Oakwood Lakes in Brookings County, South Dakota
Oakwood Lakes in Brookings County, South Dakota
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Oakwood Lakes in Brookings County, South Dakota
This map has 8 layers
Oakwood Lakes is an exceptional chain of eight connecting glacial lakes covering nearly 3,000 acres in eastern South Dakota's Brookings County, featuring an average depth of 6 to 10 feet and over 30 miles of scenic shoreline surrounded by prairie grasslands and oak woodlands. These shallow glacial lakes were scooped in the earth's surface by advancing ice during the last ice age, creating a unique interconnected system that includes Johnson Lake, Tetonkaha Lake, East Oakwood, West Oakwood, and four additional lakes perfect for paddling adventures. The chain supports diverse fish populations including Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Yellow Bullhead, and stocked Saugeye, though the shallow depth sometimes results in winterkill of fish during harsh winters. This productive fishery attracts anglers year-round, while the chain serves as a haven for over 150 bird species including migratory waterfowl such as white pelicans, mergansers, teal, gulls, and great blue herons that stop during spring and fall migrations. The boyhood home of Paul Errington, nationally famous wildlife management teacher and author of several books on muskrat management, sits near the chain where he spent his youth researching muskrat habitat, and the lakes remain ideal for fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing with equipment rentals available at Oakwood Lakes State Park
Located near the tiny community of Bruce approximately 25 miles northwest of Brookings in eastern South Dakota near the Minnesota border, Oakwood Lakes State Park protects much of this glacial chain and provides exceptional facilities including 133 electric campsites, 6 tent sites, 6 equestrian campsites, 7 camping cabins, nearly 5 miles of hiking and biking trails, a 9-hole disc golf course, swimming beach on Johnson Lake, boat launch, and 5 picnic shelters. The area's rich history dates back thousands of years when nomadic Plains Native American tribes used the fish-rich lakes as a popular summering spot, and Samuel "Ol'Spot" Mortimer's 1869 historic cabin still stands within the park, built by the former New York shoemaker who moved to trap the "fur rich" Oakwood area during the peak trapping days of 1871. Brookings, home to South Dakota State University and the state's premier college town, offers exceptional attractions just 25 minutes away including the Children's Museum of South Dakota with four floors of interactive exhibits, the South Dakota Art Museum featuring the nation's largest Harvey Dunn collection, McCrory Gardens with 25 acres of formal display gardens, Dakota Nature Park with native prairie and wetlands, and vibrant downtown shopping and dining. Visitors can explore the Brookings County Historical Society Pioneer Museum, catch SDSU Jackrabbit football and basketball games, enjoy annual events like the Brookings Summer Arts Festival, and access over 40 miles of paved bike trails throughout the city, while the surrounding area provides prairie pothole lakes for additional fishing and waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout eastern South Dakota's glacial lakes and prairies region
This magnificent handcrafted laser-cut wooden topographical map of the Oakwood Lakes chain would create a stunning centerpiece in your South Dakota lake home, cabin, or office, celebrating your connection to this historic chain of eight connecting glacial lakes. The artistic design features a natural wood top layer that beautifully showcases the entire interconnected system spanning nearly 3,000 acres with over 30 miles of intricate shoreline, including Johnson Lake, Tetonkaha Lake, East Oakwood, West Oakwood, and the four additional lakes connected by channels perfect for canoe exploration. The water depths are represented through a gentle gradient flowing from light blue in the shallower areas to slightly deeper blue in the 6-to-10-foot basins, while every connection between lakes, Goodfellow Island where Paul Errington researched muskrats, the state park boundaries, historic Ol'Spot Mortimer cabin location, and the Princess Shining Star Overlook are precisely laser-etched into the multi-layered wood construction. This three-dimensional piece of wall art beautifully captures the glacial heritage and exceptional waterfowl migration character of this beloved South Dakota destination where Native Americans summered for thousands of years and pioneer trappers built their fortunes
Small: 8"x12"
Medium: 12"x18"
Large: 16"x24"
Extra Large: 20"x30"
XX Large: 24"x36"
Gigantic 30"x45"
Cribbage Boards - 10"x14" - Your choice of Maple or Cherry wood, 2 or 3 runs, and your choice of peg colors.
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About our Maps
Every map is designed and built in Minnesota. Nothing is outsourced and nothing is imported.
- Designed in-house. All art files are created by me, not purchased or reused
- True layered 3D construction. Not engraved or printed
- More layers, more detail. Most competitors use 3 to 7 layers. These use 8 or 15 layers
- Original blue depth gradient. Light to dark blue shows water depth clearly
- Handmade hardwood frames. Built from locally sourced rough sawn lumber, not pre-made frames
These are built to be the most accurate and most detailed 3D lake maps available.
Horn Dog Maps vs Others
True layered 3D construction
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: Sometimes
Designed in-house (no purchased files)
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: Sometimes
Etsy Sellers: No
Made in Minnesota
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Number of layers
Horn Dog Maps: 8 or 15
Other Companies: 3 to 7
Etsy Sellers: 3 to 7
Blue depth gradient water
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Handmade hardwood frame included
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Uses multiple depth data sources
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: Sometimes
Etsy Sellers: No
Custom lakes without delays
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Connection to the lakes
Horn Dog Maps: Yes
Other Companies: No
Etsy Sellers: No
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these actually 3D or just engraved?
These are true 3D layered maps.
- Made from 1/8 inch Baltic birch
- Standard maps have 8 layers. 1 land layer and 7 water layers
- HD maps have 15 layers. 1 land layer and 14 water layers
Each water layer uses a light to dark blue gradient so depth changes are easy to see.
Where are these made?
Everything is made in my shop in Minnesota.
- Design
- Cutting
- Painting
- Assembly
- Frame building
The frames start as locally sourced rough sawn hardwood and are built from scratch.
Do you use real depth data?
Yes, as an angler and map nerd, accuracy matters to me. I use multiple data sources, up to six, to find the most accurate lake contours available.
I would not hang an inaccurate map in my house and I will not send one to yours.
Why buy from Horn Dog Maps instead of Etsy or marketplace sellers?
Most marketplace sellers:
- Buy pre-made cut files, often from overseas
- Have no connection to the lakes
- Cannot verify accuracy
- Have long delays if a file is not available
This leads to lower accuracy and longer lead times, often 6 to 8 weeks.
Because I design everything myself:
- I can create a new lake mockup in about 30 minutes
- You get a more accurate map, faster
What is your lead time?
Most orders ship in 1.5 to 2 weeks depending on the time of year.
Tell me about the Cribbage Boards
These are different from the layered maps and are not something you will find elsewhere.
- Made from a solid piece of Maple or Cherry
- The lake is engraved as if drained
- Then filled with blue tinted epoxy that is still transparent
You can see:
- Channels
- Humps
- Points
- Structure
Additional features:
- 2 or 3 track options
- Choice of peg colors
- Hidden peg storage with a magnetic dovetail slider
- Rubber feet so it does not slide on the table
It is a functional game board and a detailed lake model in one.