By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
About 40 LPA members attended the July 9 managers coffee held at The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. Updates were provided by Royce Shaffer, Lake Panorama National (LPN) director of operations, and John Rutledge, Lake Panorama Association (LPA) general manager.
LAKE PANORAMA NATIONAL
Shaffer opened his report with an update on The Captain’s Pick at Lake Panorama National Resort. He said the lease agreement with Topside Lake, Inc., which operates The Captain’s Pick and Spikes, continues to work well for LPN and remains largely unchanged for 2026.
“This spring, the LPN Board approved an amendment intended to better align the agreement with current operations,” he said. “The available line of credit was reduced from $150,000 to $100,000, minimum operating hours were aligned with what occurred in 2025 and cleaning service charges were adjusted.”
LPN funded more than $30,000 in food and beverage improvements this year, including new banquet chairs, restaurant tables, bar stools, outdoor trash containers for Spikes, picnic tables, and a washer and dryer for linen washing.
The Captain’s Pick is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new menu and dinner salad bar were introduced in May.
Lake Panorama National sold 240 golf passes this year including 21 first-time single, couple and family pass holders.
“This compares to 233 passholders in 2025, which is a positive sign for overall facility use,” Shaffer said. “Stay-and-play packages, golf outings and event sales are tracking in line with prior years, and we expect final results to remain consistent with historical performance.”
He said higher passholder activity and strong facility use create ongoing pressure to balance passholder access with public play.
“We are monitoring tee time demand and pace of play during peak periods through survey feedback, tee sheet management and ranger support,” Shaffer said.
Turning to the Panorama West golf course, Shaffer said Jeff Muench continues to serve as lead groundskeeper and, together with the current team, has done a good job managing the course.
Debbie Rockwell took over management of the clubhouse following Maureen Lubeck’s retirement this spring.
“Debbie previously worked part-time under Maureen, and we are fortunate she was willing to step into the management role,” he said. “She kept the existing staff intact, added several key team members and has done a wonderful job.”
Panorama West sold 144 passes this year, including 22 new single, couple and family pass holders. This compares to 127 passholders in 2025, which Shaffer said “reflects strong growth in course use.”
New in 2026 is a weekend ranger program at Panorama West.
“The program has been well received by passholders and guests,” Shaffer said. “The role is intended to help with pace of play and reinforce course expectations when needed. We will continue working to keep this position staffed throughout the season.”
New this year at both Lake Panorama National and Panorama West is the opportunity for golfers to complete a survey after their golf rounds.
“We have collected similar feedback from lodging guests and stay-and-play package guests for several years,” Shaffer said. “Survey results are reviewed and summarized for our bi-weekly management team meetings. We look for patterns and repeated comments rather than reacting to one-off feedback. Some feedback can be addressed quickly through operating adjustments. Other comments will help inform longer-term staffing, service and capital planning decisions.”
Shaffer said the LPN is in its third year of raising funds for the Lake Panorama National Golf Course master plan.
“Since launching in summer 2024, the campaign has raised just under $144,000, with about $66,000 from events and $78,000 from donations by 63 individuals and companies,” he said. “In June, Guthrie County State Bank pledged $50,000 toward this campaign. The June Friends of Lake Panorama Beach Ball also allocated $10,000 to the LPN fundraising effort.”
Funds raised have supported forward tee improvements on four holes and renovation of the driving range tee box. After funding these projects, $20,750 is available for the next approved project.
“The LPN Board of Managers approved forward tee work on holes 1, 2, 4 and 15,” Shaffer said. “These holes were originally part of the 2024 project but were removed due to financial constraints, so completing them next is a logical step. The amount of work completed this fall will depend on donations received.”
Shaffer said two fundraising events are scheduled this fall.
Some Blues and BBQ will be held Aug. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Boulder Beach. The event will feature barbecue prepared by local chefs, with choices of pork, beef and chicken. There also will be several side dishes and desserts. Bottled water will be provided, and guests are welcome to bring their own beverage. Music will be provided by the Brick ‘n Bob Duo. Tickets are $40 per person.
Also, plans are being finalized for a Glow Ball golf tournament Oct. 24. Preliminary details include registration and dinner beginning at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. shotgun start.
LAKE PANORAMA RIZ
Rutledge began his report with a review of Lake Panorama Rural Improvement Zone (RIZ) projects.
“The West Fork Burchfield wetland is nearing completion,” he said. “This is a 3.3-acre wetland, which filters water coming into Lake Panorama from 568 acres. A 14-acre buffer surrounds the water. This $1 million project is a 50/50 cost-share with state funding covering half the cost, and RIZ the other half.”
RIZ has been working with Shive-Hattery, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to identify additional wetlands.
“There is funding available, but government agencies struggle to make connections with landowners,” Rutledge said. “IDALS issued a three-wetland grant to Shive-Hattery, then RIZ partnered with Shive to help identify and secure three wetlands in our watershed.
“RIZ’s cost is limited to paying Shive for identification and feasibility services. Once three are secured, IDALS takes over with 100% of the funding. This is much better than the 50/50 we’ve had on other projects. Credit to Lane Rumelhart, who has been the point person on this program. Without his efforts, this would not have happened.”
Rutledge said Rumelhart also manages the RIZ cover crop program.
