Sights in Iowa

[Artlady]

Back in September, we were fortunate to find the Dan Nagle Pioneer Village near Davenport, Iowa, while heading back home from a trip.

https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/cons...ioneer-village

It consists of around 20 structures, some brought in from nearby areas, to re-create the late 1800s and early 1900s Village. It’s set in a bucolic, beautiful area, great for a picnic.

In addition to amazing log cabins, there’s a blacksmith shop, old farmhouse, a train, old church and a museum of old Farm equipment, among other attractions.

There were active demonstrations of life at that time, as well as a bluegrass concert.

We had the best ice cream ever at the soda shop!

We are definitely going back for another visit, if only for the ice cream, lol.

It’s great for history buffs, or a fun day out!
We highly recommend it.

[cpaharley2008]

If you ever wander east, visit Williamsburg, Va https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/pl...hoCCCgQAvD_BwE

[Artlady]

I was hoping the Iowa Dave would post some of his favorites.
Are there any good places you’d recommend to visit, Dave?

The eastern part of the state is so close to us, too, even for a day or weekend excursion.

Sometimes, it’s the little places, not widely advertised, that are the true “pearls”.

Does anyone else have more recommendations? TIA

[Artlady]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

If you ever wander east, visit Williamsburg, Va https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/pl...hoCCCgQAvD_BwE

Thanks! We lived near there for a couple of years. Truly, there are some great sights to see!

Not to mention, sailing in the Bay.

[Randy in Maine]

One of my favorites is Pikes Peak State Park in deep NE Iowa. Great views of the River and Effigy Mounds from there. Tons of eagles up there also.

[Iowa Dave]

I have some favorite spots that I visit periodically. My tastes run to interesting places to eat (some kinda divey, historic buildings and businesses, and what I consider scenic country. I also enjoy birding, looking at deer and other animals and fishing. I’ll post a few observations after I put a little list together.

I have what I believe to be a great story about the pioneer village near The Quad cities noted above, but it will not fly on the forum as the the story is true but the punchline is unacceptable. So, if you come to the Mississippi rally next fall I’ll tell that story and you will have time to prepare for a little bad language. Just remind me.
Z so
In the mean time the Iowa tourism people are producing some nice guidebooks and maps these days on bicycling, scenic drives, and general “attractions”.

It’s a little sad that many of the older attractions were restored and actively displayed a few years back but the volunteers who were experts are no longer able to carry on. Just like publicly owned property in anyone’s home state, funding has dwindled in the past few years and the push for self funding through revenue generation has increased. That’s the way it is.

I failed a job interview once when asked about aggressive revenue generation at the state park level (not in Iowa) I was unaware that this state had recently enacted directives to generate more revenue by opening more avenues and raising prices. Probably my fault for lack of research. However the guy who made the decision not to hire me, later lost his job and when looking for a new job contacted me to ask if I would be a reference. Funny how things work out sometimes.

Just like a lot of states, you can cross the 310 miles of its width or 250 or so miles north to south on interstate highway at 70 miles an hour or better and not see much of anything. Or you can slow down, take the roads less traveled and be all the better for it.
Iowa Dave

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Randy in Maine

One of my favorites is Pikes Peak State Park in deep NE Iowa. Great views of the River and Effigy Mounds from there. Tons of eagles up there also.

The campground At pikes peak is undergoing major renovation this season and is not open. Realigned campsiteS, new electric, new sites, new roadways etc. we were up that way a while back and more work will get under way this spring. But the overlook, hiking trails and picnic area are open. There are numerous camping areas nearby ranging from primitive to full service. Hate to see someone get turned away not knowing the status.
We took a drive yesterday along the River Road on Cedar Rapids’ SW side and counted over 40 Bald Eagles fishing and perched below the lowhead dam. They won’t be around much longer as it will soon be nesting season. Lots of immature birds especially 4 year olds starting to color up. (White feathers).
Iowa Dave

[Chasing Trials]

I visit a lot as both my Father & Brother are on The River. Father grew up in Iowa. My Brother & I went to The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, in Dubuque. Has all kinds of things. Adding new stuff all the time.

https://www.rivermuseum.com/

[Iowa Dave]

I had a foreman who visited that museum shortly after it opened. He was very impressed and enthused. My boss, the parks commissioner had worked for the DNR in Lansing in the late 60’s. He asked the foreman to give a full report at the next staff meeting. This was rare and my foreman did his best with enthusiasm. He only made one mistake when talking about the riverboat Captains wheelhouse. He called it the captains whorehouse. My boss couldn’t stop laughing. True story. I had a very good friend who was the parks director in Dubuque. Shot tower, Fenlon place elevator, nearby tractor museum at Froelich, not too far from the field of dreams. It’s not heaven, it’s Iowa.
Iowa Dave

[Artlady]

We’ll add Pikes Peak Park to the list but will check to see when it’s open again. I appreciate the replies!

