Happy Time Resort










Happy Time Resort Overview
Rating
Phone (641) 592-2267
Address 526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA
Website http://www.happytimeresort.com/
Hours
Happy Time Resort Location & Map
IowaWorth CountyLake Mills470th Street
Happy Time Resort About
Are you an Iowa local searching for that perfect, long-term summer getaway without the hassle of packing up every weekend? Look no further than Happy Time Resort in Lake Mills, a truly unique and highly recommended seasonal-only campground that promises an unforgettable experience. Described by delighted campers as "unbelievably clean" with "fantastic and growing amenities," Happy Time Resort is much more than just a place to park your RV; it’s a vibrant community where friends become family, and every day feels like a vacation.
Happy Time Resort has carved out a niche as a premier destination for those seeking a more permanent, yet flexible, camping lifestyle. Its focus on seasonal sites means you can establish a true home away from home, enjoying consistent access to its impressive facilities and lively events. This dedication to seasonal campers fosters a strong sense of community, where friendly and knowledgeable people are always willing to help, making it an ideal spot for Iowans looking to build lasting connections and memories in a beautiful, resort-like setting. It's truly a spot that redefines what a "campground" can be in the Midwest.
Happy Time Resort is perfectly situated at 526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA. This location in northern Iowa offers a peaceful escape while remaining easily accessible for residents across the state. Lake Mills, a charming community, provides a serene backdrop for the resort, allowing campers to truly disconnect and relax. For those coming from the bustling south metro areas or even Des Moines, the drive to Happy Time Resort is a manageable journey, leading you to a place where you can leave your everyday worries behind.
The resort’s setting allows for easy access to local attractions in Lake Mills and the wider Winnebago County, including various outdoor recreational opportunities, local dining, and community events. While the resort itself is a destination, its location ensures that if you need to run an errand or explore the charming Iowa countryside, everything is conveniently within reach. Its position near the Minnesota border also makes it a viable option for those just across the state line seeking a prime seasonal camping spot.
Happy Time Resort offers an exceptional range of services and amenities that set it apart, ensuring a comfortable and entertaining stay for its seasonal campers:
- Full Hook-up Sites: All sites provide water, sewer, and electrical connections, ensuring maximum convenience for RV and trailer campers.
- Lawn Maintenance: The resort staff handles lawn mowing, allowing campers more time to relax and enjoy their surroundings.
- Garbage Service: Convenient garbage disposal is included for all seasonal campers.
- Electric Metered Billing: Individual electric meters on each site allow for fair and transparent billing based on usage.
- Campstore/Bar: An on-site campstore and bar, including "The Fried Cabana" right on the beach and "The Chill Station" for drinks, offer a variety of food and beverage options.
- Clean Bathhouse: Well-maintained and clean bathhouse facilities are available for all campers.
- Laundry Facility: On-site laundry services add to the convenience for long-term stays.
- Master Gardener Services: A staff member who is a master gardener can be hired by campers to care for their flowers, adding a personalized touch to their site.
The features and highlights of Happy Time Resort are truly what make it a "Happy Time" for all who visit, offering a unique blend of relaxation and vibrant activity:
- 5-Acre Swimming Pond: A central attraction, this large pond is perfect for swimming, kayaking, and even catching fish (catch-and-release).
- Tropical Sand Beach: A spacious beach area with soft sand, complete with colorful Adirondack chairs and life-like palm trees that create a fun, tropical "Midwest" vibe.
- Kids Playgrounds: Multiple playgrounds ensure that younger campers have plenty of space to play and burn off energy.
- Basketball Court: A full-court basketball court that can also be converted into a pickleball court offers athletic opportunities.
- Variety of Activities: The owners are phenomenal and try hard to have a great variety of activities throughout the summer, including:
- Live music bands (e.g., Above Ground Pool Party, Todd Jameson, Nate & Mindy, Problem Child Band)
- Kentucky Derby Parties
- Wine Scavenger Hunts and Wine Glass Painting
- Ultimate Bloody Mary Bars
- Saturday drawings for campers
- Kids Movies at the Craft Coop
- Church services with free will offering
- Watermelon Carving and Eating Contests
- Volleyball and Bean Bag Tournaments
- Kids Triathlon
- Wine Walks
- Halloween Weekend with Trick-or-Treating and Fall Festival
- Iowa vs. Iowa State Watch Parties
- Trivia Nights
- Fantastic Fishing: The pond offers excellent fishing opportunities, making it a favorite for anglers.
- Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff: Campers consistently praise the staff for being extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help.
