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Wanderlog staff Updated • updatedApr 10, 2023
How long is the drive from Kansas City to Des Moines?
The direct drive from Kansas City to Des Moines is 198 mi (318 km), and should have a drive time of 2 hrs 58 mins in normal traffic.
If you’re going on a road trip from Kansas City to Des Moines, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way — with top places to visit like Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area and Lake Remembrance, or the ever-popular Independence Square Association.
The top stops along the way from Kansas City to Des Moines (with short detours) are Worlds of Fun, John Wayne Birthplace Museum, and Missouri Star Quilt Company. Other popular stops include Jesse James Birthplace, Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area, and Roseman Covered Bridge.
Independence Square Association is a must-visit destination in Independence, offering a blend of history and modern attractions. The area is anchored by the Truman Courthouse and features numerous restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and shops housed in historic buildings. Visitors can explore the city's rich pioneer history while enjoying shopping, dining, and strolling around the square. The organization works to preserve the square's historic charm while keeping it fresh for visitors.
Omg! Love just going and walking around. Great places to eat. The farmers market is great to see. Always visit . Love it!
Tina Tina Dale — Google review
Like the place to shop at, expensive but cute
Livy Reed — Google review
Your area is trash Tweakers are walking around with backpacks asking for change and you wanted to know why we don't want to go here anymore
Laya Down — Google review
good Job
KONAN AKISSI MARIE — Google review
Lots of history and very cool shops to just peruse through. Restaurants are a little pricey, but it's worth the trip.
Karen Rust — Google review
It's cool I guess, if your into that kind of thing.also it doesn't smell like urine
Mintymonkeynuts — Google review
Great 👍
Johnny Dragon — Google review
Wonderful organization working to preserve the historic Independence Square while keeping it current and fresh.
Sean Fite — Google review
Was that Santa cal a gon days they did a nice job this year
Really enjoyed the time learning about collecting tree sap to make syrup. The nature exhibits were great to see also.
Tony Weldy — Google review
Recently we visited the 40th anniversary and they had a free conservation carnival. It seemed to be organized well and lots to do for the whole family. Great food from local food trucks were on site, along with smokey the bear! Lots of information booths and games. As for burr oaks on a normal day. The trails are always well kept and very beautiful local scenery.
clownmouth — Google review
A really beautiful nature area in Blue Springs. It’s very close to I-435 so it’s easy to get here. We did the Bethany Falls loop trail and it was amazing. Lots of beautiful rock formations, a creek, valley, trees, wildlife and even a prairie that is accessible from this trail and leads to another trail. This particular trail (Bethany Falls) is not super short but also only took us maybe an hour, it was really a perfect distance and didn’t have much up and down so it’s easy to do. I forgot the mileage but it’s a moderately simple trail to follow and anybody can do it. We saw young children on the trail with their grandma so if they can do it, you can do it. I don’t own dogs but if you do, keep them at home for this one. Not sure about the rest of the park but the Bethany falls area does not allow dogs on the trail. There is many other trails in this park so if you have animals check those ones out if you want to bring a pet. Their website may have information about that I’m not sure. Final thoughts— one of the best nature spots I’ve been to in the Kansas City metro. It was clean, well marked, had information placards, benches etc. If you are looking for a beautiful and unique area to visit near KC this would be it! Oh and we didn’t see a waterfall but it was beautiful nonetheless and should be considered if you like the outdoors. Maybe there is a waterfall somewhere but I like rock formations better anyways and this definitely provided lots of those. Have fun, leave no trace and get outside and enjoy this place.
Nick Walters — Google review
Great place for a walk in nature. You can use the trails even when the building is closed, provided the gates are open. I really appreciate a natural area being designated for conservation, free from (most) human intervention.
Rachel Dickensheets — Google review
Hikes the Bethany Falls trail but didn't go all the way to the falls due to heat. Will definitely hike this trial again. Beautifully tree lined with these incredible rock forms.
Stevie Phillips — Google review
Moved near the Burr Oak Woods a two weeks ago and I feel so blessed to have such an amazing piece of preserved nature in my back yard. Great walking/running trails with a decent variety of lengths with fantastic views and fun informational plaques about the area along the trails! Keep your eyes peeled when walking through the trails because you will see some of the cutest and coolest animals.
Chayce Curtis — Google review
I am grateful this slice of heaven is free. My safe place.
Valarie Morris — Google review
I live very close to this Conversation Center. The area is keep really nice and there are several hiking trails to enjoy. A must see. I ride my bike on the roads but it is foot traffic only on the trails. There is also Pink Hill Park next door which has the Blues Springs BMX track. That park also has baseball field and soccer fields along with tennis courts.
jayson hatcher — Google review
I walked two of the trails there and they were so pleasant. Nice little ponds in between the walk. They have restroom facilities at each entrance, from what I saw. Got to see a deer, bunch of squirrels, and some kind of bird walking the trail with us. Lol
Jessica Brown — Google review
Very clean park good trails, lots of things to explore.
Michael Dade — Google review
I almost did not visit here because Google Maps says it's closed. You can walk most of the trails, though the close the gates at 8pm. Super fun, beautiful, and very easy trails to follow. There are little "adventure" trails from the marked trails, though I would only explore those with a friend or two. I used the AllTrails app to navigate and it was pretty much on! Some trails are dirt and grass, and others are paved or gravel. You can pick your own hike, or adjust on the fly. It's another gem of a trail area for eastern Jackson county! I would definitely recommend if you enjoy trails.
Tangy Gleets — Google review
Truly a place for all ages - entertaining and educational! The trails are all maintained well and used regularly. We even got a free redbud seedling today for Arbor Day!
Bekki Currier — Google review
Beautiful place for walking/hiking! I was very happy to see 8 deer yesterday evening, and a nice sunset!!
Dan Chu — Google review
The fact that this incredible place is FREE for all to access is truly a blessing. An incredible getaway right in the KC metro. My kids and I love making memories here.
