Clear Lake, Iowa

This Fourth of July, we were invited to visit our friends—who have become something of an adopted second family—at their lake house in the Outing Club at Clear Lake, Iowa. Their family has had a home there for more than 80 years, so we knew this visit would be something special.

The Outing Club is a private resort made up of cottages that, for the most part, have remained in the same families for multiple generations. Remarkably, our friends’ 80-year history there isn’t even close to the longest-held home. Because the units cannot be openly sold to the general public, the OC has developed a rare kind of community—one where everyone truly knows everyone else, along with their stories, histories, and connections.

The Fourth of July is an especially unique day at the OC. Each family takes responsibility for a different part of preparing the grounds for the day’s large communal celebration—games, gatherings, and a party that unfolds over the course of the day.

Although we had heard stories and learned bits of OC history for more than a decade, experiencing it in person was something entirely different. It felt as if we had stepped back in time to just after World War II, into that distinct slice of Americana often portrayed in films from the 1940s and 1950s. It’s a feeling that’s difficult to put into words, and rather than risk getting it wrong, it’s best left simply stated:

If you ever get the chance to visit the Outing Club during the Fourth of July, it’s an experience that’s hard to forget—and the openness and warmth of the people there is something truly special to witness.t all begins with an idea.