For nearly 150 years, people have been drawn here, to the southern tip of a lake with five islands. It was here that a group of immigrants, driven here by a desperate hunger, founded an Irish colony along the Des Moines River, started a dream, and created a community. The town was named to honor Irish Patriot Robert

Emmet, who was executed in 1803 by the English government in Ireland's fight for independence. Here, in Emmetsburg, we have all the best of small town life nestled in the heart of the Midwest. The town boasts many attractions to keep you as busy as you'd like to be.

We believe in heritage - where our stories matter, from Irish beginnings to our diversity today. The culture of the Old Country has been preserved and is commemorated each St. Patrick's Day with a week-long celebration. Visit Emmetsburg's Irish gift store downtown to get a taste of Emmetsburg's lively Irish roots, then explore the retails shops, historic sites, and tasty bites in the community. Test out the luck of the Irish at the Wild Rose Casino & Resort. On top of the casino and sports wagering, the Wild Rose also offers a new restaurant, hotel and RV lodging, and entertainment.

We believe in our nature - our fields fuel us, our trails connect us, and our lake anchors us. Emmetsburg is the proud home of Five Island Lake (Iowa's 9th largest natural lake) and offers year-round recreation areas, fishing, boating, wetlands, swim beach, and public access docks. A 9-hole golf course is open to the public. Go for a peaceful walk on the continually-growing Five Island Trail, play a round of disc golf at Harrison Park or Iowa Lakes Community College, go for a swim at Soper Park, get on the lake by renting a canoe or kayak from The Shores at Five Island, or experience serene sunset over the lake while camping at the new Five Island Campground. Spend a weekend or longer at Five Island Campground on the east shore of Five Island Lake. The campground offers two modern rental cabins that can accommodate up to 4 or 9 guests. Located on the west side of the lake next to The Shores at Five Island and Five Island Golf Course, the Kearny Park campground offers both RV and primitive camping sites, just steps away from the shore.

We invite you to discover what it is like to be our neighbor and experience this amazing little place we call home. There is truly nowhere else quite like it. It's your choice of sporting adventure, shopping, historical collections, outdoor recreation, unexpected treasures, and seasonal delights. We are Emmetsburg, Iowa - The One & Only. also located in Emmetsburg, offers hotel and RV lodging options, a new restaurant, entertainment experiences, sports wagering, and more.