One of the best things about Iowa is the abundance of small towns. But just because a town is small doesn’t mean it’s boring. In fact, many of these towns are filled with history, mystery and more than a little excitement. These 15 small towns in Iowa with big attractions are the perfect example.
- Clear Lake - Surf Ballroom and Museum
Jasperdo/Flickr
Tim Fuller/Flickr The Surf Ballroom and Museum in Clear Lake is one of Iowa’s coolest and most unique venues. It’s absolutely filled with history, but so many people haven’t been there or don’t know it exists! The Surf Ballroom has seen countless famous musicians put on shows in the venue, most famously hosting Buddy Holly’s last performance before his tragic death. In 2009, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dedicated the ballroom as a rock and roll landmark, and it’s truly something worth seeing at least once in your life.
- Le Mars - The Ice Cream Capital of the World
loonyhiker/Flickr Le Mars, the Ice Cream Capital of the World, is home to Wells Dairy, which is most famous for its line of Blue Bunny ice cream. The Blue Bunny ice cream barn is a big attraction that brings many people to the small town of Le Mars.
- Dyersville - The Field of Dreams Film Site
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr Located in the small town of Dyersville, the famous movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed here. Nowadays, the film site is a popular spot for visitors from in-state and out-of-state alike.
- West Bend - Grotto of the Redemption
Laura Bernhardt/Flickr The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Grotto is a religious shrine that was painstakingly created by a priest back in 1912, in a construction that lasted 42 years. It’s the largest grotto in the world, and it’s also the largest collection of gemstones in one place.
- Eldon - The American Gothic House
Joanna Poe/Flickr Grant Wood, one of the most well-known artists of our time, was from none other than Anamosa, Iowa. His most famous work,“American Gothic” featured the house shown above, forever making it an iconic image for people across the world.
- Winterset - The John Wayne Birthplace Museum
John Jacobsen/Flickr On May 26, 1907, a legend was born in the tiny town of Winterset, Iowa. John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison, got his beginnings here before moving on to become one of the most iconic Western film stars of all time.
- West Branch - The Herbert Hoover National Historic Landmark
Doug Kerr/Flickr The 31st president of the United States got his humble beginnings in the tiny town of West Branch, Iowa, where he was born in August of 1874.
- Clarinda - The Birthplace of Glenn Miller
James Moehrke/Flickr The famous musician, Glenn Miller, was born in this house on March 1, 1904. Since then, the house has been turned into a museum, where visitors can check out what the house looked like when Glenn was born in 1904.
- Riverside - The Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk
Peter Zillmann/Flickr In March of 2228, our favorite Star Trek character, Captain Kirk, will be born in Riverside, Iowa. Iowa isn’t just making history, we’re making the future, too.
- Arnold’s Park - Arnold’s Park
Mary Fairchild/Flickr Arnold’s Park, built in 1889, is one of the country’s oldest amusement parks, and a longtime favorite of all who visit it. The park is known especially for its old wooden rollercoaster, The Legend.
- Walcott - The World’s Largest Truckstop
Todd Quinn/Flickr
Jasperdo/Flickr
Don Kasak/Flickr What road trip would ever be complete without making an honorary stop at the worlds largest truck stop: Iowa 80 in Walcott. You could practically live here. There’s a dentist!
- Sac City - The World’s Largest Popcorn Ball
VideoVik/Flickr Sac City, Iowa is home to the world’s largest popcorn ball, which weighs 3,100 pounds. This record-breaking ball of popcorn is worth the visit if you’re ever in the area.
- Strawberry Point - The World’s Largest Strawberry
Al/Flickr The worlds largest strawberry, in Strawberry Point, weighs 1,430 pounds and stands 15 feet high, 12 feet across.
- Crystal Lake - The World’s Largest Bullhead
Roadchix/Flickr The world’s largest bullhead is 12 feet long and elevated atop a pile of rocks in Crystal Lake. This gigantic fish was built in 1958 by Carl Frick and Rush Gabrilson, and restored in 2007.
