Our Story

Dakota Dunes Country Club is a private club offering an active lifestyle in a relaxed and comfortable country club setting. Dakota Dunes Country Club members enjoy a complete lifestyle with an array of amenities including 18 holes of spectacular golf, creative casual and fine dining, full body fitness, outdoor swimming, recreation center and tennis courts. There is something for every member of the family. New members are welcomed into our Dakota Dunes Country Club family where moments are turned into memories.

In August 1988, plans were revealed for the master-planned business and residential community, Dakota Dunes. Iowa Public Service (IPS), now called MidAmerican Energy, recognized the possible growth of economic development in the region. IPS's chairman, Russ Christiansen, had a vision for this community incorporating the beauty of the Missouri River and the Big Sioux. He decided to build this master-planned community on the South Dakota side of the tri-state area.

Photo: Al Block, Project Manager of Dakota Dunes Development and Erik Larsen, Project Manager for Palmer, give a tour of the course while it is getting constructed.

JR Castner rezoned the region with the Core of Engineers to start building on this site. After many trips to Washington D.C. to change the point of Nebraska to South Dakota and getting approved to build on flood land, Dakota Dunes was ready to be created. Al Block was in charge of construction to help make this community grow. The infrastructure was designed to prevent further flooding of the residential area and golf course. Midwest Capital Group Inc. obtained the Sioux City Boat Club, who owned the property west of the Interstate, and 500 acres to accumulate the 2,000 acres needed for the community. The Sioux City Boat Club, dating back to the late 1800’s, is now known as Dakota Dunes Country Club.

Photo: Russ Christiansen, Chariman &CEO of Midwest Energy Company, now Midamerican Energy, speaks during the ground breaking ceremony.

IPS assembled almost 2,000 acres and built the community of Dakota Dunes, featuring 1,200 residential lots, a 600 acre business park, and 18 holes of golf. The centerpiece of the community is the Arnold Palmer-designed golf course at Dakota Dunes Country Club (DDCC). DDCC opened on August 14, 1991 and has hosted 10 professional golf tournaments, for example the Nike and Buy.com Tournaments, on what is now called the Nationwide Tour. An estimated 3,000 spectator’s watched Arnold Palmer play on his newly 18-hole designed course in celebration of the grand opening of DDCC.

Photo: Tyson and the Two Rivers Business Park

At the current time, Dakota Dunes has a population approaching 2,800 people. Sales to date include about 900 home sites, 338 apartments, and almost 170 acres of commercial ground. The business park has 38 buildings, 76 companies, and over 1,700 workers. Today, the future looks bright for Dakota Dunes and the entire Siouxland area. The objectives the power company set out to achieve almost 20 years ago have been met and, in most cases, exceeded.

Photo: The Dakota Dunes Country Club ('90s)

Historic Photos

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota is a 2,000 acre master planned community that started in 1988. Dakota Dunes Development Company is the master developer and owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, one of the largest utility holding companies in the United States, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. Some early photos of the community and construction are below.