The doors are open, and what a welcome it’s been. The Clear Lake Area Chamber & Welcome Center officially celebrated its grand opening and ribbon cutting on May 29, 2026, welcoming approximately 150 people for the ceremony and more than 800 visitors throughout the first weekend.
The excitement, support and positive feedback have been overwhelming. Designed to serve as a front door for Clear Lake, the new facility provides a welcoming place for visitors, a hub for local businesses and a gathering space for the community. Seeing the building filled with residents, chamber members, volunteers, elected officials and visitors made years of planning and hard work worth it.
More than a visitor center
The new Welcome Center offers visitor information, event details, maps, brochures, local merchandise and recommendations to help guests make the most of their time in Clear Lake. It is also home to flexible meeting and event spaces available for rent. Whether you are planning a board meeting, training session, small gathering or workshop, the facility offers several rental options designed to meet a variety of needs.
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Be sure to check out our Meeting & Event Space Rental Guide to learn more about available rooms, amenities and reservation information.
Built by the community
This project would not have been possible without the generosity of hundreds of donors, businesses, foundations and community partners who believed in the vision of creating a new front door for Clear Lake.
“The Chamber & Welcome Center is more than a building,” said Stacy Doughan, president & CEO of the Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a place where visitors begin their Clear Lake experience, where businesses can connect and grow, and where our community can gather. This project reflects what can happen when people come together around a shared vision.”
The new Chamber & Welcome Center was funded through the Chamber’s Building a Bright Future capital campaign, which brought together support from donors large and small to create a space that will serve Clear Lake for generations. While the building is now open and welcoming visitors, the campaign is still accepting contributions to help fulfill remaining campaign commitments. To view the donor recognition list or make a contribution, visit clearlakeiowa.com/future.
Stop in and say hello
Whether you are a first-time visitor looking for things to do, a longtime resident picking up information about upcoming events or simply curious to see the new space, the chamber staff is ready to welcome you.
Welcome Center location
The Clear Lake Area Chamber & Welcome Center is located at 205 Main Avenue, directly across from City Park in downtown Clear Lake.
Thank you to everyone who attended the ribbon cutting, toured the building, shared encouraging words and helped bring this project to life. The chamber looks forward to serving the community and welcoming visitors for years to come.