Chad Vaughn — Google review
Beautiful area with great additions and great hiking. Very well up kept
Robert Stevens — Google review
What a lovely space! Had never been to Burr Oak before, but I will be going back soon. Was very disappointed in the plant sale as many of the items were sold out by the time I arrived, & we arrived at 1215! My Sisters & Mom got there at 12 ~ event was advertised to open at 1230 ~ & said the people were already grabbing up everything in sight. Just disappointing about the sake, not the place itself!
Aislinn Firehawk — Google review
So fun and educational. My 9 year old LOVED it!
Dean'na Wantz — Google review
I love jogging here! If you take the entire trail there is one way which is less challenging but the way back for me has some pretty challenging elements if you're jogging. It's the perfect trail!
Deona Wilson — Google review
Been here literally hundreds of times over the last 30 plus yrs. I love coming here! Great place to bring kiddos for nature classes, field trips or any time they are open. The nature center has big fish tank, snakes, frogs,turtles and tons of taxidermy animals and activities for the kids. There is a tree house with a slide. There is also an outside play ground behind the nature center. We love all the trails! The best trail for kids 3 and under is behind the nature center. The prettiest trail and my favorite is Bethany Falls Trail. There are a few more. There is a pine grove right past the entrance on the right. It is the so beautiful. Great place for pictures. They are requiring permits after July for photography anywhere in the park. You definitely want to wear bug spray and bring a water. They do have bathrooms by the entrance of the trails and at the nature center. You can pack a picnic this is a great place to have a family picnic. This would be great place for a picnic date too. There is poison ivy all over this place if you go off trails. They do lock the gates at dusk. There are no bike trails. They do not allow dogs either unless they are a service animal. They also do not allow you to fish the ponds here.
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Lake Remembrance
Lake
Nature & Parks
Hiking Trails
Bodies of Water
This is a coveted spot, quite visible from the highway. It was stunning on Sunday with the warmer weather. Blue skies, cool breeze and calm waters:)
The asphalt trail is perfect for walking dogs or riding a bike and loops around back to the parking once completed. It gets confusing at the end of the trail because it feels as if there is no further you can go....but you would have to just walk along the side of the main road to get back to cars.
There are docks, fishing is allowed and this lake has water lillies:) There are cove-live shady spots along the lake that are very pretty.
I caught a cute pic of a kid climbing the tall trees and hanging from the branches. I also noticed the thoughtful man-made bird houses for the birds. Great for kayaking.
This is a stunning spot, if you would allow yourself to be captured by it's beauty and ignore the highway noises!
Chrissy Rochelle — Google review
Okay place for a walk if you live close and need a trail, and I've heard the fishing is pretty good, but personally, I think this place is mostly just a good spot for I-70 travelers (particularly ones with canine companions) needing to stretch their legs. The highway noise is positively deafening - you'll see warblers in the trees, but you won't be able to hear them. 😦 This element kinda makes it feel like a glorified rest stop, and even on THAT count it falls short, what that the vault toilet (with no TP... ) and no running water. Safety note: watch out for hooks and other fishing debris along the shoreline.
Emily Curry — Google review
Pretty spot. Great for taking pictures if your up for a short walk to get to a spot to take them. You can fish here. Seen cranes, fish and turtles and other wildlife. Lots of bike riders and people walking their dogs. There is a dog park off the trail. Pretty place for a picnic. Bring your own picnic blanket there are no tables.
Tabi — Google review
Great walking trails and an excellent Dog Park right next to trail.
Larry Peteet — Google review
Great kayaking lake. Drop your boat off at the loading area and close parking. We saw a heron and a cute little turtle today. No permit required for the kayaks!
Michelle D — Google review
Love to kayak and canoe here. Good ramp, easy access.
Jacob Manning — Google review
This is one of our favorite places to walk as a family. My children love to walk, fish, and go to the dog park. The trail is paved, well maintained, and perfect for walkers, strollers, bikes, and runners. My children also love to take the paddle boat out on the peaceful lake. I can't forget to mention that the trees protect you from the sun and your less likely to get overheated.
Sheree Snead — Google review
Wonderful place to go for a bike ride or just stretch your legs with a nice walk or run. I love that there are a lot of shaded areas on the path and that they have a lot of easily accessible lakeside spots for fishing or a cozy picnic! Plenty of benches to rest and the blue springs dog park is conveniently located just up the hill.
The Vaile Mansion is a historic home built in 1881 that is now a museum. The grounds are beautiful and the inside of the mansion is filled with interesting historical relics. The mansion is reportedly haunted, and the tour is detailed and guided.
I went on the Christmas tour. This was my first time inside of Vaile Mansion and it is so breathtaking decorated for the holidays!
Peggy was our tour guide for the downstairs portion of the tour....she was wonderful and told us about the amazing history of how the mansion was built, the Vaile family, and the history of the downstairs rooms of the home.
Aggie Stackhouse was our tour guide for the upstairs portion of the home and she was amazing! She was so funny and knowledgeable when I asked questions about the home and the paranormal aspects of the home (that part really fascinates me) and she was able to give me information for the paranormal group that conducts the haunted tours.
The staff was so knowledgeable and friendly and they get huge props for decorating the mansion for Christmas. The decor is so detailed and intricate. I'm sure decorating the mansion is not an easy task.
I had an amazing time. I even purchased some great souvenirs in the gift shop.
I will definitely be visiting again!
Leslie F. — Google review
A fantastic historic home gem hidden in Independence. One note: be sure to ask for Mary; she was a fantastic tour guide! The home itself is stunning. You feel as though you have stepped into the Gilded Age, and the restoration has been done with deep love for the home, the period, and the history. We saw photos of the incredible decorations they do for the December holiday season, and I definitely plan to go back and visit to see those. If you're visiting Independence or live nearby, don't miss this spectacular home!