Dave, so glad you added your posts. I look forward to hearing your story!

I’m very excited that you’ll put a list together for us. DH and I want to explore that area so much more. It certainly is a beautiful part of the state! Do you ever explore western IL or Chicago?

Yes, it’s disappointing to hear that certain attractions or parks are falling by the wayside due to lack of both volunteers (especially those with pertinent talents) and funding. Portions of our history as well as skills are thus being discarded, to our detriment.

I also was intrigued with another post you had about fishing along some beautiful spots of a river or creek. Would you mind sharing? By pm?

DH and I look forward to finding some good fishing spots, especially now that he’s retired. TIA!

[Artlady]

Originally Posted by Chasing Trials

I visit a lot as both my Father & Brother are on The River. Father grew up in Iowa. My Brother & I went to The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, in Dubuque. Has all kinds of things. Adding new stuff all the time.

https://www.rivermuseum.com/

Sounds great! We’ll add that to the list. Thanks!

[Artlady]

Originally Posted by Randy in Maine

One of my favorites is Pikes Peak State Park in deep NE Iowa. Great views of the River and Effigy Mounds from there. Tons of eagles up there also.

Randy, I appreciate the info. That’s one place on our list. Thanks!

[CindyL]

Join us at the Pink Elephant rally, May 6 to May 8, a few sites left. We can't do Pikes Peak this year (This rally began there.), as it is under renovation, as Iowa Dave said. We are fairly close though, at Volga Recreation Area. We will have coffee at our site every morning. We have rented the shelter and plan a wine tasting on Friday night where there might be music (Winery at the recreation area entrance.). Sat night, Kevin and I will have hot dogs, and you can bring what you want to to go with this.

Around:

Elkader is a county seat with about 1500 people. Elkader has a unique history; it is named after the Emir AbdelKader who was an Algerian freedom fighter, and Elkader is a sister city to Mascara, Algeria. Algerian restaurant in town, Scheras.
An historic Opera House, Turkey River for canoeing and white water feature in Elkader. The Court House is historical and across from it is the Carter House Museum Keystone Bridge and historical downtown. Motor Mill nearby and at end of canoeing or biking (new trail) trip from Elkader. Our kids were born there.

Decorah - Gorgeous scenery, fabulous bike path (and canoeing the Upper IA River, weather permitting). I wish the famous eagles were nesting there, but they moved away from the bike path. Luther College, Norwegian Museum, Dunning's Spring and other parks. Kevin's home town.

Fayette - Upper Iowa University and bars/eateries downtown. Old opera house here. Biking, fishing, trout, and nearby Gilbertson Conservation Education Center which has a small zoo.

MacGregor/Marquette - unfortunately, the artsy stores of MacGregor open Memorial Day weekend, but they have a winery, restaurants, and Effigy Mounds National Monument . AND they have PINKY, the original Pink Elephant at the casino. It used to be in front of the Pink Elephant Restaurant where Kevin played piano and sang some 40-odd years ago.

Other places: Wadena - home of the Woodstock of Iowa, that happened the year after Woodstock, NY. Some of our rally goers went to a restaurant there last year.

Montauk Mansion in Clermont, Iowa, home of former IA governor.

Guttenburg Lock and Dam and nearby museum.

Dubuque as discussed earlier. I worked there but never used the Fenlon train though.

Dyersville - home of Field of Dreams and model train museums. Kevin used to coach baseball and had his team play on the field. Recently, MLB has taken teams there to play. Home of Ertl Company and National Farm Toy Museum. I own one of the first 50 Ertl toy tractors. It was my dad's. We used it for our son when we had no money, and I painted it gray, the only paint we had (OMG, do I know better now, patina, patina, patina!). I saw one like it on NPR at the Scale Model Museum 40 some years ago which is likely now this Farm Toy Museum, and we spent hours trying to find this museum. Kevin was not happy. A farm toy store owner in Manchester offered us 90.00, sight unseen. To this day, I relish the look on Kevin's face; he thought it junk. Eventually, we found the museum, and one of the Ertl brothers, Joe Ertl, told us that it was one of the first 50 his father made, as it says Ertl, and not John Deere. The Deere company made Ertl change the name on the toy tractor when they found out Ertl was making models of their tractors.

Heck, my hometown is not all that far away. Anamosa - home of the Anamosa Penitentiary that was built in something like 1892. It has a museum (I have not been to the museum. I did visit the penitentiary when I was something like 5, to watch a baseball game - not sure why.). Birthplace of Grant Wood, painter of American Gothic in the Art Museum in Chicago ("Farmer" with pitchfork and "wife" who were actually Wood's dentist and sister). My sister runs a primitives shop there, the Gatherings.