- Vibrant Community Atmosphere: The seasonal-only nature fosters a strong, friendly community where residents genuinely enjoy spending time together.
- Beautifully Maintained with Landscaping: The resort is meticulously kept, with pretty landscaping adding to its aesthetic appeal.
Happy Time Resort, being a seasonal-only campground, focuses its value and offerings on the comprehensive seasonal rates. These rates include water, sewer, lawn maintenance, and garbage services, providing a clear and predictable cost for your extended stay. While there aren't traditional "promotions" in the same vein as short-term stays, the resort's commitment to providing a packed calendar of events and top-notch amenities throughout the season acts as an ongoing value proposition. Potential seasonal campers are highly encouraged to check their Facebook and Instagram pages, as noted in reviews, for the most up-to-date schedule of their incredible array of events and any specific seasonal offerings or deadlines (such as registering for the next camping season).
To connect with Happy Time Resort and inquire about seasonal site availability or their event schedule, please use the following contact information:
- Address: 526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA
- Phone: (641) 592-2267
- Mobile Phone: +1 641-592-2267
Reaching out directly is the best way to get all the details you need to become part of this thriving community.
For Iowa locals, Happy Time Resort is an ideal choice for a long-term, memorable camping experience. Its unique seasonal-only model cultivates a strong sense of community, ensuring you'll be surrounded by friendly faces and have ample opportunities to socialize. The resort's commitment to being "unbelievably clean" and continuously growing its "fantastic amenities" means you can truly relax and enjoy your time without worrying about upkeep. The incredible array of activities and events, from live music and themed parties to family-friendly competitions and quiet fishing, ensures there's never a dull moment. Whether you're a family looking for a fun-filled summer, a couple seeking a peaceful retreat with social opportunities, or anyone in between, Happy Time Resort offers a stress-free and enriching environment right here in Iowa. It's truly a place where you can make lasting memories and enjoy the best of the Midwest's outdoor lifestyle with the convenience and community of a resort.
Customer Reviews
Unbelievably clean place! The amenities are fantastic and growing! The people are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They are very willing to help. They have awesome events for the campers. I would highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a seasonal from south metro to Des Moines. This is the spot! The fishing is also fantastic!
Incredible seasonal-only campground that is full of fun & friendly people. The facilities here are top-notch. Big swimming pond people can kayak around and even catch fish. The beach has plenty of room with soft sand and lots of colorful adirondack chairs. I love the life-like palm trees 🌴 they’ve got all around to make the beach feel more tropical and less “Midwest”. Lol! The Fried Cabana right on the beach offers a great selection of reasonably priced food items. And just a few steps further is the Chill Station where they always make the perfect drink (alcoholic or non). The owners are phenomenal and try hard to have a great variety of activities throughout the summer that are always a big hit. Check out their Facebook or Instagram for more details!
Great place for the family! Lovely lake, and friendly campers!
The rules state that if you are on the beach or in the patio you must buy your drinks from them! We were walking and stood by the pond for a few minutes ( not on beach or patio) and was told by one of the owners if wanted to drink, we had to buy from them, and was told that there business was not run by smiles and thank yous! Last time I checked that’s how you get people to come back! Also had an issue with a camper next to us being 3 inches from mine and went to the store 2 times and nothing was done about it! Owners nor the people next to us didn’t even come and talk to us about it! I guess they were to worried about party the night away, and slamming doors! Mind you if there was someone in are group that was right there it would be a different story but this was a complete stranger that had no respect! If someone came to talk to us about it probably would be different. Also a lot of golf carts racing around. FUNNY HOW THE RULES JUST APPLY TO CERTAIN PEOPLE! Will not recommend this place to anyone! Not a happy family oriented place!
This place WAS my favorite place to camp until now. The last experience I had was awful. Owners were extremely rude to me and my family. They have rules about buying alcohol from them. They said the bar was opening at 5 and at 330pm the owner appeared at the beach telling us he had no problem kicking us out for bringing our own drinks to his beach. We were not aware that they had opened the bar early. He had no right to be that rude. We have camped at this resort a minimum of 2 times each summer for the past 3 years. We have followed the rules every time. All Rodney had to do was say, ”Hey, the bar is open now so please don't bring your own drinks anymore" and all would have been fine. The rest of the weekend they completely ignored us when we wanted to buy drinks and we felt as though they were stalking everything we did. This is very upsetting because we have referred many people to this campground. Clearly this was a mistake. We will never be back to this establishment nor will we recommend anyone to camp there ever again.
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