Chad Herfel
Google
Fillen-what-now? Can a Resort With a Funny Name Really Be This Good?”
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Heck yes.
We booked last minute—as in, "are we really doing this?" last minute—and somehow, during the 4th of July festivities, they still managed to get us in without a hitch. You’d expect things to be a little chaotic that weekend, but nope. The service was top-shelf. Every single staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful, and somehow made our stay feel like we were the only ones on the property. We felt looked after the entire time, and that warmth made our experience even better.
Now, I'm mostly a dumb cat fisherman—the kind that chucks out a hunk of meat and drags it around—but even I was able to tie into more than my fair share of largemouth bass right off the resort’s docks. Bass were thick as rats, and I’m not exaggerating. There were even pike and smallmouth lurking around. If the fish were any more cooperative, they’d have been knocking on the door asking for selfies.
Location? Unreal. You're parked right on West Lake Okoboji with jaw-dropping views, perfect access to the water, and even complimentary paddle boats to cruise the shoreline like a slow-moving pirate. Between the fishing, the scenery, and the staff’s hospitality, it was exactly the kind of getaway we hoped for—and way more than we expected given how last-minute our plans were.
Final verdict: Fillenwarth might sound like a Tolkien side character, but it’s actually a top-notch resort with charm, service, and fishing that’ll make you grin like you just found an extra beer in the cooler. We’ll definitely be back.
