West Central Iowa Tourism

The restored Germanic Opera House, constructed in 1914, is the headquarters of the Donna Reed Foundation. Both film and theatrical productions also take place there. On the premises is a turn-of-the-century soda foundation. Visitors can look at personal and movie memorabilia belonging to movie star Donna Reed, who spent her early years in Denison.

Swan Lake, a 116 acre man-made lake, is located three miles south of Carroll, Iowa, in Carroll County. Before the 1983-1985 restoration, the lake had a maximum depth of 6 feet and an average depth of 3 feet. This produced a poor fishery due to frequent winterkill. Restoration consisted of draining, mechanical dredging, and construction of 10 fishing jetties and an enclosed fishing shelter- the first of its type in Iowa.

This three-story brick historic jail was built in 1885 at a cost of about $30,000, of which nearly 75% was spent on a rotary jail unit in the center. Each floor is divided into 10 pie-shaped cells. This is one of three remaining examples of a “Lazy Susan” type of jail. The cage rotated so that jailers could view all the cells from a single vantage point.

In Mondamin the Smalls raise apples, strawberries, raspberries, melons, and pumpkins. Visitors can buy the fruit in season already picked or, if they so desire, they can pick their own. In the Pie Parlor one can obtain apple and cherry cider and homemade pies. Orchard tours on the back of a hayrack can be arranged. (The Pie Parlor is open in the summer and into the fall season seven days a week.)

In this 1899 Rock Island Railroad depot in Council Bluffs, Iowa, has been established a museum dedicated to railroad history—especially relating to the westward expansion of the United States and to the railroad development during the steam era.

Penoach Vineyard - Adel, Iowa
A 1900 era farmstead with 5 acres of vines among the rolling hills of west central Iowa.

The barn was built in 1917, probably never did the builders think the building would be converted into a wonderful historic tasting room for quality wines from grapes grown right there on the land in Iowa!

This was the home of the ferry operator in Lewis, Iowa. This crossing of the Nishnabotna River was used in the 1850s by the Mormon Handcart migration as well as other settlers who were on their way west. Visitors can learn about this by studying the national Park Service Interpretive Panel on the grounds.

In 1975 the local historical society purchased a dry goods and grocery store that had been built in 1905 and turned it into a museum. The building covered three lots, and since then—in 1988—one more lot has been added. Here visitors can learn a great deal about all phases of southwest Iowa’s history. Displays pertaining to the prehistoric animals and rocks found in that area have been developed.

Merry Brook School Museum - Woodbine, Iowa

In a one-room school built in Woodbine, Iowa in the 1890s is housed area memorabilia and an extensive genealogical collection. The Harrison County Genealogical Society had indexed 39 county cemeteries and amassed many obituaries for visitors to study. Nearby is the restored Illinois Central Railroad depot. This building is one of the last of its type to be still standing.

The visitors center in Moorhead, Iowa, provides information on the Loess Hills and about the self-guided scenic byways tours. The byway tour brochure and the signs guide visitors through scenic areas, farms, and villages.

In this unique area one can see the rare natural landscape with its unique flora and wildlife atop rugged windblown hills. The hills are one of the rarest formations on earth;