Storm Lake police seek tips after graffiti vandalism at Awaysis lighthouse
Spray paint hit the Awaysis Park lighthouse, one of Storm Lake’s signature public art landmarks, and police want residents to help identify who did it.
Bright spray-painted tags and drawings on the upper level of the Awaysis Park lighthouse have turned one of Storm Lake’s most visible attractions into a vandalism investigation. Storm Lake police are asking for tips as they work to identify who damaged the landmark, a hit that has put public safety and protection of shared spaces back at the center of the conversation in Buena Vista County.
The vandalism matters because the lighthouse sits in the middle of Awaysis Park, at 1400 E. Lakeshore Drive in the King’s Pointe Resort area, where the city draws families, beachgoers and tourists to one of its busiest lakefront destinations. Storm Lake describes Awaysis Park as its biggest beach area, and the site includes a beach, lakefront promenade, picnic pavilions, a lighthouse attraction, Kolb Memorial Gardens, a swimming dock with seating, a recreation trail and restrooms.
The lighthouse is not just decorative. The city says visitors can climb the Awaysis Beach lighthouse for views and photos, which makes it one of the park’s signature stops and one of the most visible pieces of public art in town. That visibility is part of why the damage stands out so sharply.
Storm Lake’s Lighthouse Project began in 2021, when two local art teachers commissioned the first 10 seven-feet-tall molded fiberglass lighthouses. City materials say public art is a priority in Storm Lake, and the lighthouse installations have become part of the city’s identity, linking recreation, tourism and local pride. Damage at Awaysis reaches beyond one structure because it hits a piece of that citywide effort.
The Storm Lake Police Department says it provides 24-hour law enforcement service and has 20 sworn officers. The department also leans heavily on community outreach, with events such as Coffee with a Cop, YumVee ice cream patrols and pop-up BBQs that keep officers visible around town. In this case, that same public connection is part of the investigation, with police asking anyone who saw the vandalism or knows who is responsible to come forward.
City records also show ongoing attention around the Awaysis area, including a revitalized snack shack and an observation deck project connected to the lighthouse site. Those investments make the graffiti more than a nuisance. They underline how much Storm Lake has put into a public space that serves both residents and visitors, and why protecting it is now a community safety issue as well as an act of stewardship.
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