From a notorious location for UFO sightings to a museum dedicated completely to the hobo way of life, Iowa is home to some true oddities. Some of these places are creepy, some are silly, and all of them are weird! Here is a short list of some of our favorite crazy things to do in Iowa. How many of these offbeat attractions in Iowa are you familiar with? Let us know!
- Capella Magna, Waterloo
Ameetav Nangrani/Flickr If you’ve always wanted to visit the Sistine Chapel, but just don’t have the kind of money for a costly trip to Europe, we have your solution. A graffiti artist named Paco Rosic bought an abandoned warehouse in Waterloo and recreated Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Then he turned the place into a restaurant, which you can now go eat at. It’s called Capella Magna, formerly known as Galleria de Paco, and it’s a work of art (and then some). Cappella Magna, 622 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
- The Future Birthplace of Captain Kirk, Riverside
cometstarmoon/Flickr For anyone who has ever seen Star Trek, you will know that Captain Kirk is from Iowa; he just works in outer space. And as per the lore of the show, he will be born in Riverside, Iowa in about two centuries or so. This is one of those delightfully simple but totally fun Iowa oddities that’s sure to please even those who have never seen the show.
- The National Hobo Museum, Britt
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr That’s right, a whole museum dedicated to hobos, and it’s right here in Britt, Iowa. Britt is also home to the National Hobo Convention and the only Hobo Memorial in the world. Every year, the town has a Hobo Days festival where they crown a hobo king and hobo queen, and this is one fun Iowa tradition the whole family will love. National Hobo Museum, 51 Main Ave S, Britt, IA 50423, USA
- Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, Des Moines
Tyrgyzistan/Flickr Have you ever wanted to eat a burger, but also be surrounded by the undead? Same. Well, Zombie Burger is just the thing for you! The restaurant itself is filled with zombie-themed decor, and their food is to die for - no pun intended. Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, 300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
- The World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, Sac City
VideoVik/Flickr Sac City, Iowa is home to the world’s largest popcorn ball, which weighs 3,100 pounds. This record-breaking ball of popcorn is worth the visit if you’re ever in the area. World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, 1300 W Main St, Sac City, IA 50583, USA
- Fong’s Pizza, Des Moines
12Jeepgirl~Never look back…/Flickr The story of Fong’s is a funny one; the legend goes that the restaurant used to serve Chinese food, but when the new owners bought it to turn it into a pizza place, they didn’t want to change the decor, and so Fong’s Pizza was born. Fong’s is popular for their fun, Asian-inspired theme, and their delicious pizza. This unique restaurant in Iowa is fusion like never done before, and we’re pretty proud to call it our own. 223 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
- The Ice Cave, Decorah
Denise Krebs/Flickr This ice cave in Decorah, Iowa is frozen all year round due to the glacier it sits on - though it tends to start melting during the summer. Unlike many of the other items on this list, this unique and weird destination in Iowa is one that is completely natural, and 100% worth the trip out to see it.
- Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend
Laura Bernhardt/Flickr Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is the largest man-made Grotto in the world and contains the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location. Now if that’s not unique and weird in the coolest way possible, we don’t know what is. Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, USA
- The Squirrel Cage Jail Museum, Council Bluffs
Martin Konopacki/Flickr The Squirrel Cage Jail Museum in Council Bluffs is an old jail turned museum, where visitors can see the only ‘squirrel cage jail’ on this side of the Mississippi. It’s a lot cooler than it sounds like it ought to be, we promise. 226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA
- Mars Hill Church, Bloomfield
Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons Just southeast of Ottumwa is the Mars Hill Church, which is the oldest log cabin church west of the Mississippi River. The church and surrounding area have a somewhat creepy history. Near the church is what the locals call Cry Baby Bridge. The story goes that many years ago, a young woman had her baby baptized in the church and then for some reason, walked to the bridge and threw the baby into the water, drowning the child. Legend says that on certain nights, you can hear the sound of a scream while crossing the bridge. Now the area is notorious for ghost, and even UFO, sightings. Mars Hill Church, 1011 100th Ave, Bloomfield, IA 52537, USA
- Maharishi Vedic City
Keithbob/Wikimedia Commons Maharishi Vedic City is a small city near Fairfield that was inspired by meditation guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who recommended that its development be based on ancient Vedic literature. The city lives by this lifestyle and has banned the sale of non-organic food and the use of cars other than electric ones. Maharishi Vedic City, IA 52556, USA
- Maharishi University, Fairfield
Keithbob/Wikimedia Commons Specifically, the Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge and the Maharishi Tower of Invincibility are two very unique things to see at the university, which focuses a lot of its teaching on meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s idea of Transcendental Meditation. Maharishi International University, 1000 N 4th St, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA
- The tree in the road, Cass County
Little*Rabbit/Flickr The big tree in the road separates the border of Cass County and Audubon County and is one of Iowa’s many weird and wacky wonders that you must see at least once in your life. Tree in the Road, 2401-2449 350th St, Brayton, IA 50042, USA
Is anyone else up for a Tour de Weird through Iowa? What are some more places you would add to the list? Share your suggestions with us in the comments section below!
Ameetav Nangrani/Flickr
If you’ve always wanted to visit the Sistine Chapel, but just don’t have the kind of money for a costly trip to Europe, we have your solution. A graffiti artist named Paco Rosic bought an abandoned warehouse in Waterloo and recreated Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. Then he turned the place into a restaurant, which you can now go eat at. It’s called Capella Magna, formerly known as Galleria de Paco, and it’s a work of art (and then some).
Cappella Magna, 622 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA 50701, USA
cometstarmoon/Flickr
For anyone who has ever seen Star Trek, you will know that Captain Kirk is from Iowa; he just works in outer space. And as per the lore of the show, he will be born in Riverside, Iowa in about two centuries or so. This is one of those delightfully simple but totally fun Iowa oddities that’s sure to please even those who have never seen the show.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
That’s right, a whole museum dedicated to hobos, and it’s right here in Britt, Iowa. Britt is also home to the National Hobo Convention and the only Hobo Memorial in the world. Every year, the town has a Hobo Days festival where they crown a hobo king and hobo queen, and this is one fun Iowa tradition the whole family will love.
National Hobo Museum, 51 Main Ave S, Britt, IA 50423, USA
Tyrgyzistan/Flickr
Have you ever wanted to eat a burger, but also be surrounded by the undead? Same. Well, Zombie Burger is just the thing for you! The restaurant itself is filled with zombie-themed decor, and their food is to die for - no pun intended.
Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, 300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
VideoVik/Flickr
Sac City, Iowa is home to the world’s largest popcorn ball, which weighs 3,100 pounds. This record-breaking ball of popcorn is worth the visit if you’re ever in the area.
World’s Largest Popcorn Ball, 1300 W Main St, Sac City, IA 50583, USA
12Jeepgirl~Never look back…/Flickr
The story of Fong’s is a funny one; the legend goes that the restaurant used to serve Chinese food, but when the new owners bought it to turn it into a pizza place, they didn’t want to change the decor, and so Fong’s Pizza was born. Fong’s is popular for their fun, Asian-inspired theme, and their delicious pizza. This unique restaurant in Iowa is fusion like never done before, and we’re pretty proud to call it our own.
223 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
Denise Krebs/Flickr
This ice cave in Decorah, Iowa is frozen all year round due to the glacier it sits on - though it tends to start melting during the summer. Unlike many of the other items on this list, this unique and weird destination in Iowa is one that is completely natural, and 100% worth the trip out to see it.
Laura Bernhardt/Flickr
Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend is the largest man-made Grotto in the world and contains the largest collection of precious stones and gems found anywhere in one location. Now if that’s not unique and weird in the coolest way possible, we don’t know what is.
