sit closely on either side. The overall setting is serene and lush, blending the home’s simple lines with the surrounding greenery and giving a peaceful, natural vibe.
Laundry Utility Room
A functional laundry or utility room with simple, utilitarian design. The walls are painted white, offering a clean and bright feel, though there are visible signs of water stains on the ceiling and some scuff marks on the painted concrete floor. Natural wood floating shelves line the upper portions of two walls, providing ample storage space. A deep plastic utility sink, supported by metal legs, is situated in the corner, with exposed plumbing visible behind it. The room features a fluorescent ceiling light, a floor drain, and a small window with wood trim that lets in natural light.
Bathroom Vanity Area
A compact bathroom features a simple and tidy design with light blue walls, a neutral tile floor, and a white toilet positioned in the corner. Above the toilet, natural wood cabinetry provides storage, matching the wooden trim around the small rectangular window. The window, fitted with white blinds, lets in soft daylight, complementing the overall brightness. Adjacent to the toilet, the vanity has an off-white countertop with an integrated sink and chrome faucet, along with a mirror-front wood medicine cabinet above. The space is clean and functional, with subtle contrasts created by wood accents against cool, light hues.
Bathroom Vanity
A compact bathroom featuring a single-sink vanity with oak cabinetry and a cream countertop, accented by a wide mirrored medicine cabinet above. The walls are painted a soft, light blue, creating a calming contrast with the natural wood trim and cabinetry. On the right, a shower with a sliding glass door and horizontal etched lines sits across from a simple towel ring fixed beside the vanity. The floor is covered in beige and tan marble-look tiles, contributing a subtle elegance. Overhead, four exposed bulbs in a wooden fixture provide ample illumination, while additional storage cabinets are reflected behind the vanity.
Closet Space
This room features an open, wall-mounted wire shelving system for clothing and storage, spanning one wall painted in a cool gray tone. The carpet is a soft, textured taupe, adding warmth and comfort underfoot, while the trim is a medium-toned wood that frames the space with a subtle contrast. Natural light streams through a single window with a wooden frame, giving the room a bright and airy feel. A low, built-in unit sits under the window, possibly for heating or storage. The overall design is minimalistic, functional, and ready for personal touches.
Bedroom Corner
Spacious bedroom filled with natural light from two large windows and an additional window on the adjacent wall, framed in wood for a classic touch. The walls are painted a soft cream, enhancing the sense of openness. The floor features plush beige carpeting that adds warmth and comfort. A ceiling fan, painted white, provides ventilation overhead. The room contains two white baseboard radiators and minimal furniture or decor, creating a simple, uncluttered aesthetic. The wooden door, likely leading to a closet or hallway, matches the window frames and trim, adding to the cohesive and understated vintage style.
Living Room Windows
A spacious living room with a rustic feel, featuring whitewashed wooden plank floors with visible wear and character. The focal point is a large bank of windows with warm wood trim, allowing abundant natural light and providing a clear view of mature green trees outside. The room is painted a soft, neutral gray, complemented by matching wood trim along the baseboards. A simple wooden staircase with a carpeted runner leads upward along one side, adjacent to a door that suggests access to another area or outdoors. An overhead ceiling fan with a glass light fixture adds functional charm.
Kitchen and Dining
A spacious area featuring an open layout between kitchen and dining space. The kitchen has light wood cabinetry along two walls and matching wood trim around doorways and windows. The countertop extends in a peninsula with a worn, light-colored front. The dining area floor is painted wood with visible wear marks, contrasting the kitchen’s tile flooring. Large windows bring in natural light and provide views of the outdoors, framed by natural wood that complements the cabinetry. Light gray walls, baseboard heating, and ceiling-mounted light fixtures complete the clean, simple, and functional aesthetic.
Mudroom Entry
Neutral, uncluttered space with stone-look tile flooring and white walls framed by medium-tone wood trim, creating a clean, practical aesthetic. To the left, a door opens to a utility or storage area featuring bright lighting and simple shelving. The main area includes a wood panel door likely leading to a closet, while a single-pane window and adjacent white exterior door offer views outside. Natural light fills the room, and a compact baseboard heater lines the wall, contributing to functionality and comfort. The understated ceiling light adds to the room’s practical, straightforward design, making this a sensible entry or transition area.