B. MIchael McFarland — Google review
Beautifully restored Vale Mansion. Charlie is amazing. Everyone is so knowledgeable am nice. City needs take care of outside better.
kim carter — Google review
Great place to visit. Tour is detailed and guided. Grounds are beautiful and well taken care of. The outside of the mansion needs some repairs and hope to see that soon.
Larry Zucca — Google review
MUST SEE - Hidden Treasure in Independence, MO! Gorgeous and fascinating architectural features. Engaging and well-informed tour guide. Well-worth $10 entrance fee.
Jodi V — Google review
Went for a ghost hunt. This place is definitely haunted. The third floor is super creepy. The history of the mansion is also very interesting. I heard Christmas there is amazing.
L. W. — Google review
Really neat old mansion. We took the tour, they told us a lot of really interesting things about the people who owned it, the former business that was there, which was a sanitarium/nursing home. I showed off a lot of neat period piece furniture. They said Christmas time is really fun to visit as it is all decorated up. A must see if you live in the area. A hidden gem.
Robert Reddig — Google review
We love visiting old historic homes in every city, and this one for Vaile Mansion was a welcoming surprise. It's off the beaten path in Liberty Missouri outside KC. Please stop and support this society that is saving historic homes like the Vaile Mansion, it's strictly donations for a tour of the fabulous Victorian ERA Mansion.
The fascinating life and owner of this mansion will amaze you too.
Architecture is just gorgeous along with the furniture, belongings, fixtures, and history of this family. All the fireplaces, the Cooper bath tub and the European toilet were just fascinating, to say the least.
Tour guides are volunteers who give you a history of the family and house. There is a little gift shop we stopped at as well, as we live to support all historic houses to preserve their lives and tales.
Off the beaten path, but so worth it
Rose — Google review
Beautiful place! We went during their Christmas time and loved all the decorations. I plan to go back to see it without the Christmas decorations, so I can see all the details of the place itself.
Laura Bishop — Google review
I have always loved Vaille Mansion and the history it represents. This Location has a long and storied history that is well documented. There is constriction going on at the street in front of the property, but that shouldn't get in the way of getting in the parking lot.
Michael Dolan — Google review
Charlie was a great tour guide! I am glad we decided to do the tour. We learned so much about the types of wood, marble in the fire places, and the history of what the home was used for and who owned it. Had no idea a home like that could once be used as a nursing home. I am glad such a beautiful home was able to be restored.
Tyanne Johnson — Google review
We stopped by for the Strawberry Festival! The vendor selection was amazing and it was a perfect day for an event! We did not tour the mansion, but it is on our list to check out soon! Looking forward to it!
Worlds of Fun is an amusement park that features a variety of rides and attractions themed after different parts of the world. The park is located in northeast Kansas City, and is open to the public year-round.
Worlds of fun was a great place to visit with or without children. They have a good mix of thrill from baby rides to aggressive roller coasters. The interactive map makes it easy to navigate the park. I advise buying tickets in advance. As of 5/2022 you save up to 25% when you buy in advance. You pay a lot more at the door.
Natalis Ruby — Google review
Went with my five year old and it was the perfect trip for her. Planet Snoopy for the younger kids had plenty attractions. Most rides were in working order and the park was pretty clean. She wasn’t quite tall enough for a few coasters but she still had plenty other attractions to keep her entertained. We took advantage of the pre-k pass, which allowed her to have a season pass free. My ticket was around $30 online. We stayed on the cottages on the park grounds and it was great to be able to just make a short walk to the park. Cottages are nice too! Her favorite part was the next door oceans of fun. We spent 3 days going to both and she can’t wait yo go back. I would have liked to see more food and shops open but overall it was a lot of fun. 3.5 hr drive from St. Louis. Didn’t get many picks of the rides (sorry!), was busy enjoying the time with my kid :)
Sara Davis — Google review
It is a good amusement park with different types of rides. The employees are very nice they really care for you. But the wait time can be very long on the weekends I recommend to go on weekdays, if you dont want to wait 40 minutes for a 2 minute ride. Food is extremely overpriced for what it is. Everything else is great nevertheless.
Jastina — Google review
The rides were scary but fun! My soul left my body, by the way. Some weren't that bad, for which I was glad. Stay close to your friends/group or you'll get lost. That's a warning!
Oprah Mensah — Google review
We had a huge amount of fun at both Worlds of Fun and Oceans of fun. This is our first time going as we’ve always gone to Six Flags. The lines weren’t terribly long and the service was good. My complaint was cleanliness of the drink stations. They were low on staff at Oceans of Fun which shut down a few rides. The parade and party at the end along with a fireworks and drone display were amazing. It was well worth staying you til 1010 pm to see all of the amazing costumes and dancing. They celebrated 50 th anniversary with 50 Nights of Fire. Great ending to our day.
Amber (Spazz80) — Google review
Love going always a blast and the kids absolutely love it! Most of the rides keep going down but other than that was a good trip. It was nice to see the workers taking extra time to make sure everyone was secure in the seats before the ride would begin.
susie atkin — Google review
Came here with my parents, brother and sister. We had a blast! Great for all ages. My 8yo brother especially liked the "Boomerang" and "Mamba" and my sister loved the "Shark's Revenge" and "Wave Pool" at Oceans of Fun. I think the longest we ever waited, though, was only for 25-30 minutes on the "Zambezi Zinger". Would definitely recommend for a fun family activity. :)
Lydia Fees — Google review
We are really enjoying our time here. We bought season passes for our family of 9 due to being in the area for a month. We also bought a couple of the meal plans to cover our "snack attacks" throughout the day. I highly recommend doing that. The parks are all cashless, so be prepared for that.
It is an older park (50 years old this year), but it is well maintained overall. The rides (especially the coasters) are great. Several stores and concessions areas are closed, but it doesn't seem to affect wait times for food and drinks.
