Page 39 - Central Iowa 2023 Travel Guide

mason city Cont’d RANCHO DELUXE melcher-dallas moingona
500 2nd St NE
MEREDITH WILLSON/ Year-Round; dawn to dusk MELCHER-DALLAS COAL MINING KATE SHELLEY
MUSIC MAN FOOTBRIDGE Recycled, repurposed and rogue, this garden of & HERITAGE MUSEUM RAILROAD MUSEUM & PARK
art is a constant work in progress. Elements from
Close to MacNider Museum throughout the community’s history including 101 NE Center St, PO Box 412 May-Oct, daily 1-5
on 2nd St SE bicycle racks, school gates, signs and much more 641-947-5651 / redrockarea.com 515-432-1907
800-423-5724 – ever-changing hub for outdoor art. By appt. A Rock Island passenger car is used as a theater
Outdoors Coal mining once played a pivotal role where visitors can learn about Kate Shelley’s
Named in honor of Meredith Willson, Mason RIVER CITY ESCAPE in Melcher-Dallas. Former Miners’ Union heroic journey to warn a passenger train of
City native and internationally- 339 S Delaware Ave Hall houses this museum which features upcoming danger on the tracks. The restored
renowned composer of “The Music Man,” this 641-357-9528 a reconstructed coal mine, mining tools, passenger station represents Iowa’s long rail-
bridge spans Willow Creek and is featured on blacksmith shop, and local memorabilia.
escapeiowa.com / Check web for hours road history.
A live entertainment experience in which a
the historical walking tour. Unique items sold at the museum. 24-hour
THE MUSIC MAN SQUARE/ small group of people (4-6) are “locked” in notice for groups. montezuma
a themed room and must find clues, solve
MEREDITH WILLSON MUSEUM puzzles, and crack codes to escape in the time melrose
308 S Pennsylvania Ave allotted. POWESHIEK COUNTY
641-424-2852 IOWA’S LITTLE IRELAND COURTHOUSE
themusicmansquare.org RIVER CITY MINI GOLF 302 E Main | 641-623-5443
Check website for tour dates and times. 100 S Federal St, Ste 312 641-932-5108 or 641-792-3202 Mon-Fri 8-4
Featuring a 1912 streetscape with ice cream 641-583-5673 / Rivercityminigolf.com Founded in 1855, Melrose was incorporated One of the oldest county courthouses in
parlor/soda fountain, gift shop and barbershop, Thurs-Fri 10-8; Sat 12-8; Sun 12-5 in 1882 by Irish immigrants. See Leprechaun Iowa, the courthouse was built in 1856
all set designs from the Warner Brothers Family friendly fun! Enjoy 18 holes of indoor statues and Melrose’s own Blarney Stone. and restored to the original plans with the
motion picture “The Music Man.” Also features mini-golf, themed from trucks to farms. exception of the addition of an elevator. It has
a museum highlighting unique Meredith remained in continuous use since opening.

Willson memorabilia, music-related exhibits milo

and exploratorium. RIVER CITY SCULPTURES
NORTH IOWA EVENTS CENTER ON PARADE HISTORIC ROUND BARN POWESHIEK COUNTY HISTORICAL
9 N Federal Ave. AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
3700 4th St SW Hwy S23, one mile south of town
641-423-3811 641-423-5724 641-942-7786 200 S. 3rd St. / P.O. Box 280
Sculpture Walk is available year-round 24/7
641-623-3322
northiowaeventscenter.com River City Sculptures on Parade is an exciting Exterior can be viewed anytime; tours by Mon and Thurs 9-4 or Sat 9-2 or by appt.
Year-round indoor and outdoor events exhibit of outdoor sculptures displayed year- appt. The Merrell Century Farm includes Complex contains 1918 Carnegie library
include North Iowa Fair; horse & dog shows; a round barn constructed in the early (former), original 1915 Poweshiek County
tradeshows; auctions; flea markets; auto races; round in downtown Mason City, Iowa. Artists 1900s. Many visitors make a quick stop to jail used as a museum and a Scott Township
place their sculptures in the program for one
syrup racing; motocross; and more. Call for photograph this barn.
year, and all sculptures are available for sale or country schoolhouse, completely intact. The
event and admission fee information. Carnegie library houses genealogy research
lease. MILO BANDSTAND
NORTH IOWA STEBENS CHILDREN’S THEATER PO Box 74 information, including county birth, death
and marriage records, newspapers and
PERFORMING ART SERIES 641-942-6421 or 641-942-7198
616 N Delaware Ave cemetery records as well as donated family
North Iowa Area Community College 641-424-9802 A small-town version of yesteryear. Visit this history data. Museum holds artifacts from
Auditorium Sept-June unique bandstand with its lower level pump pioneer days, civil war and more recent
500 College Drive; Hwy 122E Call for performance information. and benches where many old tales were history, including clothing and military gear.
888-466-4222, ext 4188 Children’s theater with plays performed by spun. The upper level was home to orchestras,
Mason City is fortunate to be the host musical events, plays, and speakers.
children for all to enjoy!
community for some of the greatest
performances at the NIACC auditorium, with PRAIRIE VIEW PRESERVE AND moravia
seating capacity for 1,000 guests. National maxwell BUTTERFLY GARDEN
touring productions, motivational speakers South side of town on Hwy S23 (ALSO SEE RATHBUN LAKE)
and holiday events for the entire family. MUSEUM IN MAXWELL 641-942-6247 / Daily
WABASH DEPOT MUSEUM
Main Street / 641-385-2376 Preserve has a rocked path leading to a rose COMPLEX
PRAIRIE SCHOOL Mem Day-Sept, Sun 1-4 and by appt. arbor. Browse through the butterfly gardens, 800 W North St / 641-856-7015
prairie grass, hosta garden, daylily garden,
Three-building complex features displays
ARCHITECTURAL/HISTORICAL depicting a general store, church, school, and memorial tree grove - all labeled for moraviaiowa.com/area-attractions
WALKING TOUR 1880s house, jail, post office, and dentist’s educational purposes. Shelter and barbeque First weekend in June, July, Aug & Sept or
17 S Federal office. Enjoy farm machinery, Civil War pit. by appt
641-423-0689 displays, and many interesting natural history The Wabash Combination Depot was built on
Self-guided tour of the largest grouping of collections. minburn the north side of West North Street in 1903.
Prairie School designed homes on a unified When in use, it served the Wabash Railroad.
site ending at a home designed by Frank The Queen Anne style building is a example
VOAS NATURE AREA AND MUSEUM
19286 Lexington Rd.
Lloyd Wright. of the rural combination and one of only two
515-465-3577 such buildings remaining in Iowa.
dallascountyiowa.gov/conservation
Restored wetland-prairie-woodland area. Ideal morrison
did you know? environment for nature walks, birding, and BLACK HAWK CREEK
photography. Noted for its diverse migrating
and endemic wildlife. Also includes a rock
museum. Museum has limited weekend WILDLIFE AREA
Mason City is home to the Historic Park Inn, hours, please call for appt. 1/4 mile north of Morrison / 319-345-2688
the last remaining hotel in the world designed by Sunrise to sunset year-round
Environmental education field area features
Frank Lloyd Wright. self-guided interpretive trails, suspension
bridge, and hiking trails.
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