Attractions | Outdoors | Lodging | Regional Information

Attractions, Museums, Community Celebrations, & More

Winnebago and Worth Counties have many quality museums, attractions, and parks. The following is a list of area attractions, parks, and lodging options.

Buffalo Center	Hosts annual 4th of July Celebration. Has distinction of being first consolidated school West of the Mississippi. The school consolidated in 1897. Gruis Recreational Area, 7 miles south of town, includes traditional red barn housing a restaurant with a nine-hole golf course.
Rake	Hosts annual Lutefisk Supper in February. Hosts annual Community Celebration in July. Small cemetery east of Rake, off A-16, includes graves of civil war soldiers.
Scarville	Hosts annual 4th of July Celebration. Early railroad boomtown thrived until Feb. 28, 1934 when a fire destroyed most of downtown business district.
Thompson	Home to Winnebago County Fairgrounds. The Winnebago County Fair typically takes place in July. Branding Iron Restaurant located here, serves excellent food during evening hours.
Leland	Leland Museum and Reading Center features old post office, local memorabilia, Governor Terry Branstad memorabilia. For more information, call 641-567-3329.
Forest City	Hosts annual Puckerbrush Days Celebration in July. Home of Winnebago Industries which gives tours. For more information, call 641-585-6936. Home of the Annual WIT Rally (Winnebago Itasca Travelers Grand National Rally) Winnebago County Seat. Winnebago County Courthouse was built in 1896-97. Winnebago County Veteran's Monument on grounds of county courthouse bears names of veterans from Winnebago County. Home of Waldorf College, established in 1903. Waldorf offers Associate and Bachelor Degrees. Home of Heritage Park, a living history museum. Home of Mansion Museum housing early history of Winnebago County and the Ida Fuller display. Pilot Knob State Park, six miles east of town, includes observation tower built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The tower is 2nd highest point in state and offers panoramic view. For more information on attractions in Forest City, call the Forest City Chamber. at 641-585-2092.
Lake Mills	Hosts annual July Jubilee Celebration. "The Promise Of America" statue on east side of town is tribute to Norwegian-American Immigrant Families who settled this region. The Burnap Country School Museum located on N. Mill Street houses memorabilia from the country school days. Arlington Park, N. Mill St., is home to a Sherman Tank dedicated August, 1962 to the memory of Joseph M. Colby. Joseph designed tanks such as the Lee, Grant, Sherman, Chaffee, Walker Bulldog, Hellcat, Pershing and Patton. He was the son of a Lake Mills pioneer family, graduated from Lake Mills Community School in 1922 and West Point in 1929. Lake Mills Veterans Monument, constructed in 2004, is located in Arlington Park, 206 N. Mill St. The monument includes the names of over 1,000 living and deceased veterans from the area. Rice Lake State Park, 2 miles S.E. of Lake Mills, offers picnicking, swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and a shelter house. Public hunting and Rice Lake Golf Course are nearby as well. For more information regarding attractions in Lake Mills, contact the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation at 641-592-5253.
Joice	Evans Drug is unofficial museum of Joice with many original fixtures from 1919 and historic memorabilia. Drug store was established at this location in 1898. Top of Iowa Wind Farm, located east of Joice, hosts 89 turbines reaching 320 feet into the sky. Constructed in 2001. For more information, can 641.558.3800 or visit www.zilkha.com.
Northwood	Hosts annual 4th Of July Celebration. Worth County Seat. Worth County Courthouse was built in 1893. Home to Worth County Fairgrounds. Worth County Fair typically takes place in June. Central Museum, Country School House, Creamery, and 1859 restored Log Cabin are museums which are part of extensive collection belonging to Worth County Historical Society. For more information regarding the society or its museums, contact 641-324-1589. Top Of Iowa Welcome Center located 7 miles West of Northwood just off Interstate 35. A large red barn shaped structure featuring travel brochures, vending services, and gift shop of Iowa-made products and crafts. Also a Cenex gas station/convenience store and Burger King are adjacent to the Welcome Center. Diamond Jo Worth Casino is the newest attraction in Worth County. Slots, table games, food, entertainment, and a gift shop. Visit www.diamondjo.com for more information.
Kensett	Boom town in early 19th century until fire in May 1901 consumed 24 buildings and most of three blocks of town. Business district never fully recovered from fire. Church Museum, operated by Worth County Historical Society, open on Sundays during summer months. Log Cabin Museum, operated by Worth County Historical Society, built by early settlers of Silver Lake Township in 1850's. Elk Creek Church, east of Kensett on A-38, constructed in 1882.
Grafton	Hosts annual Turkey Days Celebration in July. Grafton Heritage Museum and Depot on National Register of Historic Places. Museum is restored turn-of-century railroad depot. Operated by Worth County Historical Society. Emmanuel Lutheran Church built in 1936 features unique carved altar by Alois Lang of Germany. Altar is one of three in the United States that Lang was commissioned to produce. Other two in San Antonio, TX and St. Louis, MO.
Manly	Hosts annual Railroad Ag Days typically held in August. Caboose Museum is restored Rock Island railroad caboose with museum items inside. Little Freddie is name given to pioneer child buried along Highway 9 east of Manly. Child died while family traveled along trail and was buried here. Area residents have cared for grave throughout the years.
Hanlontown	Hosts annual Sundowner Days Celebration in June. Former bank building now owned by Worth County Historical Society and has been restored to reflect its early history.
Fertile	Hosts Fertile Fun Days in August. Rhodes Mill listed on National Register of Historic Places and lies adjacent to William Rhodes Park on the Winnebago River. Dam and mill were constructed in 1858 by William Rhodes and used for saw milling; in 1868 the mill began processing grain. The mill was operational until the 1930's. Chapel Hill, North of Fertile on S-18, is pioneer cemetery with miniature church that has 4 pews. Fertile Lutheran Church constructed in 1895, with bell dating to 1915. Fertile Creamery constructed in 1892 was a popular restaurant for many years after the creamery operations ceased.

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