As the legend goes, JA Beck and HE Mills developed the canals around Crescent Beach Lodge in the early 1900’s. The dredging of the canals was started by the desire to please the summer guests who frequented the Iowa Great Lakes area. A vision of an “American Venice” consisted of 5 openings, one of which is Crescent Beach Lodge. The canals were not only created for pleasure but also for drainange, lakefront lots and a safe harbor in stormy weather. In 1914 Crescent Beach Lodge was built on 1000 feet of sandy beach with the canal behind it and began as a hunting lodge. The resorts name came from its naturally crescent shaped beach stretching from Breezy and Eagle Point.

Sold to WA White in 1916, White built Crescent Beach into a popular family resort and restaurant. The resort temporarily closed at the beginning of WWII. Purchased in 1945 by Mr. & Mrs. Carroll Lane. They made many changes with a building-remoldeling project which lasted until 1962. In 1975 the property was sold and operated by Bill and Laurie Shafer.

The resort is now owned and operated by Charlie and Judy Kneip, who have been part of the Okoboji community since 1991. Originally taken over in 2007 by a group of family and friends as private investors, the property eventually transitioned to sole ownership under the Kneips. Continuing its strong tradition, Crescent Beach Family Resort began as—and remains—one of the most beloved family vacation destinations in the beautiful Iowa Great Lakes region on West Lake Okoboji.