Staff members have been super friendly and helpful. The security team really seems to be on top of things, all while being professional and courteous to guests.
Will update if anything else significant comes to mind.
Ellen Marrs — Google review
Great park, nice rides, and fantastic staff. The different area themes are neat. A verity of rides ranging from kid rides in the snoopy land theme area, to rides thrill seekers would love. The sand dune cafe has great food, but only two options for the main, and two options for the side. Either chicken tenders or a burger, French fries or onion rings for the side. They have a salad as well but I haven’t gotten it yet. The decor of the sand dune cafe is really neat, kind of like a 40s dinner, with a kind of South Asia vibe that works. I can’t wait to go back.
Wolf Pendragon — Google review
We had fun here, but other than the carousel, there’s nothing for babies or kids under 2 years old. My husband and I went on only one ride, the Patriot, which was alright, but the wait was almost an hour. We wanted to go on the Mamba, but it was closed, and the wait times listed on the app, were so inaccurate that we gave up trying to ride anything else. Two full adult day passes only got us one roller coaster ride. It was pretty disappointing. We visited in early August on a Saturday, so I realize it was probably the height of the season, but in order for the kids in our group to get on any rides, we had to pay $85 each on top of the general admission price to get a fast pass. Everything inside the park is incredibly overpriced, which is expected. I recommend bringing your own beverages and packing a small cooler. I wouldn’t have minded spending the money on the food in the park, but the options were not good. The food was just terrible during the daytime. I visited a couple times when I was a kid and have wonderful memories. It’s changed a lot since then. I got to do the RipCord with my sister and nephew, which was a blast, but also cost extra. Thankfully, we got a second wind and returned for the 50th anniversary celebration Grand Carnivale. That really improved our overall experience. I don’t think I’d return if it wasn’t for the late night show we got to see. The performers did a wonderful job and the international food tasting was really neat. The park is very nice, there’s lots of shaded areas, but I don’t recommend on a hot day. That another thing about eating there, it’s almost all outdoor seating. I wish we had the chance to experience Oceans of Fun, but maybe next time. I don’t like the whole fast pass thing. I think a better idea, is to update their wait times AND allow you to schedule your ride, so you’re not having to wait around for an hour for each ride. Waiting really spoils the experience. They allow you to schedule the rip cord, so why not do the same with the most popular roller coaster? I’d love to see that in the future. It’d make this place much more appealing.
Sheena Youngers — Google review
The Haunt is always a good time. This year is the first year we purchased season tickets due to safety concerns of the past. Their chaperone policy has definitely worked. If you've stay away like we did for such reasons I can attest it's a safe place for everyone all evening.
Adam McRill — Google review
This place is excellent! Very clean with lots of restaurants and stores. I had a strange day here. We saw a snake on the river of the Nile, saw an NFL star, and a missing child almost walk out onto the Zambezi Zinger tracks. The roller coasters are also great! I would definitely recommend fast passes.
Jaxen Kocsis — Google review
Short lines, fun rides, lots of food and drink areas, good coaster line up, the only bad part was the operations, besides that great park
FAST HAND FARM — Google review
We came on Father's Day. The park is super clean (minus maybe the bathroom sinks- they could use a scrub) and lines were really short. We were all grateful for how little waiting we did. My daughter loved Planet Snoopy (and the guy manning the Red Barron ride was amazing with the kids). Mamba was certainly my favorite and we rode it more than once. My husband had a great time on the wooded rollercoasters. We got burritos for lunch that were surprisingly good and funnel cakes that were made to perfection! The woman at the counter was even kind enough to take a picture of their ingredients so I could check for an allergy.
The thing keeping from giving it 5 stars is a lot of things were closed. Some would open later in the day, then others would immediately close. It was kind of a bummer to visit a theme park and not be able to ride a significant number of the rides.
Maryann Barbon — Google review
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4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO 64161, USA
The Liberty Jail Historic Site in Liberty, MO is a reconstruction of the original Clay County Jail where Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, was imprisoned for five months. Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it showcases the LDS Church's impact on the area's social and religious history. The exhibit includes information about how the walls were constructed and offers informative tours conducted by friendly senior missionaries.
This review is not a religious endorsement. The grounds and the facility are very nice along with the staff who are very professional and friendly. What you see is a replica of what is believed the original jail looked like, which is built on the foundation of the original prison. This prison is where Joseph Smith the founder of the Mormon church, Church of Latter-Day Saints, was incarcerated for a few months when the members of the Latter-Day Saints Church were being exterminated (forced to leave by any means) from Missouri. If I understood correctly this is where Joseph Smith was inspired to write the Doctrine and Covenants used as scripture by their church today. You will learn about Mormon history in Missouri. The tours are free to the public, last about an hour, and are well done. Regardless of whether or not you are religious I recommend it for those interested in the history of the region.
Joseph Garten — Google review
Really puts it into perspective the events that transpired here. The missionaries were kind and knowledgeable throughout our tour and I was amazing by all the stories they shared.
Kyle Johnson — Google review
Great historical site of the LDS church. Tour was very informative. Senior missionaries were very kind. Spirit was very strong---so many hardships faced by those early saints.
Hansen1701 — Google review
This was a wonderful place to visit, the jail is indoors and well preserved. The floor and some of the stones on the outside are the only items original to the site.
Melinda C — Google review
This is a very sacred place. I love how they have reconstructed the jail so you can see how the walls were built. The missionaries do a great tour. We loved it. There is even longer parking. But no pull through for rv's.
Rachel Miner — Google review
The missionaries did a great job with the tour. We walked in and they were able to get us instantly into the tour. They remembered our names and were very thoughtful for those in our group that had mobility issues.
Amazing story and the jail was well preserved.
K W — Google review
Beautiful grounds and building. They have done a great job to capture the spirit of Joseph Smith. Our tour guide was wonderful and helped us understand the tensions in the area that led to Joseph Smith being imprisoned. It's amazing what they had to endure in that little jail.