Next year, we plan to return to Pikes Peak.


CindyL

[Reimj]

My only Iowa experience is a couple week long bicycle trips. I would like to go back and explore some of the places the routes passed through but didn't have time to explore: Loess Hills area, Ledges State Park, Geode State Park. If in the area I'd check out the bell tower in Jefferson.

[mfschu]

We been to the Old Trashers festival in Mount Plesant, Iowa a few times and really enjoyed it. It's Labor Day weekend I believe.
https://www.oldthreshers.org/

[Chasing Trials]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

I had a foreman who visited that museum shortly after it opened. He was very impressed and enthused. My boss, the parks commissioner had worked for the DNR in Lansing in the late 60’s. He asked the foreman to give a full report at the next staff meeting. This was rare and my foreman did his best with enthusiasm. He only made one mistake when talking about the riverboat Captains wheelhouse. He called it the captains whorehouse. My boss couldn’t stop laughing. True story. I had a very good friend who was the parks director in Dubuque. Shot tower, Fenlon place elevator, nearby tractor museum at Froelich, not too far from the field of dreams. It’s not heaven, it’s Iowa.
Iowa Dave

Lansing Iowa? My aunt & uncle(both passed now) & cousin still there, Visited 2+ weeks ago. Worked for the Button Co. Uncle managed the Iowa Liqueur store.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by mfschu

We been to the Old Trashers festival in Mount Plesant, Iowa a few times and really enjoyed it. It's Labor Day weekend I believe.
https://www.oldthreshers.org/

My uncle from Belle Plaine was on the first board of directors for the threshers show.
He had a Rumley Oil Pull. Ran on Kerosene. We took gas engines down there in the late 60’s.
I still have three of them and I think my brother has a couple too. Always liked the Cavalcade of Power.
Iowa Dave

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Chasing Trials

Lansing Iowa? My aunt & uncle(both passed now) & cousin still there, Visited 2+ weeks ago. Worked for the Button Co. Uncle managed the Iowa Liqueur store.

As you come into Lansing from the south on the River road you pass the coal fired electrical generation plant. Then on the river side of the road across from the city baseball park is a crane on the bank and a tow boat that sets at a mooring. They belong to my friend D D Weymiller from New Albin. For many years he had the contract to push the singe barges loaded with coal into the offloading site at the power company. He’s retired now, I need to get up there to visit him before long. I’ve had a few good meals and some cold beer in that bar that sticks out towards the river right at the curve where the “business district” starts but haven’t been in there for years. Used to fish the trout streams around Lansing when my brother in law and I were into it. Village Creek, Waterloo creek and especially French creek.
The Driftless area (unglaciated) is a special area up there and in the three other adjacent states. They have a good museum up there too. Lots of turkeys and some ruffed grouse in the woods.
Small world with very few points of separation. I remember the liquor stores. Fleishman’s blended whiskey, number 195 on the board. $2.40 and tax for the pint. Remember Liquor Books?
Iowa Dave

[Artlady]

Great stories, and places to visit from everyone!

Cindy, thanks for your intricate note and descriptions. Sounds like fun, and for a good cause. We’ll check into participating.

It sounds like Iowa has a bunch of treasures to see!

[Chasing Trials]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

As you come into Lansing from the south on the River road you pass the coal fired electrical generation plant. Then on the river side of the road across from the city baseball park is a crane on the bank and a tow boat that sets at a mooring. They belong to my friend D D Weymiller from New Albin. For many years he had the contract to push the singe barges loaded with coal into the offloading site at the power company. He’s retired now, I need to get up there to visit him before long. I’ve had a few good meals and some cold beer in that bar that sticks out towards the river right at the curve where the “business district” starts but haven’t been in there for years. Used to fish the trout streams around Lansing when my brother in law and I were into it. Village Creek, Waterloo creek and especially French creek.
The Driftless area (unglaciated) is a special area up there and in the three other adjacent states. They have a good museum up there too. Lots of turkeys and some ruffed grouse in the woods.
Small world with very few points of separation. I remember the liquor stores. Fleishman’s blended whiskey, number 195 on the board. $2.40 and tax for the pint. Remember Liquor Books?
Iowa Dave

Yes, I can picture the coal plant area you are talking about. It is possible the bar you are talking about is the one my uncle's brother Pat started & ran for years. Sweeney's On The River. 10 S Front St, Lansing, IA 52151 - CLOSED - YP.com Home IA Lansing Bars Taverns Sweeney's On The River This business has CLOSED ( report as open?) Sweeney's On The River (563) 538-2009 10 S Front St Lansing, IA 52151 Map & Directions Taverns Be the first to review! Add Hours 31 YEARS IN BUSINESS The Best fresh river Catfish, at a little fish store on that road from Lansing down to Harper's Ferry.