- Brandon - The World’s Largest Frying Pan
Neil Conway/Flickr The world’s largest frying pan, in Brandon, weighs half a ton and can hold 44 dozen eggs. It is actually debated whether this frying pan or the frying pan in Long Beach, Washington, is the world’s largest, but many agree that the title belongs to Iowa’s pan.
Have any more small towns with big attractions you would add to the list? Share them with us in the comments section below!
Jasperdo/Flickr
Tim Fuller/Flickr
The Surf Ballroom and Museum in Clear Lake is one of Iowa’s coolest and most unique venues. It’s absolutely filled with history, but so many people haven’t been there or don’t know it exists! The Surf Ballroom has seen countless famous musicians put on shows in the venue, most famously hosting Buddy Holly’s last performance before his tragic death. In 2009, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dedicated the ballroom as a rock and roll landmark, and it’s truly something worth seeing at least once in your life.
loonyhiker/Flickr
Le Mars, the Ice Cream Capital of the World, is home to Wells Dairy, which is most famous for its line of Blue Bunny ice cream. The Blue Bunny ice cream barn is a big attraction that brings many people to the small town of Le Mars.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
Located in the small town of Dyersville, the famous movie “Field of Dreams” was filmed here. Nowadays, the film site is a popular spot for visitors from in-state and out-of-state alike.
Laura Bernhardt/Flickr
The Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is considered the Eighth Wonder of the World. The Grotto is a religious shrine that was painstakingly created by a priest back in 1912, in a construction that lasted 42 years. It’s the largest grotto in the world, and it’s also the largest collection of gemstones in one place.
Joanna Poe/Flickr
Grant Wood, one of the most well-known artists of our time, was from none other than Anamosa, Iowa. His most famous work,“American Gothic” featured the house shown above, forever making it an iconic image for people across the world.
John Jacobsen/Flickr
On May 26, 1907, a legend was born in the tiny town of Winterset, Iowa. John Wayne, born Marion Robert Morrison, got his beginnings here before moving on to become one of the most iconic Western film stars of all time.
Doug Kerr/Flickr
The 31st president of the United States got his humble beginnings in the tiny town of West Branch, Iowa, where he was born in August of 1874.
James Moehrke/Flickr
The famous musician, Glenn Miller, was born in this house on March 1, 1904. Since then, the house has been turned into a museum, where visitors can check out what the house looked like when Glenn was born in 1904.
Peter Zillmann/Flickr
In March of 2228, our favorite Star Trek character, Captain Kirk, will be born in Riverside, Iowa. Iowa isn’t just making history, we’re making the future, too.
Mary Fairchild/Flickr
Arnold’s Park, built in 1889, is one of the country’s oldest amusement parks, and a longtime favorite of all who visit it. The park is known especially for its old wooden rollercoaster, The Legend.
Todd Quinn/Flickr
Don Kasak/Flickr
What road trip would ever be complete without making an honorary stop at the worlds largest truck stop: Iowa 80 in Walcott. You could practically live here. There’s a dentist!
VideoVik/Flickr
Sac City, Iowa is home to the world’s largest popcorn ball, which weighs 3,100 pounds. This record-breaking ball of popcorn is worth the visit if you’re ever in the area.
Al/Flickr
The worlds largest strawberry, in Strawberry Point, weighs 1,430 pounds and stands 15 feet high, 12 feet across.
Roadchix/Flickr
The world’s largest bullhead is 12 feet long and elevated atop a pile of rocks in Crystal Lake. This gigantic fish was built in 1958 by Carl Frick and Rush Gabrilson, and restored in 2007.
Neil Conway/Flickr
The world’s largest frying pan, in Brandon, weighs half a ton and can hold 44 dozen eggs. It is actually debated whether this frying pan or the frying pan in Long Beach, Washington, is the world’s largest, but many agree that the title belongs to Iowa’s pan.
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