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, 208 1st Ave NW, West Bend, IA 50597, USA
Martin Konopacki/Flickr
The Squirrel Cage Jail Museum in Council Bluffs is an old jail turned museum, where visitors can see the only ‘squirrel cage jail’ on this side of the Mississippi. It’s a lot cooler than it sounds like it ought to be, we promise.
226 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA
Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons
Just southeast of Ottumwa is the Mars Hill Church, which is the oldest log cabin church west of the Mississippi River. The church and surrounding area have a somewhat creepy history. Near the church is what the locals call Cry Baby Bridge. The story goes that many years ago, a young woman had her baby baptized in the church and then for some reason, walked to the bridge and threw the baby into the water, drowning the child. Legend says that on certain nights, you can hear the sound of a scream while crossing the bridge. Now the area is notorious for ghost, and even UFO, sightings.
Mars Hill Church, 1011 100th Ave, Bloomfield, IA 52537, USA
Keithbob/Wikimedia Commons
Maharishi Vedic City is a small city near Fairfield that was inspired by meditation guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who recommended that its development be based on ancient Vedic literature. The city lives by this lifestyle and has banned the sale of non-organic food and the use of cars other than electric ones.
Maharishi Vedic City, IA 52556, USA
Specifically, the Golden Dome of Pure Knowledge and the Maharishi Tower of Invincibility are two very unique things to see at the university, which focuses a lot of its teaching on meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s idea of Transcendental Meditation.
Maharishi International University, 1000 N 4th St, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA
Little*Rabbit/Flickr
The big tree in the road separates the border of Cass County and Audubon County and is one of Iowa’s many weird and wacky wonders that you must see at least once in your life.
Tree in the Road, 2401-2449 350th St, Brayton, IA 50042, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Crazy Things To Do in Iowa December 27, 2022 Tori Jane
What are some fun, crazy things to do in Iowa?
Who says Iowa needs to be boring? Not us! There are all kinds of fun, crazy things to do in Iowa, such as:
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption Sabula Island
The OG Blue Bunny Ice Cream factory Snake Alley
2. What are some of the most unique things to do in Iowa? Iowa is a place that never gets the credit it deserves, and it’s a much more amazing place than it typically gets credit for. Some of the best unique things to do in Iowa are things like:
Pikes Peak State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park The Dutch city of Pella
3. Which Iowa oddities are worth visiting? If you’re anything like us, you’re a big fan of the offbeat places in the world. Some of the best Iowa oddities definitely worth visiting are spots including:
The Buddy Holly Plane Crash Memorial Site
The American Gothic house
The OIYS Visitor Center
Crazy Things To Do in Iowa
December 27, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some fun, crazy things to do in Iowa?
Who says Iowa needs to be boring? Not us! There are all kinds of fun, crazy things to do in Iowa, such as:
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption Sabula Island
The OG Blue Bunny Ice Cream factory Snake Alley
2. What are some of the most unique things to do in Iowa? Iowa is a place that never gets the credit it deserves, and it’s a much more amazing place than it typically gets credit for. Some of the best unique things to do in Iowa are things like:
Pikes Peak State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park The Dutch city of Pella
3. Which Iowa oddities are worth visiting? If you’re anything like us, you’re a big fan of the offbeat places in the world. Some of the best Iowa oddities definitely worth visiting are spots including:
The Buddy Holly Plane Crash Memorial Site
The American Gothic house
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Who says Iowa needs to be boring? Not us! There are all kinds of fun, crazy things to do in Iowa, such as:
Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption
Sabula Island
The OG Blue Bunny Ice Cream factory
Snake Alley
- What are some of the most unique things to do in Iowa?
Iowa is a place that never gets the credit it deserves, and it’s a much more amazing place than it typically gets credit for. Some of the best unique things to do in Iowa are things like:
Pikes Peak State Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park
The Dutch city of Pella
- Which Iowa oddities are worth visiting?
If you’re anything like us, you’re a big fan of the offbeat places in the world. Some of the best Iowa oddities definitely worth visiting are spots including:
The Buddy Holly Plane Crash Memorial Site
The American Gothic house
