Off Campus

So you’re taking a close look at Buena Vista University, but want to know more about the community of Storm Lake and what it has to offer you as a student.

Whether it’s finding recreation, entertainment, dining out, shopping, churches or off-campus job opportunities, there’s a lot more than you might expect in a town of 10,000 people.

Of course, with a name like Storm Lake, you’d first envision a lake and plenty of related outside recreational activities.  The community does not disappoint.

The 3,200 natural lake is the centerpiece of the community, and provides a scenic setting for the BVU campus located on the north shore.  You’ll find the lake and surrounding area a gigantic playground.

There’s the paved five-mile lake trail for walkers, joggers and bikers that winds around the northern shore of the lake and passes through the BVU campus. There are 200 acres of city parks, most along the lake shore, and a city campground that is only a few hundred feet from waters edge.

If you like to fish, the lake offers some of the best walleye angling in the state, with catfish not far behind.

The newest attraction is King’s Pointe (www.kingspointeresort.com), a $39 million city-owned destination water park and resort on the northeast shore of the lake.  It is considered one of the finest water recreation facilities of its type in this region.  It features a seasonal outdoor water park with five giant water slides, a 17,000-square-foot indoor water park, and a large outdoor family pool with traditional lap lanes, separate diving area, and a water playground area. 

Golf courses include an 18-hole country club, that is open for BVU students to use, and a newly renovated 9-hole city course located on the northeast corner of the lake adjacent to King’s Pointe.  There are also plenty of tennis courts, in addition to those at the university.

Other entertainment attractions include a three-screen movie theater, bowling alley, and more than 25 restaurants.  When you’re looking to attend worship services, 18 denominations are represented in the community.   With a good cross-section of businesses in the community, you can find most anything you need in the way of retail shopping, health care and financial services.

If you’re interested in off-campus employment, whether it’s odd jobs such as babysitting, lawn mowing or raking, or part time work in restaurants, banks or retail stores, there are plenty of employers who want to hire BVU students.  A central contact point for off-campus jobs is our Office of Career Services, as well as the local office of Job Service of Iowa.

Learn more about Storm Lake at www.stormlakechamber.com