By Beverly Clinkingbeard

Spring of 2018, on a quiet afternoon in Southwest Iowa, at Porter’s Lake Lutheran Center, north of Shenandoah, Iowa, the grass was green, but the leaves had not yet fully developed on the trees. A couple of goose pairs ambled about with housekeeping plans for a summer home on the lake. On the other side of the levee, the East Nishnabotna River traveled toward a final destination miles away. The peaceful setting was deceiving, for it appeared as though Porter’s Lake simply awaited guests as though the place took care of itself.

For instance, by 2015-16, the East Nishnabotna River had created quite a concern for the safety of Porter’s Lake Skating Rink and surrounding grounds. A bulldozer had pushed mounds of dark rich soil toward an excavator that had hastily re-enforced the levee. What the Porter’s Lake board members knew was needed was to re-direct the flow of the water to stop eroding the levee. Once the Department of Natural Resources finally gave approval of a plan to protect it, the excavator began placing huge pieces of concrete to create a series of jetties in the river bed.

Indeed, the bulldozer and excavator addressing the huge piles of  chunks of concrete looked out of place beside a skating rink and playground. It appears to be a successful fix, but was an unexpected expense for a non-profit organization as Porter’s Lake Lutheran Center.

It was April, 1978, that a plan for Porter’s Lake began to gel with news the entertainment site was for sale. Through a series of connections, interested families, who happened to have a Lutheran connection and faith in common, developed a board and bought the skating rink. Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple, nor was staying afloat in the farm recession of the 80s, plus other bumps in the road of life and care of a skating rink and surrounding grounds all these years—but as Eugene Leu wrote in “Reminiscing About Porter’s Lake,” “God had a plan for me and [God] has a plan for you.” He writes of a vision and faith that has replaced a leaky roof, replaced new roller skates, rescued an eroding levee, improved a picnic shelter, built a new bridge, created two miles of walking trail and worn out several lawn mowers keeping the grass clipped, all achieved over time from a vision of a few to the many volunteers that keep Porter’s Lake Lutheran Center ready for a good time that is available to everyone!

Mr. Leu and Mr. Kopt, original board members, take little credit unto themselves, but these men of faith have worked at times, and stood by at other times, wondering how God would bring it to pass. The original intent was to have Porter’s Lake function as a place for family oriented entertainment and a fun place to be – to draw away from a busy world and be together, as well as a community gathering place. All this and more has been realized over the years with “Volunteers giving 39 years of time, talent and treasures,” said Mr. Leu, “so families will continue to enjoy God’s little acres, known as Porter’s Lake Lutheran Center.”

The spectator area and bathrooms were recently remodeled. Donations are always welcome. The facility is available for a nominal fee for church groups, graduation and birthday parties, dances, retreats, school groups, weddings, and recently, craft show and festival.

The skating rink is located north of Shenandoah off of Hwy. 48 (watch for the sign) at 58321 – 390th St., and go around to the second gate for entry. Open skating is every first and third Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and is $4.00 per skater. Spectators are free. Check them out on Facebook, call 712-542-5436 or email porterslakecenter@gmail.com. So turn on the music and put on the skates!