8 Of The Most Eccentric Towns In Iowa
Iowa: the land of cornfields and caucuses. While most know Iowa as the land of corn (they do produce the most corn in the United States) and deep-fried butter on a stick at the Iowa State Fair, there are eccentric little towns scattered throughout the cornfields. Think "Star Trek" parades, Hobo Museums, and Albert — the world’s Largest Bull. So, if you’re into weird roadside attractions, offbeat history, and towns that gleefully lean into the strange, the eccentric side of Iowa awaits. Let's visit eight of the most eccentric towns in Iowa
Stanton
The residents of Stanton, Iowa, take their coffee very seriously. This community of Swedish immigrants built a giant water tower in the 1970s in a Swedish style, where it stood for nearly 40 years. Over time, the town upgraded its water supply and deemed the aging tower a liability. The residents rallied to save the tower and succeeded. Visitors can visit the cherished “World’s Largest Swedish Coffee Pot” at the Swedish Heritage and Cultural Center and learn more about the early settlers of the area.
Speaking of coffee, Stanton has quite a few cozy coffee shops, serving up a warm cup of joe, Swedish pastries, and assorted treats. The Fika Coffee + Bake Shoppe is a local favorite, known for its sourdough and Swedish rye breads. The best time to visit Stanton is in December during the annual Santa Lucia Festival. It’s a local event that celebrates its Swedish roots with bake sales, live music, dancing, and the crowning of the Santa Lucia Queen.
Elk Horn
You don’t have to leave the continental United States to feel like you are in a rustic Danish village. Elk Horn is a quaint Iowa community northeast of Omaha, made famous by its authentic 60‑foot Danish Windmill. It’s not any old windmill; it’s a real working windmill made in Norre Snede, Denmark, and then disassembled and shipped to Elk Horn and reassembled by the community. You can find the working windmill right on Main Street in Elk Horn, not too far from the Museum of Danish America on Washington Street.
Alongside its working windmills, there are other Danish-themed attractions in the area. Next to the windmill is the VikingHjem, a replica of a circa 900 A.D Viking-era structure where you can go inside and learn about the daily life of the Vikings. After exploring the delightful Danish village, top off your Elk Horn adventure by filling up on authentic sweet treats at the beloved Kringle Man Pastries, specifically known for their Danish Kringles.
Le Mars
All lovers of ice cream (which is everyone, right?) should make a grand pilgrimage to Le Mars at least once in their lives. Located in northwestern Iowa, it's known as the Ice Cream Capital of the World for a very good reason. Scattered throughout the area are fiberglass ice cream sculptures made by local artists that give this delightful midwestern town a happy, colorful vibe. You can stroll downtown and stop in playful shops like the Le Mars Toy Store or Bellissimo Coffeeworks.
Now, let’s talk ice cream. The Wells Dairy Ice Cream Parlor and Visitor Center is a must-see while in Le Mars. Start your tour with a classic hot brownie sundae in an old-school ice cream parlor and then check out the quaint museum detailing the evolution of Blue Bunny Ice Cream over the years. The best time to visit Le Mars is during the Ice Cream Days Festival every June, where you can eat local ice cream until you burst, ride carnival rides, and watch the annual parade.
Brandon
Brandon, home to Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan, is the kind of town you visit for a laugh — and end up falling in love with its warm community. To promote Brandon’s Cowboy Breakfast (a community breakfast to raise money for the Brandon Area Community Center), volunteers used scrap metal to construct a frying pan that’s over 14 feet long and weighs over a ton. It’s the largest in Iowa, the third largest in the world, and the wholesome pride of Brandon. Come for a cheeky photo with the frying pan and stay to experience the small-town charm of Brandon.
Located northwest of Cedar Rapids, Brandon is more than just a pit stop for a fun photo with giant cooking equipment. You can stop in Phat's Pub and Grub for a pizza and a brew to get acquainted with the friendly locals, or head to the paved Cedar Valley Nature Trail for a hike or a bike ride. The best time to visit Brandon is in August during Brandon Days. It’s a wholesome community event with great food, a parade, a pie-eating contest, and live music.
