Happy Time Resort: Your Premier Seasonal Campground in Lake Mills, Iowa

Happy Time Resort Introduce

Hello, fellow Iowans! Are you dreaming of a perfect seasonal escape, a place where you can create lasting memories with family and friends, all within a vibrant, fun, and incredibly clean community? Look no further than Happy Time Resort in Lake Mills, Iowa. This isn't just a campground; it's a meticulously maintained, seasonal-only resort designed to offer an unparalleled recreational experience, blending the tranquility of nature with resort-style amenities and a lively social atmosphere.

Happy Time Resort has quickly become a beloved destination for those seeking a long-term camping experience. Its reputation for being "unbelievably clean" and having "fantastic and growing" amenities is well-earned. From the moment you arrive, you'll notice the attention to detail in maintaining the grounds and facilities. This commitment to cleanliness and continuous improvement ensures a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all seasonal campers, making it a top choice for those looking for a home away from home from the South Metro to Des Moines.

What truly sets Happy Time Resort apart is its vibrant community and the dedication of its staff and owners. Reviewers consistently rave about the "extremely friendly and knowledgeable" people who are "very willing to help." This welcoming environment fosters a strong sense of camaraderie among campers, creating a "full of fun & friendly people" atmosphere where "everyone watches out for each other." The owners themselves are described as "phenomenal" and are dedicated to organizing a diverse range of "awesome events" throughout the summer, ensuring there's always something engaging and entertaining for everyone.

The amenities at Happy Time Resort are truly top-notch and designed to cater to a wide array of interests. Central to the resort is its impressive 5-acre swimming pond, complete with a sprawling, soft sandy beach. This isn't your average Midwest beach; with its "life-like palm trees," it creates a surprisingly "tropical" feel, providing a unique and delightful escape. Whether you want to kayak around the pond, swim, or simply relax on one of the colorful Adirondack chairs, the beach area is a hub of activity and relaxation.

Beyond the aquatic fun, the resort offers convenient dining and refreshment options right on-site. The "Fried Cabana" on the beach provides "reasonably priced food items," perfect for a casual bite, while the "Chill Station" is lauded for making "the perfect drink (alcoholic or non)." These on-site eateries enhance the resort experience, meaning you don't have to leave the fun to grab a meal or a refreshing beverage.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the fishing at Happy Time Resort is described as "fantastic." The stocked pond is home to various fish, offering a great opportunity for anglers of all skill levels. Combined with the regular activities and the overall friendly atmosphere, Happy Time Resort is truly a comprehensive destination for seasonal campers in Iowa, offering everything you need for a summer full of fun and relaxation.

Happy Time Resort is located at 526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA. This prime location places it in North Central Iowa, offering a peaceful rural setting while remaining accessible from various parts of the state and even neighboring Minnesota. Lake Mills, a charming community, provides local conveniences, including basic shopping and services, ensuring that campers have access to essentials. The resort's proximity to major roadways allows for relatively easy travel from larger metropolitan areas like the South Metro region (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN) and Des Moines, making it an ideal choice for seasonal campers who travel back and forth. While nestled in a tranquil setting, it's not too far removed from necessary amenities, striking a perfect balance for those seeking both relaxation and convenience during their extended stays. Its rural positioning means campers can enjoy clear night skies and the sounds of nature, truly encapsulating the Midwestern outdoor experience.

Services Offered:

Seasonal Campsites: Primarily offers seasonal camping, providing a dedicated spot for your RV for the entire summer season (mid-April to mid-October).
Full Hookup Sites: Provides sites with water, electric (various amp services), and sewer connections for complete RV convenience.
5-Acre Swimming Pond: A large, clean pond suitable for swimming, kayaking, and other water activities.
Sandy Beach Area: Features a spacious beach with soft sand and ample seating (Adirondack chairs) for relaxation.
Fried Cabana: On-site food service offering a selection of reasonably priced food items.
Chill Station: On-site bar/beverage station serving a variety of drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Fantastic Fishing: Stocked pond provides excellent fishing opportunities.
Kayaking: Available for use on the swimming pond.
Planned Activities & Events: Owners regularly organize a variety of activities throughout the summer season (check Facebook/Instagram for details).
Clean Facilities: Unbelievably clean grounds, restrooms, and overall amenities.
Friendly and Knowledgeable Staff: Highly praised for their helpfulness and welcoming demeanor.
Community Atmosphere: Fosters a strong sense of community where people are friendly and look out for each other.

Features / Highlights:

Unbelievably Clean Environment: Consistently highlighted as a top feature, ensuring a pleasant and hygienic stay for all campers.
Top-Notch & Growing Amenities: Offers a wide range of high-quality facilities, with continuous improvements being made.
Tropical Beach Ambiance: The swimming pond's sandy beach, complete with life-like palm trees, creates a unique and surprising "tropical" feel in the Midwest.
Exceptional Staff & Owners: Praised for being extremely friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and dedicated to organizing engaging activities.
Vibrant Seasonal Community: Full of fun and friendly people, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere ideal for seasonal campers.
Diverse Activities: A wide variety of planned events throughout the summer cater to different interests and ensure constant entertainment.
On-Site Dining & Drinks: Convenient access to food and beverages at the Fried Cabana and Chill Station.
Excellent Fishing Opportunities: The stocked pond provides fantastic fishing, appealing to anglers.
Family-Oriented: Designed with families in mind, offering a safe and enjoyable environment for all ages.
Ideal for Extended Stays: Perfect for those looking for a seasonal camping spot, offering a home away from home for the entire summer.

Contact Information:

Address: 526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA

Phone: (641) 592-2267

Mobile Phone: +1 641-592-2267

For Iowans seeking the ultimate seasonal camping experience, Happy Time Resort in Lake Mills is an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended destination. Its focus on seasonal camping means you can establish a true "home away from home" for the entire summer, building lasting friendships within a vibrant and welcoming community. Locals will particularly appreciate the resort's commitment to unparalleled cleanliness and continuously growing amenities, ensuring a high-quality recreational experience right here in our state. The unique "tropical beach" complete with real sand and palm trees offers an unexpected slice of paradise without having to leave Iowa. Beyond the impressive facilities, it's the friendly and helpful staff, coupled with the owners' dedication to organizing fun-filled events, that truly makes Happy Time Resort a special place. Whether you're passionate about fishing, love to relax by the water, or simply want a supportive and active community for your summer getaways, Happy Time Resort offers a comprehensive and delightful package for any Iowan looking for their perfect seasonal retreat.

Happy Time Resort Photos

Happy Time Resort Location

Happy Time Resort

Iowa Worth County Lake Mills 470th Street

526 470th St, Lake Mills, IA 50450, USA

Happy Time Resort 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!
May 23, 2022 · Ben Bartelt
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!
Aug 10, 2021 · Rebecca Houg
Great place for the family! Lovely lake, and friendly campers!
Jul 30, 2017 · Teresa Townsend
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!
Jul 29, 2018 · Lianne Possin
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.
Aug 26, 2019 · Adam Hansen