Torben Walters — Google review
We love this historical destination. The missionaries who teach you about the history are very knowledgeable about the history of the area. We all felt a sweet spirit as we visited this site. We learned that they are going to go through a face lift soon with be carpets and decor. We had so much fun and will be back!!!
Peter Black — Google review
Guides will take you on a brief tour that takes about 20 minutes. Good place to visit for those interested in Missouri history or Latter-day Saint history.
Pictures but not video allowed inside the hall where the old jail is preserved.
Parked at a neighboring church, but there is limited parking around the Visitor’s center too.
FR Feickert — Google review
Such a sacred experience, it's amazing to think what these men went through.
Scott Winterton — Google review
So cool! The lighting and audio recordings in the liberty jail room itself make it an awesome immersive experience. The sister missionaries working here are epic too!
A wonderful experience! I took my wife here on a date, and we absolutely loved it. The atmosphere was excellent, and the wine was delicious.
We tried both their wine slushies and thoroughly enjoyed them. We also got a growler filled with wine to take home (their seasonal sangria).
It's a perfect venue to go and enjoy some wonderful wine with friends and family.
Also, the staff was very friendly and a pleasure to talk with.
Overall, I'd highly recommend stopping by sometime.
Brian Haynes — Google review
During a recent girls trip to Missouri, we picked Jowler Creek out of the visit Weston magazine. We did the wine tasting with Raven and if I'm being honest.... there are really only two serious wine drinkers in our group... but myself and one other were good sports and went along with it. Raven was awesome and rolled with the punches and all of the laughter. We enjoyed the wine slushies and the outdoor seating. Lindsay Blacksher was playing live music and it was just wonderful. We stayed for a few hours and had a great time. Will definitely be back during future visits to the area!
Brittney Gilleland — Google review
Lovely WInery 🍷! Beautiful property. Great wine. Good selection. Loved the slushies. Wonderful staff and customer service. I Will definitely be back.
Patricia Christopher — Google review
I did not stay in the house, but I did go to the winery and taste some wines on the way home from a trip. The outside was very nice, with a house on the property for people to rent out if they wanted to stay there for a day or few days and not be too far from the city or too far from the winery. The outdoor had dogs and chickens just walking around and taking care of the outside bugs and insects. It is a very cool looking place on the inside with wine, cups, glasses and apparel to buy and take home. I tried 10 wines and got a glass with the purchase, I was surprised at how well all the wines tasted, sometimes there are wines I do not like, but I liked all of these wines. They were all very good and I learned all about how they are grown and treated in the vineyard as well as once they are picked and created. It was a very good trip and I learned all about the winery, while drinking wine, great trip and the employee was very nice and took great care of me as well as the other customers that were in the establishment. Highly recommend this winery to people that want to try some delicious wines and enjoy a pretty place to be.
Robert Ellebracht — Google review
Best winery I’ve been too. Super nice staff, very knowledgeable and always helpful.
The owners are so nice and you can tell they take pride in their wine making. I’ve been coming since 2017 and it keeps getting better. Absolutely gorgeous vineyard, especially when the vines are in full bloom. My favorite wines are Bever Blend and Vidal. 🍷
Shannon Warner — Google review
Got to the winery 20 minutes to 5:00 and the individual doing the wine tasting said that he would not serve us and was very rude. We drove over an hour to get to the vineyard.
Shawna Warren — Google review
We really enjoyed the wine tasting here. After the tasting we ordered the cheese, meat, and bread plate and at first thought it was a bit expensive but we got an entire package of sausage and cheese and two loafs of bread so it was an incredibly good deal. Would definitely feed 4 people. It’s mulled wine season and OMG! So good! Try it. This was a fun experience.
Tammy Harris — Google review
My group attended the Dueling Pianos. The performers were great, although their name is not accurate at all. They simply alternated who is playing a song. The wine variety was very limited. The food truck outside required a one hour wait and overpriced. That is unacceptable for any event. The buildings are amazing.
valerie summer — Google review
Two of the most important criteria that our group looks for in a winery are a variety of seating options and the ability to bring in your own snacks, and Jowler Creek offers both. The bonus is the friendly winery dog, who literally greets everyone and keeps track of who they haven't visited. The winery is relatively new, or at least is under some obvious (and promising) renovations. The wines are as good as most from similar Missouri wineries, but definitely worth enjoying on a nice day.
Jeff B — Google review
Had an awesome experience at Jowler creek winery. The live music and grape stomping event was a big hit. The sweet wines were delicious. I was not a fan of the grab and go wine tasting it took away from the experience
Lateshia Woodley — Google review
Great experience! We stopped in for a friends birthday and Denise greated us as we came in. She gave us awesome service! The 3 of us tried the 5 wine sample ($5 and included a take-home wine glass, how cool is that?). Denise gave good information about the wine and even let us sample the desert wine with chocolates. The venue has a great outdoor area (it was rainy so we didn't utilize it but it was still adorable). We will definitely be back!
Wonderful winery!! I went with my husband several days ago and we had an amazing time. There was a great selection of dry and sweet wines. We also got a pepperoni pizza that was out of this world. It was spacious inside and we had plenty of room for us and also for our baby in his stroller. I would definitely recommend coming here!
Jamie Searcy — Google review
As a wedding photographer, Ladoga Ridge is one of my favorite places I've been to for an engagement photo session. The winery grounds are gorgeous and photogenic, especially the vineyard rows, and the staff there couldn't have been more welcoming and accommodating! I'm a photographer, not a wine connoisseur, but I love the wine too and it's incredibly reasonably priced compared to other local wineries I've visited. I've been back several times just to hangout and enjoy the winery.
Marcus Million — Google review
Really great!! Did a quick wine tasting and it was really good. Got a peach wine slushy and it was amazing!
Place is very nice. Definitely will come back!!
