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08/01/2008
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAKOTA DUNES
Dakota Dunes Celebrates Two Decades of Progress
DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. – Arising from bare sand dunes two decades ago, the Dakota Dunes is marking its 20th anniversary.
Since announcement of the business and residential project on Aug. 4, 1988, the master planned community has grown to include 76 companies providing more than 1,700 jobs, 919 home sites sold with 794 homes built, approximately 2,600 residents, and 197 acres of commercial land sold.
“It has been a tremendous period of growth and development, said Dennis Melstad, president, Dakota Dunes Development Company. “Many of us have been here since the project first began and it has been extremely exciting to watch the progress that has been made over the past two decades. We have built a city from scratch.”
To officially mark the 20th anniversary, an ice cream social and celebration program for Dunes residents and commercial tenants is planned for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Dakota Dunes Country Club. Numerous present and past personalities involved in the Dakota Dunes project over the 20-year period are expected to attend.
Dakota Dunes was founded as a corporate business and research park with an associated planned community by officials for Midwest Energy Company, a predecessor business of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company which continues to be affiliated with the Dunes. The announcement of the Dunes in 1988 was made be the late Russell E. Christiansen, then president of Midwest Energy Company.
A timeline of highlights for the project includes:
1989
• The Sioux City Boat Club land of 500 acres is acquired, providing a total of 2,000 acres of land needed for development of Dakota Dunes.
• Arnold Palmer Design Company is hired to design an 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse.
• The Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District is established by the South Dakota legislature.
• President George H. Bush signs legislation, passed by the 101st Congress, changing the boundary between South Dakota and Nebraska.
1990
• 1st Financial Bank, the first commercial business, breaks ground.
1991
• Dakota Dunes Country Club celebrates its grand opening with Arnold Palmer playing the course he designed.
1992
• Development plans for The Meadows, a new neighborhood of single-family homes, is announced.
1993
• BPI moves from Austin, Texas, into its new corporate headquarters, a 37,000-square-foot complex, located in Two Rivers Business Center.
1994
• The Siouxland Surgery Center, a 26,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility opens.
1998
• Development plans for The Prairie, a new neighborhood of single-family homes, is announced.
1999
• IBP inc., now Tyson Foods, opens its 200,000-square-foot headquarters.
• Plans are announced for KMEG-TV and STAR 102.3 broadcasting studios.
• CNOS plans to build 42,000-square-foot medical office building.
2000
• Dakota Dunes holds the first election for five members of the Board of Supervisors of the Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District.
• Big Sioux River bridge spanning the Iowa-South Dakota border on Interstate 29 is renamed the Russell E. Christiansen Bridge in honor of his contributions to the two states and his involvement in the founding of Dakota Dunes.
2001
• Groundbreaking held for a new retail development called Village Square.
• Sioux City Urology Associates announces construction of a 16,000-square-foot medial building at Sioux Point Park.
• First Governor’s (Bill Janklow) Golf Classic held.
• Dakota Dunes opens the new Dakota Dunes Welcome Center.
2002
• Security National Bank opens office.
• Premier Bankcard announces plans to expand and construct a 50,000-square- foot facility at Dakota Dunes.
2004
• South Dakota Department of Transportation awards $500,000 grant to fund a biking and walking trail.
• Midlands Clinic, PC relocates to Dakota Dunes.
2005
• Groundbreaking held for a 41,500-square-foot spec building called the RiverView Corporate Centre.
2007
• Tower Medical Plaza opens at Dakota Dunes.
• Malloy Electric announces plans to relocate its operations to Dakota Dunes and construct a 60,000-square-foot facility.
2008
• Groundbreaking is held for a 39,000-square-foot, 44-suite assisted living complex.
• A new residential development, Spanish Bay, is started, featuring 47 country club area lots, including 15 adjacent to the Missouri River.
Melstad attributes the Dunes’ continuing growth to South Dakota’s favorable business tax environment which includes no personal or corporate state income tax, no personal property tax, no business inventory tax, and no inheritance tax.
“This business environment helps to drive the growth at Dakota Dunes. We are pleased so many businesses and residents have chosen over the past 20 years to make Dakota Dunes their home,” Melstad said.
“We are looking to the next five years to complete the development and sales of residential lots and the continued growth and progress of the commercial area of the Dunes.”
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