Memorial Weekend opens summer on Rathbun Lake

Make Honey Creek Resort your Memorial Weekend base on Rathbun Lake, with boating, shoreline hikes, and resort amenities for a relaxed family escape.

Start date

23 May, 2026

End date

25 May, 2026 11:59 PM

Event details

Honey Creek Resort Summer Adventure Season Kickoff signals the start of high summer on the southern Iowa shores of Rathbun Lake in Moravia. You base yourself on the waterfront for a long weekend that moves easily between open water and wooded trails, with time for pontoon tours, a round at The Preserve golf course, and sunset viewing across the 11,000 acre lake. This weekend also serves as the resort’s pivot into full summer scheduling for shoreline activities and nature programs.

You can expect an easy pace built for multi generational groups and couples who want space, quiet, and simple outdoor fun. You will have room to spread out on the paved trail network or on the resort beach, and you can dip into signature seasonal openings like the first runs of the resort train. Holiday hours typically expand at the pirate themed Buccaneer Bay Indoor Water Park, and the weekend programming keeps its focus on the landscape and recreation, even as specific entertainers change from year to year.

Plan like it is a holiday, because it is one of the first weekends that sells out. You should book lodge rooms or multi bedroom cottages months ahead, reserve boat rentals early if you are not bringing your own, and pack for changeable May weather with high SPF sunscreen plus a light jacket for breezy evenings. Arrive early Friday to streamline check in and lock in tee times and Prairie Rose dining. Resort guests receive complimentary passes to Buccaneer Bay and access to the resort beach, and children 14 and under must be with an adult at all waterfront areas.

For lodging, you can choose among 105 lodge guest rooms, 28 rental cottages, and an RV park with 20 full service hookups. If on site inventory is full, you can stay close by at Honey Creek State Park, or look to Moravia and Centerville for additional campgrounds and bed and breakfast options. If the weather turns, you can shift plans indoors with the water park and Honey Bear’s Fun Den while you wait for lake conditions to improve.