Stephanie Smalley — Google review
Galen is an awesome vintner! The facility is amazing, the variety of wines is great. Can’t wait until summer is here so we can spend time visiting outdoors near the vineyard.
Thomas Schmitzer — Google review
This is a nice little winery next to the airport. The grapes were not familiar at all which made the wine interesting and tasty. The people were extremely nice and I was there on a Friday night and there were people in and out the whole time. Very nice and lively place if wineries are your thing.
Christian Dodder — Google review
Beautiful place! Love their wine selection. You can also have wine tasting there. Pretty patio! Live music on some weekends.
Ksenia Stith — Google review
!! Please read !! This place was cute and quaint. The wine selection and slushees were amazing. BBQ and charcuterie board were so good. Our group had fun and we supported our local winery, until it was cut short. We had our 4 month old baby with us sitting at the outside table and we didn’t realize that minors were not allowed. Our fault for not noticing the “signs posted everywhere” . I just wish the approach of the male staff who kicked us out was a little bit nicer. All in all it was our fault as guests we did not notice the signs, but the gentleman that kicked us out could have been a bit kinder. Will return (without children). Would give it four stars but can’t bring myself to do so because of the amazing service we received up until then.
Kristen Zizzo — Google review
Love this winery. 2nd visit. Great tasting and view. Very beautiful place! I love the fire pits and patio overlooking the vineyard ❤️My only suggestion would to have more cheese/meat/cracker selection. More snacks!:) or pre-made boards with jams/olives/nuts etc but then again I’m a cheese fanatic:)
Melissa Madden — Google review
Ladoga Ridge is one of the fanciest venues for a small Missouri winery. I don't know that I've visited any with better and larger indoor seating. Outdoor seating offers a slope overlooking a vineyard, pastures, some homes, and endless woods. The staff was friendly and inviting.
Jeff B — Google review
I came to visit friends in Kansas City and I loved the wine , service and atmosphere 🍷 🌅
Historic home, gardens & orchards that were the site of a 3-day Civil War battle, open for tours.
Very nice Visitor Center. Informative video regarding the battle and why it is important. Recommend viewing it first. It gives a good background to then fully understand the museum and viewing the grounds. They have Anderson House tours, but we were there too late to go inside.
Shel Kurtz — Google review
Beautiful place - great people! Thanks for letting us have a wonderful day! Last pic just a few days ago - wedding pics 2 yrs ago - took us 14 years to find the perfect spot :)
Chuck Bell — Google review
Great historic site. Anderson house is amazing. The museum inside the state park building is very informative. The grounds have a walking trail around the battle grounds.
Myers Gaming — Google review
A nice historic place to visit, lots of relics from the 1800 era.
How much time do you need to learn and visot this historic place?
Approximate one hour.
If you are travelling / passing by, one hour is enough to visit the entire place and learn about facts and history.
Griffin Latif — Google review
The staff and volunteers here are very helpful and knowledgeable. We were driving to Lexington to donate some period appropriate items for the Anderson House. Chris Fritsche and Carla Strain were fantastic! They accommodated our crazy schedule, as well as unloaded the items for us due to my husband's mobility issues. Plus, they listened to his stories.
Great visitors' center, battlefield, and historic home.
Abigail Tempel — Google review
My wife and I visited this place the other day and walked around it just looking over the old home. It was really crazy to see all the bullet holes in the front of the house and to imagine what everyone went through that night. It does look like the home needs some maintenance to keep it going, and we suspect that at some point, it will likely be gone due to the dilapidation that is starting. It is an awesome piece of history, to say the least, and a must place to visit.
Daniel Ashley — Google review
Small, but worth the drive off I-70 to see it. Didn't get to see the Anderson House, they weren't giving tours when we were there. I'd call before going again to find out when they're giving tours. There's also a small museum and gift shop, and a nice 20 minute video.
Brenda McAdams — Google review
Tour of Anderson house was awesome. All three staff members made us feel so welcome to be there. Each displayed their unique knowledge of the property and the battle. We will certainly make a return visit.
Ed Renfro — Google review
Not a big area, but Missouri does a great job with the historic sites and that ia try with this site. Learned some history and really enjoyed checking out the park
Mark T — Google review
Its part of our history. An it's grounds are beautiful. One of the lady has been there for years . Such a sweetheart. The house has so many interesting marking n stories to go with it .
A nice place to visit anytime .
Jill Adams — Google review
Very fascinating battle story! Even more exciting is the history of the house. The staff were extraordinarily friendly, and all seemed thrilled to be talking to me about anything in the area. I felt so welcome! The $5 tour of the house was led by a sweet and hilarious lady, peppering the whole tour with jokes and fun facts. I wish it had been longer, because I could have listened to their stories all day!
I came here the other day with friends and it was really interesting and informative! It gives a complete history of the Hall of Waters when it was a health and wellness spa and with lots of information to read, and also the spa area you can explore and check out which looks pretty awesome! The place is also a perfect example of Art Deco style with really cool Mayan influences!The only negative thing I can say is that you can’t actually try or see any of the waters because the springs have been shut off for now! That was very disappointing because I would love to be able to try these “healing” waters!!
Todd Conis — Google review
Not a lot to see, I think they've shut part of it to the public due to safety concerns, but still a fascinating place! History and architecture on beautiful display. It's a great 20 minute stop when you're in town!
Caroline Bishop — Google review
The building was long ago converted into city hall and while the structure is still there, you have no access to the real historic portions, including the pool and the large water bar (the cool-looking room in the photos), which has been mothballed and is falling into disrepair. You can see it in it's dilapidated condition from the second floor balcony.
The city hall workers seem put out by guests in the building (so sorry we went out of our way to visit), there is no signage leading you to a small, sad museum on the second floor, and the city doesn't seem to care about the history that made it a destination many decades ago.
Maybe worth stopping by if you're that interested in history and are already planning a trip through town, but otherwise don't bother.
