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Lake Panorama Timeline
| Early 1960s |
- First plans to develop lake. |
| 1964 |
- Lake Panorama officially founded. |
| 1965 |
- First stock sold by Mid-Iowa Lakes. |
| 1967 |
- First lots sold. Vacation Village (at CIECO built). |
| 1968 |
- Lake Panorama Association (LPA) organized.
- Lake floor cleared. |
| 1969 |
- Lodge Built.
- First new home built at 9240 Deer Lane (near Sunset Beach).
- Par 3 Gold Course opened (designed by Richard Watson).
- Water system and electricity to lake started. |
| 1970 |
- Dam Completed.
- Lake filled with water.
- Ski lodge opened.
- Gas dock at marina built. |
| 1971 |
- Mid-Iowa and chief investor Woodland Corp. declare bankruptcy. |
| 1972 |
- Lake Panorama National Golf Course opens front 9 for play.
- The Port restaurant built. |
| 1973 |
- Lake Panorama National Golf Course opens back 9 for play. |
| 1974 |
- Investors Equity (who bought Woodland Corp.) declare bankruptcy. |
| 1976 |
- Dam lowered, lake drained and dam repaired.
- Lighthouse built by Max Antrim and installed. |
| 1977 |
- Central Iowa Escrow, subsidiary of Central Iowa Power Cooperative of Marion, bought the interest of Investors Equity.
- Central Iowa Escrow kept the dam, lake floor, and about 1,400 wooded acres upstream and sold the remaining land to the LPA. This land consisted of 2 golf courses, 43 miles of roads, the lodge and swimming pool, marina, campgrounds and 600 undeveloped residential lots. |
| 1980 |
- Boulder Cove condos started by Irv Gerlich. |
| 1982 |
- Sunset Ridge condos built. |
| 1983 |
- Lodge sold to St. Thomas More Center.
- Clover Ridge townhouses started.
- Marina building built. |
| 1984 |
- Conference Center built. |
| 1985 |
- Clover Ridge guesthouses finished. |
| 1986 |
- Office building (Bump's Law) built along Highway 4.
- Lake flood. |
| 1988 |
- Clover Ridge "Time Share" units built. |
| 1990 |
- Telecommunications building built along Highway 4. |
| 1991 |
- Sunset Ridge condos built.
- West county road paved.
- Jon Judson hired as consultant to assess and treat the 420-mile watershed area upstream.
- Redwood Road redesigned and paved. |
| 1992 |
- New LPA office built. |
| 1993 |
- The big flood! |
| 1993-1995 |
- The LPA roads given a hard surfacing.
- Natural gas brought to Lake Panorama. Installation completed in 1997.
- New maintenance building built.
- REC purchased Conference Center and assumed lease of Lake Panorama National Golf Course (18 holes).
- Second maintenance shed built. |
| 1997 |
- Community Building and Pro Shop opened on Panorama West Golf Course.
- Seal coating to lake roads.
- Sunset Terrace Townhouses built.
- New skeet range built.
- RIZ bill signed and initiated.
- The LPA purchased wooded and other property, the lake bottom and the dam. (This purchase included non-agricultural land between Fansler and Highway 44) |
| 1998 |
Sunset South Townhouses built.
- Old Par 3 clubhouse and maintenance building burned (planned).
- Much rain and flood damage around lake.
- Three homes destroyed.
- Gibson Silt Basin completed.
- Golf cart storage building completed at Panorama West Golf Course. |
| 1999 |
- New, bigger dredge and skimmer purchased. |
| 2000 |
- Second golf storage building completed at Panorama West Golf Course. |
* Thank you to the Lake Panorama Association for help in gathering the above dates and events. *
Lake Panorama News Clippings!
Mid Iowa Lake Meeting
The Guthrian - Monday, May 11, 1970
A name change will be brought before Mid Iowa Lakes stockholders Tuesday for their approval at the annual meeting of the corporation.
The meeting is set for 1 p.m. at the new completed lodge at Lake Panorama. Persons attending the meeting will enter the lake area through the highway 44 entrance and follow the signs to the lodge and sales area office.
Harold Castle, in his annual report to stockholders, revealed lots sales the past year at the lake amounted to 821 of which 252 were waterfront lots. Total net sales the past year amounted to $3,203,352 which brings the amount of sales to $6,569,328.
Officials hope to have the articles of incorporation amended to change the Mid Iowa name to Nation Land Enterprises, Inc. This is being done to have a corporation name with less regional limitation should the corporation expand into other development fields and areas.
The annual report showed the company hopes to capitalize on home building at the project as well as receiving income from commercial ventures connected with development of the area.
Panorama a Lake!
Expect Water Backed Up To Twin Brides By Weekend
The Guthrian - Monday, June 8, 1970
Impounding of water for 1400 acre Lake Panorama began Monday, according to Project Manager Jack Cummins.
Cummins said even though the hydraulic controls for operation of the bascule gate had not arrived, it would not affect the impounding of water which will be raised to a 10:36 level.
This he said, would not fill the entire lake but would back it up to the Twin Brides area. The main basin, he stated, probably would be ready for boating by property members this weekend.
Original estimates said that lake would be filled in 57 days under normal circumstances. However, because the entire lake area will not be filled immediately, it is expected it will be back to the Twin Bridges area b the end of the week.
He said the Marina north of Panora on highway 4 was complete and a five place boat ramp will be available for property owners use this week. Also, plans are proceeding for a 70 stall under roof marina.
A nine hole golf course on the west side now is being seeded and it will have an underground water system. Cummins said this will be ready for use by the last of July. Work is progressing on the 18 hole championship golf course on the east side of the lake. It will not be in use this year but the first nine are being constructed.
A swimming pool near the ski lodge on the west side will be completed by July 4 barring unforeseen and weather problems, the manager said. Construction started last week.
Boats on Panorma
** NOTE: "Panorma" was the spelling for the title of this article. **
The Guthrian - Monday, June 15, 1970
After about seven years of planning, a dream was realized for many Sunday as Lake Panorama had its first baptism as a full fledged lake.
The lake started filling Monday as water impounding began and a good portion of the main basin Sunday had water in it estimated at more than 15 feet deep in some areas. It is expected, when full, the deepest part of the basin will measure 40 feet deep.
Sunday numerous boats were on the lake and some had their first taste of water skiing. Boat enthusiasts had about two miles of backed up water in which to test their navigation skills.
Lake Panorama officials reported their heaviest traffic of the year Sunday under blue skies and 90 degree plus temperatures.
Special Notices
Many pictures on LakePanorama.com are provided by Bill Hopkins, Jr.
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