50 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Iowa - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Iowa

High Trestle Trail Bridge

Half a mile long and 13 stories high, the bridge over the Des Moines River Valley lights up the wide night vista.

Villisca Axe Murder House

A number of gruesome unsolved murders have turned this simple home into a morbid tourist trap.

Elwood, the World's Tallest Concrete Gnome

Beating out all other concrete competitors, this massive garden feature's pointy hat has earned it a world record.

Columbus Junction, Iowa

Lover's Leap Swinging Bridge

A warning to the weak-kneed: This narrow bridge does its swinging eight stories high.

Des Moines, Iowa

Zombie Burger + Drink Lab

This zombie-themed restaurant stands out in the heart of corn country.

Riverside, Iowa

Captain James T. Kirk Future Birthplace

A place of great reverence for Trekkies everywhere, a hero's future birthplace.

West Bend, Iowa

Father Paul Dobberstein's Grotto of the Redemption

A four story, football field-sized, nine-grotto creation made of shells, minerals, and rare stones.

Clear Lake, Iowa

The Day The Music Died Memorial

A giant pair of thick black glasses mark the tragic demise of a trio of rock and roll legends.

See All 50 Things to Do in Iowa See All 50 Places

Unique Food & Drink in Iowa

Blue Moon Ice Cream

This cosmic-colored flavor is a Midwestern mystery.

Snickers Salad

Made of candy and Cool Whip, this “salad” is a mainstay at Midwestern potlucks.

Green River Soda

After thriving during Prohibition, this soda fountain staple was immortalized in a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Klub

This stick-to-your-ribs Scandinavian dumpling is a favorite at Midwestern fundraisers.

See all 7 things to eat in Iowa See all 7 things to eat in Iowa

Community Forums / United States / US: Midwest

Top Discussions in the US: Midwest Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Two-Story Outhouse	11 January 4, 2020	4599	January 4, 2020
The Archduke of Austria's Michigan Grave	10 May 2, 2019	2757	May 2, 2019
Toadstool Geologic Park	4 May 15, 2019	7233	May 15, 2019
Enchanted Highway Sculptures	5 September 12, 2019	4638	September 12, 2019
The Slinger	5 June 22, 2019	1898	June 22, 2019

New Post Visit the Forum

Explore Iowa

Launch Map

Iowa Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Iowa Activity

rathje has been to Pappajohn Sculpture Park

rathje wants to go to Field of Dreams Movie Site

rathje has been to Iowa 80 Truck Stop

rathje has been to American Gothic House

rathje has been to Captain James T. Kirk Future Birthplace

Stories About Iowa

This windmill was shipped in pieces from Nørre Snede, Denmark, and reassembled in 1976 by over 300 volunteers.

Iowa's 'Denmark on the Prairie' Creates Hygge Away From Home

The tiny town has imported a 19th-century windmill and starred in two Danish TV shows.

by Stacy Brooks

February 19, 2020

A man in the Muscatine shell-soaking room, about 1915.

A Sift Through the Remnants of Iowa's Forgotten Fashion Scene

For decades, the Mississippi River town of Muscatine was the pearl-button capital of the world.

by Harrison Cook

September 11, 2019

A bronze cast of the Army-owned Wankel's T. Rex, affectionately nicknamed "Big Mike," guards the Museum of the Rockies.

Why Does the U.S. Army Own So Many Fossils?

Turns out massive flood control projects are a great way to find dinosaurs.

by Sabrina Imbler