Brad Beggs — Google review
Beautiful place, and very intriguing history. I wish the whole building was open to the public and the springs were still accessible.
Sapphire Groves — Google review
The Hall of Waters sits in the heart of the downtown of Excelsior Springs. A WPA Project, cost for the building at the time was the most expensive in the country, at one million dollars. The building now acts as the City Hall and also houses the community’s visitors center. The community is currently in the process of trying to save the building and restore the space economically through tourism and business. It has been recognized by the National Trust as a space needed to be saved.
Courtney Cole — Google review
Fantastic art deco building with Mayan style. The museum is great and fun . The downtown area in this small town is charming .
Wade Esser — Google review
Such a cool building full of history. Go check out the museum. If you want to see more of it though go during the week. Some of it is closed on the weekends.
Amy West — Google review
Amazing, very cool place I suggest you go there
XxEmerald_FirexX — Google review
Very interesting history and architecture. But, if you expect to see actual water in the Hall of Waters, you're going to be a bit disappointed. This might change in the future. Seems like they were interested in restarting some of the wells, but right now, all they have is the architecture and the history panels.
Andrew Zumwalt — Google review
The Hall of Waters is loaded with retrospective photographs and dioramas. I found the staff person helpful and well-informed. This place has lots of history to learn, also. They’re trying to bring back actual mineral water sales, too. I support!
Frank Elliott — Google review
If you like Art Deco and water go here. What an incredible specimen. Really, really wish I could see this place in its heyday. Wowzers.
Bill Kusmit — Google review
Such a historic and beautiful building. We came last weekend for The Fly over BBQ Contest and saw an amazing band "The Backroad Navigators" that Friday, on the steps of the Hall of Waters. Despite the warm weather, the staff and events were wonderful !
Ruthie Becker — Google review
Really cool place to visit. Seems like bit of a missed opportunity, they should have some water features to simulate what it was like in the old times. The empty pool is just sad.
Jeremy B — Google review
Such amazing history here. I'm glad to see it has been preserved for others to see. Take your time and read up. Lots of info to learn and see here.
Matt McDonald — Google review
The Hall of Waters is significantly geologically, commercially and medically as the site of the first spring water discovered in 1880, the Siloam Spring. At that time, it was the only natural supply of ferro-manganese mineral water in the United States and one of only five known worldwide. Truly such a beautiful site to see, if you are near you need to see this beautiful building, and definitely bring the kids for a decent history tour and little museum experience that will definitely make a memory that will last even though it’s a small 15 minute experience.
Dudes2you — Google review
Lived in Excelsior Springs all my life used to go swimming to the hall of waters still going there every once in awhile but the swimming pool is closed nice historic place
Jim Davis — Google review
4.2
(203)
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4.0
(109)
201 E Broadway Ave, Excelsior Springs, MO 64024, USA
Really neat little historical spot. The short film was interesting and gave good context for the rest of the tour. The museum was full of cool artifacts that me and my family enjoyed checking out. The house was only a short walk away and was well worth the 3 minute hike. For only 9 dollars I'd say it's well worth your time and cash.
Sylas Regnier — Google review
Very interesting learned alot about the famous/infamous outlaw. If your looking for something to do and love history as well as outlaw stories you'll love it here. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable. Only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because you couldn't go in the farmhouse as suggested by people you could only look through the windows BUT still fun and not very far away
Brittney Montgomery — Google review
The tour started with a 20 minute informative video that gave a great background to who Jesse James and his family was. Then we walked through the museum that was filled with tons of information and great artifacts. Then we walked around the house, outhouse, and slave quarters. Our tour guide Brenda followed us out there and gave an amazing background and was so kind! She knew so much about the site and answered all of our questions with great understanding. Our family of 6 had a great time and recommend this to anyone with a love for history! You can’t go into the home due to past issues with vandalism but the viewing areas give a great view! Special shoutout to every staff person we interacted with- they were all kind and helpful!! Cost is adults are $9, kids are $5.50 and seniors are $8!
Ella Seedorf — Google review
My son has a research paper on a famous Missourian. We chose Jesse James because we might be related somehow distantly and we had already been to one of his hideouts over the summer, meramec caverns. Plus everyone's probably going to do Truman or Mark Twain.
We got so much Hands-On experience! Met so many amazing people. We got bought a book and got to have it signed because it happened to be the 200 year anniversary of the cabin the author was there and Jesse James great-granddaughter!
All the workers were so helpful and loved that my son was doing a research project. They made sure to give him pointers on what to see and who to talk to! We had a blast! So worth the nine bucks!! Zane was actually free (eight and under are free.)
Alysha Trout — Google review
This was very fun and interesting. My uncle was working for the county and was one of the men that went to the Jesse James Farm and bought it from his relatives to make it into the museum that it is today my great great grandmother lived right across the street from Jesse James went to school with him when they were little and took the American flag and made into a shirt for him. She later went to jail for doing it.
jim broomfield — Google review
Very cool to be able to visit where the famous outlaw was born and originally laid to rest (new burial location about 10min from the estate). Museum was very educational and had a lot of the family’s possessions in it.
Crazy Zac — Google review
What a hidden treat! I got my big brother to actually climb down the big rocks to stand on the bridge over Devils gulch. I do say to parents, keep a hold of your wild ones going to the gulch. The town was great and you felt like your family were the only ones visiting. Nice parks, dam, great rocks, camping, secluded.
farsideacres — Google review
Extremely informative video presentation prior to an enjoyable self tour of the museum and the birthplace and childhood home of Frank and Jesse James.