“We are looking for help to spread the word. If you, or someone you know, farms or owns ground in the Lake Panorama watershed, please connect with Lane,” he said. “We pride ourselves on having the most streamlined and common-sense cover crop incentive program available.”
Another RIZ project is the Horseshoe Cove Basin, which will be used to store sediment dredged from Horseshoe, Shady and Dale’s Cove. Tree removal has been completed. RIZ awarded the construction portion of the project to JB Holland, which submitted the low bid of $686,000.
Rutledge reported a new dredge and booster pump will be delivered this fall. The cost for this equipment is about $5.5 million. The current dredge and booster are 12 years old, and will be sold once the new equipment is in service.
Rutledge said conversations are already underway for the upcoming 2027 legislative session. He highlighted Lake Panorama’s success in recent years, most notably with regard to LPA’s ability to govern member boating and protection of RIZ law. Rutledge emphasized the LPA’s relationship with state and county officials remains a cornerstone of this success.
LAKE PANORAMA ASSOCIATION
Rutledge said the LPA water safety committee met July 7 for their first meeting of 2026 and will meet again in the fall.
“Topics of discussion were safety of towing and boating in the Narrows, as well as the initial observations regarding wakeboard boat use,” he said. “The committee did not make any recommendations for rule changes regarding the Narrows but plan to revisit this topic at their fall meeting. The committee did note some positive changes from the new wakeboard rule.”
Rutledge said the committee also discussed riding on a boat’s transom or swim platform.
“The DNR does not explicitly call it out as a prohibited activity in their rules, but they will write citations for it under the category of unsafe boating,” he said. “The water safety committee has considered a rule but no formal action has been taken yet. In the meantime, don’t do it. You risk Carbon Monoxide poisoning and also risk falling and striking part of the boat or the boat prop. If you don’t have a personal flotation device on, that increases the risk of drowning.”
Rutledge reported StaBilt Construction of Harlan, Iowa, has completed seal coating on 3.52 miles of road on the east side of the lake, and later this year will do a similar amount on the west side. He outlined the oil and aggregate options for the seal-coat process.
“For years, we’ve used double washed pea gravel from a quarry in northwest Iowa. Unfortunately, that option is no longer available, so we had to find an alternative. Clean dolomite represented a proven option at a lower price,” he said.
“In addition to the choice of oil, we work with our contractor to refine application rates of both oil and aggregate. We offer some input, but ultimately trust their judgement in the field. The varying width of our roads, coupled with hills and curves and cul-de-sacs, makes this a very challenging endeavor.”
Rutledge said this year the LPA staff is pleased with the application rate and performance of the oil. However, the application rate of the aggregate seems slightly heavy and it is also dustier than expected.
“We spoke with Sta-Bilt about this and they advised us it is best to go a little heavy rather than a little light on the rock. The consequence of going too light is that the tar is not effectively secured and traffic pulls the rock out of the tar,” he said.
“LPA crews will be addressing overapplication of aggregate by collecting the excess in areas where it is heaviest. This will be repurposed elsewhere, and we will avoid a situation where it is plowed into yards in large quantities this winter,” he said.
Rutledge said the big issue on his desk now is finalizing a proposal to make adjustments in the LPA dues structure. Part of the proposal will be to find a way to increase the LPA’s annual, recurring funding level to ensure LPA’s maintenance and upgrade of critical infrastructure does not fall behind.
“In broad terms, the board and management team believes these funds could be allocated in thirds to increase seal coating, upgrade key drinking water distribution infrastructure, and address a variety of projects, such as debt retirement and renovation of the old marina building,” he said.
The tentative proposal maintains tiered dues pricing but would close the gap between what waterfront and offshore property owners pay. It also would simplify the dues schedule by moving from the current eight categories to four categories.
The tentative proposal would phase in changes over five years. More details on this effort will be available as the LPA board continues to discuss options.
Rutledge again cautioned walkers and cyclists about using association roadways.
“The roads at LPA are not designed for curb and gutter, sidewalks and pedestrian use,” he said. “Those who choose to walk or cycle on LPA roads are strongly encouraged to wear bright or reflective clothing, walk against traffic, and ensure their hearing is not impaired with headphones. Walking groups should yield the roadway by falling into single file.”
With the default speed limit on state highways now at 60 mph, it also is legal to drive 60 mph on 200th Road and Redwood Road, the two main entrances to the Lake Panorama community.
Rutledge said he will recommend the LPA board of directors request Guthrie County officials review the speed limit on these two roads and determine if adjustments need to occur.
“These are their roads, and ultimately their decision. But I feel we should provide political support as lowering speed limits can be unpopular. Receiving tickets on these roads also can be unpopular, especially if that speed stop escalates into something more serious, such as DUI,” he said. “I urge LPA members not to walk, run or bike on these roads.”
Rutledge said Vista Lago, being developed by Rob Manning on the old site of The Port, is progressing.
“Our involvement has tapered dramatically, although we do remain in contact with Rob at least weekly,” he said.
In response to a question from the audience, Rutledge said once the 16 condos in the building are completed in 2027, LPA will receive dues at the waterfront home rate on each unit, whether it has been sold or not. The restaurant is also assessed an annual fee by the LPA.
Following their prepared remarks, Rutledge and Shaffer fielded questions and comments from the audience. The next managers coffee will be Friday, Sept. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at The Captain’s Pick.