Bedroom Closet Area
A modest bedroom with light gray and blue painted walls offset by a medium wood trim. A window with a wooden frame draws daylight into the room, its blinds partially raised, offering a view of greenery outside. Below the window is a white baseboard heater. The room features thick, speckled beige carpeting for a cozy feel. On the right side is an open closet with a simple wooden border and a high shelf. The ceiling is textured white, adding visual interest, while multiple electrical outlets are visible along the baseboards, allowing for flexible furniture arrangements.
Bathroom Tub Area
A simple bathroom features a white toilet in the left corner and a combination bathtub-shower with integrated shelving on the right, separated by a partial dividing wall. The walls are painted a soft gray-blue, contrasting with the warm wood trim around the window and baseboards. Large rectangular floor tiles display earth-toned patterns, adding subtle warmth to the space. A single window allows natural light to filter in, showcasing a glimpse of greenery outside. Minimalistic and practical, the room feels clean and airy, with a mix of modern and functional design elements.
Bathroom Vanity Area
A spacious bathroom area featuring a large wooden vanity cabinet with a white countertop and built-in sink. Above the sink is a wide mirror framed in matching wood, with four globe vanity lights mounted above it on a wood strip. The walls are painted a light, calming blue. Two doors, made of similar natural wood as the vanity, are situated on adjacent walls—one is a standard door and the other appears to be a double closet door. Grey and tan tile flooring provides a durable, easy-to-clean surface that complements the room’s earth-toned wood accents and soft wall color.
Backyard Deck
A two-story house with light blue siding stands among tall, mature shade trees. The rear of the house features a wooden deck elevated above a grassy lawn. Large windows and a glass door visually connect the deck space to the interior, reflecting the green foliage outside. The deck railing has a simple, rustic design, framed by the natural setting. The property is bordered by neighboring houses with similar vintage charm. Lush, vibrant grass and a narrow stone pathway lead up from the right side, enhancing the welcoming, peaceful atmosphere of the yard surrounded by nature.
Lakefront Yard
The image presents a lush green lawn sloping gently toward a lakeside retaining wall, framed by several mature trees that provide generous shade. The main house at the center has light gray siding and large windows facing the water, with a simple raised deck. Neighboring houses, one painted in a modern rust red and another in sky blue, are visible on each side. Concrete and stone stairways on either side of the lawn lead down to the waterfront area, where remnants of old stone pillars and a bold ‘O’FARRELL’ sign on the retaining wall hint at the historic charm of the property.
Detached Garage Exterior
A two-story detached garage stands to the right, featuring light gray horizontal siding and a white double garage door. An exterior staircase with wooden railings leads to a second-floor entry, with a small window above it. The structure is surrounded by large, mature trees, casting dappled shade across the driveway and lawn. To the left, the main house with matching siding and a modest, functional aesthetic sits slightly downhill, partially framed by lush green grass. In the background, glimpses of a lake reveal the home’s scenic setting. The scene feels peaceful, private, and comfortably nestled among old growth trees.
Garage Exterior
The image presents a detached two-car garage with a light grey exterior clad in horizontal siding, mirroring the main house’s classic style. A double garage door dominates the facade, topped by a small window beneath the simple gabled roof. A paved driveway leads to the entrance, bordered by patches of grass and mature trees, creating a sense of privacy and shade. Surrounding the property are additional outbuildings with similar siding, while the vibrant green foliage offers contrast to the neutral tones of the structure. The layout suggests an inviting residential atmosphere tucked amidst nature.
Waterfront Overview
A sweeping aerial view of a lakeside property surrounded by lush, mature trees, with rooftops peeking through the greenery in the foreground. The property lies adjacent to a wide waterway filled with boats and multiple docks. A road and a bridge cross the water, busy with light vehicle traffic, creating a scenic boundary between shore and lake. On the far side of the lake, modern waterfront buildings and more docks are visible, blending contemporary and historic architecture. The blue sky and gently rippling water suggest a peaceful summer atmosphere, ideal for relaxation and outdoor enjoyment.
Listing Agent: Michael Jensen of Jensen Real Estate via Zillow
