2024: Year in Review
Snow and cold temperatures ushered in 2024. But Lake Lorraine remained a hot location for businesses to locate or expand, as well as host events and welcome more residents in living options. Here’s a rundown of highlights from 2024, with even more excitement planned in 2025:
January
The Sonography Studio and Keith & Lux Maternity and Baby boutique opened their Sioux Falls location on the east side of Lake Lorraine. It’s located on the east side of the lake, next to Apricot Lane.
Winter Crazy Days brought shoppers out during the coldest month to shop great deals from participating businesses.
Child’s Play Toys closed its Lake Lorraine location.
February
AutoZone opened on northwest part of the development, leaving just one lot left in that corner. This is the national auto parts store’s third location in Sioux Falls.
March
Moe’s Home Collection was again featured in Down Home Fab’s season two. The show ran on HGTV and featured Chelsea and Cole DeBour remodeling homes in the Sioux Falls area and including furniture from Moe’s in the staging.
April
Lake Lorraine visionary Warren Friessen passed away at the age of 93. Dreaming of a lake in the middle of Sioux Falls was only one of his many legacies. His daughters, Cindy Monnin and Patty Vognild, helped carry out his vision. Read more about Warren’s life.
A taste of Wyoming is coming to Sioux Falls in spring 2025 when Big Lost Meadery and Ranch & Roost opens on the north side of the lake. A groundbreaking was held in April. The remaining space on the north side of the lake will become greenspace that connects with the Lake Walk, with additional parking.
May
The start of summer kicked off the outdoor recreational season at the lake. Lake Lorraine is privately owned but Friessen Development, Inc. partners with several businesses to enable quiet enjoyment at the lake. Bringing personal recreational equipment on the lake or fishing isn’t allowed. Flow and Paddle returned for their fifth year at Lake Lorraine, this year locating at the southeast corner of the lake adjacent to new parking lot. Game, Fish & Parks continued to offer free fishing classes at the lake, from pop-up fishing to spearfishing.
Outdoor picnic season returned to Lake Lorraine, with QBIC Luxury Picnics promoting the lifestyle center as a location for its curated picnics.
Scheels University utilized Lake Lorraine to try out new equipment from vendors.
June
The 6th annual Lake Lorraine Farmers Market kicked off in June on the east side of the lake. The weekday market featured local producers offering honey, sauces, desserts, vegetables, plants, art and more. The market Thursdays from 4-7 p.m. from June-October.
The Action Academy Children’s Business Fair returned to the Farmers Market, bringing approximately 100 children entrepreneurs to the farmers market.
July
The annual Summer Crazy Days featured specials from Lake Lorraine retailers and a Community Appreciation Grillout at Security National Bank.
August
The Sioux Falls Noon Sertoma Club hosted its annual Shine and Show in the Carsforsale.com parking lot. This free event brought out car enthusiasts and served as a fundraiser for playground equipment for the all-abilities playground at Sertoma Park.
Lake Lorraine Farmers Market vendor Hanisch Farms invited kids to come to the market for Corn Husking 101 — each child was able to shuck two ears of corn for free. Hansich Farms wanted to provide an opportunity for kids to get closer to agriculture.
A car driving on Terry Avenue lost control and crashed into two crabapple trees. The trees will be replaced in 2025.
It was announced that Dollar Tree is expanding to Lake Lorraine. The store will open in 2025 and is located inside the multi-tenant building along the east side of the lake.
A new fountain was installed at Lake Lorraine. The previous fountain stopped working mid-summer 2023. After exhausting all repair options with no luck, the old fountain was retired. A fountain was first installed at the lake in 2018 and has run seasonally ever since until 2023. The spray of the water and the colored lights at night are appreciated by many who live and work at the lake as well as those who use the Lake Walk.
September
Loop the Lake races had beautiful weather for the annual paddleboard and kayak races and biathlon. The races tested participants’ speed skills as they paddled around Lake Lorraine with an option to add a one-mile run on the Lake Walk.
October
The 7th Annual Halloween at Lake Lorraine brought thousands of people to the lake for trick-or-treating along the Lake Walk. Lake Lorraine businesses and community organizations had candy/trinket stations and there were numerous photo stations. This fun, free community event continues to be very popular.
The Haunted House Decorating Contest was another way to spread the Halloween spirit across the community. Individuals entered their decorated homes for a chance to win bragging rights and Lake Lorraine gift basket(s). The community were able to visit the decorated houses and help choose the winner.
The Lake Lorraine Farmers Market season ended.
December
Color Splash Studio, a unique tie-dye studio, sadly closed after nearly two years in business.
Lake Lorraine had a decorated tree on display at the Washington Pavilion over the 2024 holiday season. The tree promoted all businesses at Lake Lorraine and used décor donated by Kirkland’s.