Riverside
Before traveling where no man has gone before, James T. Kirk was born in Riverside, Iowa, on March 22, 2233. While Captain Kirk is a fictional character, Riverside is a real place and celebrates its fictional hometown hero in a few ways. A bronze statue of the heroic captain stands proudly at Railroad Park, and a plaque honoring him is outside City Hall. The biggest attraction for Trekkies in Riverside is the Voyage Home Museum, where you can view props from the show and take a picture with cardboard cutouts of the cast.
The best time to visit Riverside is during the annual Trekfest. There’s a parade (where you may encounter a few Klingons), trivia contests, an adorable Intergalactic Pet Show held at Butler Park, and flea-market vendors. The popular event not only brings out the Trekkies in Iowa, but Trekkies from across the United States.
Britt
In northern Iowa, far removed from the bustle and noise of the bigger cities, is the small community of Britt. The unique thing about Britt is that it celebrates its hobos at the National Hobo Museum and the Hobo Days festival held every August. When Britt celebrates hobos, they are celebrating the old-fashioned migratory workers who traveled from town to town via railway. If you want to learn more about true hobos, the National Hobo Museum houses artifacts and displays depicting the lives of early hobos in the United States.
Then, every August, Britt holds a quite unusual festival, Hobo Days, which has been a community event since 1900. There are themed vendor booths, live music, and the crowning of the hobo coronation of king and queen. Britt is also where you can attend the Hancock County Fair, held at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. It's a fun, summery event held in July with tractor pulls, horse shows, and live music.
Amana
Until 1932, the Amana colonies were a collection of communes where no one owned land and everything was shared. While the commune doesn’t exist today, there are still remnants of its past scattered throughout this community, which lies southwest of Cedar Rapids. You can visit the Communal Kitchen Museum to learn more about how the German settlers lived and how meals were shared. Some restaurants, like Ronneburg Restaurant, were a former communal kitchen that now serves heaping portions of tasty German cuisine to hungry diners.
Founded by German immigrants, you will find German influences scattered throughout the area. The Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse sells old-world meats, like bratwurst and landjaeger. If you really want to experience Amana’s German heritage, be sure to visit during Oktoberfest. Expect festive lederhosen, polka bands, and German beer. There’s even a Best Beard Competition held at the Market Barn.
Audubon
In western Iowa, there is the hidden gem of Audubon. Given its name, you may think that Audubon is known for its birds, but it’s actually famous for its bulls. Well, one bull in particular — a 30-foot bull named Albert, made from windmill steel. Much like the tourist attractions along Route 66, the residents of Audubon wanted to create a roadside attraction to draw in new visitors, as well as honor Audubon as a cattle-producing region. And it worked. It’s hard not to take notice of Albert along U.S. Highway 71, and it’s hard to resist stopping to take a photo.
After snapping a photo of Albert, you can explore the natural beauty of Audubon. It’s named after John James Audubon (even though he has no ties to the community) and has the John James Audubon Bird Walk, which is a popular spot in town. The local park, situated in central Audubon, has 200 bird mosaics embedded in the sidewalks, adding to the overall charm. While you’re admiring the bird art, be sure to swing by The Bakery on Broadway to grab a sweet treat to top off the day.
Discover the Strangest Spots in the Hawkeye State
These eccentric Iowa communities don’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s what makes them so fun. From Iowa’s Largest Frying Pan (and third largest in the world) to the World’s Largest Bull, be ready to take lots of pictures. While the kitschy tourist attractions may draw you in initially, it’s the warm welcome from the locals that will convince you to stay. These Iowa towns may be eccentric, but they’re never boring. When you’re ready to take a walk on the weird side, load up the car with snacks, and get ready for the best Midwestern road trip.
