Wednesday, August 25, 2010

And the Winners Are.......

Congratulations to the eleven winners of our drawing for $25 Seven Oaks Activities Gift Certificates.........thanks to everyone for entering the contest at our booth during the 2010 Iowa State Fair........

  1. Nick Hermanson from Story City
  2. Rob Walker of Ankeny
  3. Sheryl Zimmerman from Carroll
  4. Drew King from Cedar Rapids
  5. Terri Glandon - Webster
  6. Michael Reuter - Perry
  7. Peg Hoyt - Scranton
  8. Sandy Martin - Pleasantville
  9. Chad Tomlinson - Earlham
  10. Stephanie Heath - Waterloo
  11. Meaghan Kay of Des Moines

the certificates went out in the mail today.......hope to see you soon..........

Monday, August 23, 2010

Fair and Better than Fair

Well, the State Fair is over for another year......we have disassembled the booth and are ready to set it up on the ISU campus Wednesday for the 2010 ISU Welcomefest.........a place where all the freshmen can congregate to learn about the ISU community.......and we'll be there......

.....the State Fair was a hoot again this year........got to see a lot of Seven Oaks winter patrons........skiers, snowboarders, snow tubers........and many of the summer patrons that have canoed, kayaked and river tubed with us this year and years past...........had several stop to say they loved the lodge for their class reunions.........several of the mountain bikers stopped to say hi and to discuss the upcoming Labor Day 12 and 24 hour bike race..........our 8th Annual race by the way..........and even had some stop by and try to talk us into having motocross races again!!

.....the fair can be a long 11 days of 12 hours in the booth but the opportunity to see so many of you and to answer questions that a lot of Iowans have with regard to who Seven Oaks is.......what we do.........where we are located......is always a big reason we are there year after year.........in fact we have been at the state fair for nine years now.......time flies.......

.....and speaking of fairs.......the river and weather is better than just fair right now........perfect comes to mind.......great temps now......river has the sandbars exposed for floaters to use.....and lots of sunshine..........It's my opinion that the next two to three weeks will be better than we have had all summer........did you see the predictions for this coming weekend? ..........sunshine and 90 degrees...........Wow.......that is GREAT weather conditions........there is still time and still room to book your float that mother nature made so difficult for you to take in June and July.....call today to book your group.......or just yourself........

......even with summer still on our minds we are getting mentally prepared to transition into our winter fun..........yep.......some are already purchasing their season passes now.......

......in a couple of weeks I want to go to Minnesota to look for a second used snow cat........I don't like having just one as if it breaks down at the wrong time it leaves us in a situation we don't want to be in.......we take great pride in our daily grooming the the snow conditions......so we want to be sure we can always groom when we want to and need to......and a breakdown of just one groomer could jeopardize that........we'll keep you posted if we find what we are looking for......geez.........in less than three months we will be blowing snow..........hard to believe.........

........remember our FAF is September 3rd........

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Fair, Swap, Sale

We have been busy at the Iowa State Fair since it started........seen a lot of you........met a lot of new friends as well. Numbers were reportedly down a little for the first couple of days but are rebounding nicely with the mild temps this week....

.....been asked a bunch at the fair when our Annual Season Pass Sale and Ski Swap is........so here it is........Sunday, October 17.........mark your calendars and look for a reminder from us when we get closer.........

....back on the river as of yesterday ........good numbers of reservations this week.......thanks to everyone for your patience.........if I could influence mother nature......I would do it.......probably daily.....

Monday, August 9, 2010

Yep, it's a pattern

It's a pattern of rain that has not deviated much for almost three months...........stops raining and the river drops and we get busy with full service floats........as was the case from Wednesday thru Sunday last week.........and then the skies open up as it did last night and down comes the rain........again I say imagine if this remains thru the winter and as you think about that remember one inch of rain equals ten inches of snow...........WOW.....


.......had a great FAF last friday night.........with our first annual classic tractor show, meals by Seven Oaks and Billy Club performing in the lodge.........here are some pics.......

.......and it was a beautiful evening to enjoy the patio............

.......this was the first time for Billy Club to perform at Seven Oaks..........great job........

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Lodge, River, Paint, Fair

Lodge has continued to be a busy place these past few weeks. Last friday was a rehearsal supper, then a class reunion on Saturday followed by a 40th birthday party on Sunday. Had an ISU meeting with catered meal by Seven Oaks yesterday......today we donated the lodge to three local churches from Ogden to host their Vacation Bible School...........so there are lots and lots of little voices filling all the spaces inside the lodge and outdoors in tents as well............tomorrow is a group that is having a meal then going out on canoes, this Friday is our Friday After Five..........more on that in a moment.......and Saturday is another class reunion.........whew........Joel and Carol have been busy........

.....our Friday After Five on August 6............yep it is on for sure..........the Grand Times will not be serving this time as they had a change in active duty orders for their son........who now leaves this friday for overseas duty..........God bless him and all the other service men and women for serving the rest of us.......we Thank each of You........so.........Seven Oaks will provide the meal.......Oak Smoked Pork Loin, pulled pork......cheeseburgers........sides.......we'll take care of you. We will ask that you come to the winter kitchen counter to place your order and seat yourselves.........we don't have the servers available for this gig.........but it will be fun..........First Classic Tractor show on the lawn.........and some good Country Music as well.......by Billy Club......

......yep.......enough of the recent storms have missed us that we are going back on the river this weekend........should be fun........will be busy.........and going to be sunny and hot too.......

.......the paintball fields have been busy too with groups of all sizes..........glad we have this option available during the times our full service river floats were not available.........

.......and don't forget to come say hi at the Seven Oaks booth at the Iowa State Fair that starts next Thursday..........same booth location........against the north wall just west of the main entrance off Grand Avenue in the VI building..........so come on by and enjoy the air conditioned Varied Industries Building........

......enjoy summer.........and sweetcorn.......