Storm Lake Council Eliminates Family Passes at King's Pointe and Sunrise Pointe

Households that previously bought family season passes for King’s Pointe Resort and Sunrise Pointe Golf Course will face new pass options after the Storm Lake City Council voted unanimously to eliminate family passes. Councilors approved a resolution at a Jan. 21 meeting that replaces family passes with individual and child or junior products, changes price points, and expands punch-card options for the golf course.

Amy Von Bank, general manager at King’s Pointe, told councilors the change responds to repeated confusion over who qualifies for a family pass. Council discussion also flagged a projected operating gap: officials said the water park had an $80,000 budgeted loss for the upcoming season. Councilors described the pricing adjustments as steps to improve clarity for buyers and to move toward greater financial sustainability for city-run recreation assets.

Under the new structure, King’s Pointe will lower its individual season pass from $150 to $100 and add a child pass priced at $75. Sunrise Pointe will discontinue family passes in favor of individual and junior passes and a set of punch-card options aimed at flexible use. Published pricing discussed at the meeting included a 10-round green fee punch-card for $140, a 10-round cart rental card for $150, and a combo card covering 10 rounds plus carts for $250.

Councilors also discussed stronger promotion of the resident rate, signaling an intent to ensure Buena Vista County residents receive the intended discounts and to boost local access. The changes were presented as both a consumer clarity measure and a budgetary tool: lower individual pricing for the water park may make passes more attractive to single-adult households, while punch cards at Sunrise Pointe provide lower-commitment options for casual golfers.

The unanimous vote adopted the resolution as presented, leaving implementation details and sales timing to city staff and facility management. The decision shifts how families plan summer recreation budgets and how seasonal revenue will be tracked. For families with multiple children or mixed-household arrangements, the move away from a family pass may change total costs; for single-adult households and occasional golfers, the new pricing and punch-card options could lower barriers to participation.

City officials intend to follow up with promotional materials and purchase windows before the season. Residents who rely on King’s Pointe and Sunrise Pointe for summer activities should watch Storm Lake municipal channels for finalized pass sale dates, resident-rate instructions, and any further adjustments the council or staff may make as they monitor attendance and revenue outcomes.