Joseph Fields — Google review
The ladies at the museum we wonderful people and very helpful. It was nice to speak with frank at the house , he even suggested another historical site to go see! I recommend a must stop on a persons bucket list
Trina Linck — Google review
Wish we had more time to really see the short movie . Museum was very educational. Thank you , if we had more time we would have gone Thur Jess James house . We will Return with family. We were on the clock ⏰
Lana — Google review
Stopped on our way home to get out and take a break. This place was a great way to spend some time at and the staff were fantastic. The area is beautiful and they have made excellent walking paths that guide you along the different sites. The museum part has a lot of things in it and was very informative. It’s well worth the stop. We did the self guided tour per our request as we have a special needs son that likes to wander about at his own pace, but the staff appeared to also be giving tours as well and made a point to ask if we had questions about anything while they were with another group of people.
adriane Cunningham — Google review
It was cold and windy the day I stopped. I was passing through the state so I didn't have my choice of days. I appreciated that I could see the house from the parking lot without having to pay.
Will definitely go back in nicer weather and pay to tour the little museum and walk around the house.
I dig little historical places like that.
Melissa Rice — Google review
We almost did not visit here as we arrived early in the morning before the official opening. Please note there no safe place to park nearby if the property gates are locked. We went to see some other things and then realized we were still close by and it was now open. The entry fee is not cheap. However, if you have at least a minimum interest in USA Western History the admission price is well worth it. Do not forget to buy an "authentic" stone from Jesse James' "grave". The museum is much bigger and detailed than the size of the building housing it suggests. The gift shop is very complete and sells many history guidebooks. It was very wet and drizzly day. This did not hinder the staff from giving us a very good tour of the James family farmstead.
We visited May 2023.
Den Usa — Google review
Wonderful, welcoming and knowledgeable staff… the exhibits were interesting and informative. The farmhouse is well preserved and authentic.
G M — Google review
Very interesting self guided tour through the museum. The inside of the home was not open to tour just peer through windows and doors. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. Staff is very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions.Nicely stocked souvenir shop in museum building.
RV Hobos — Google review
I waited over 10 years for that museum. It was fantastic. My 9-year-old loved it as much as I did. The movie filled with facts does the icing on the cake. "The old timer" curator was perfect.
Tommy Lee Beck (The Universal Heartthrob) — Google review
Campground & 100-acre lake featuring a textile mill & living-history farm, plus a biking path.
I had been here about 40 years ago and don't remember there being a visitors center. And this visitors center is VERY impressive. It contains numerous authentic artifacts, historical narratives, and a wealth of educational materials. The site offers tours, but visitors are welcome to walk the grounds on their own. Touring the inside of the mill requires a tour.
Jeff B — Google review
Beautiful state park with lake and trails to go for a stroll, bike ride, kayak, fish and swim, and a visitors center showcasing the history of the land, mill and other structures. A cemetery to explore and a little school house is a must see.
Gina Sifers — Google review
We went here on a bike ride around the lake at it was so lovely! The trail was just the perfect length for me (3.85mi) with some challenging small hills but lots of easy riding. We plan to come here with our kids for a pre-Disney Hike!
Julie Manning — Google review
We didn't see the state historic site...from the pictures it looks beautiful though.
It's a great place to go tent camping (the truest kind in my opinion)...very nice campgrounds, a HUGE gorgeous lake with a long, gorgeous trail and great lakeside views. Take your family and go on a hike, have a picnic, go fishing, camping, grilling...or just sit back and enjoy nature 'n all its beauty.
Katie Merson — Google review
Great spot with bbq and lake access for fishing. Great walking trails and tons of unique bird species.
Chris Bolek — Google review
We had a lot of fun. No one bothered us and the price we paid for the nights we stayed was amazing. I definitely recommend if you want to have a peaceful stay not to far from the city. Also, the amenities are free. Idk about the laundry facility but the showers are hot and u limited.
Joshua — Google review
The best thing is the worst thing. It’s far enough to be isolated but also is a little drive. We camped in the special camp sight for Boy Scouts. Great place. Down a little so the breeze didn’t kill us in the cold. Bathrooms available. Fire pits. Exactly what we wanted. Will go back again!!
Robert Reddig — Google review
This place is absolutely beautiful. Peaceful, relaxing and quiet. Very clean and well maintained. Campgrounds are slightly small and crowded together, but are well kept with exceptionally clean restrooms and spacious showers. Big swimming area and sandy beach. Always a great place to go
Shorti — Google review
Hubby and I rented an RV for the weekend, best camping trip ever. Very clean, quite, kind staff, beautiful lake with nice trail and the Elms Spa is just about 20 min away for a little self care and relaxation!
Katie Vasilevski — Google review
We drove around all areas of the park and stopped at the visitors center. We had a great time, and when we go back, we will take the tour that is offered. The free stuff to see at the visitors center was really fascinating, and there is a lot of information. We went down one of the many trails and enjoyed the scenery. There are plenty of picnic spots! The park is well kept.
Tanja K — Google review
We've camped here years ago and the sites were good. So nice you can visit for the day for free! The 3.75 Mike loop around the lake is perfect for going kids to bike, a few spots at the bottom of a hill where the bridge has a spot that a training wheel could get stuck, there are warning signs for bumpy roads so doable. The changing rooms at the beach could have been cleaner. The bike trail doesn't take too long so great half day adventure to binge and then swim to cool off. No lifeguard but there are life saving tools available. Not much shade at the beach just a couple spots but in the grass up a ledge. The depth gets deeper pretty gradually so you won't suddenly not be able to touch it does get to about 6' at the yellow barrier. Kids were about to make a decent sand village.
Samantha Guier — Google review
Great experience for the kids and adults! We went there growing up and it was fun bringing our kids back!
Sara Bruce — Google review
Watkins Mill State Park is a fascinating and serene place to visit. I was impressed by the well-preserved Watkins Woolen Mill, which is a National Historic Landmark and a state historic site. The mill offers guided tours that showcase the original machinery and the history of the Watkins family and their workers. The park also has a six-acre lake where you can swim, fish, or boat. The lake has a paved bicycle path around it, which is perfect for a leisurely ride or a walk. The park also has four hiking trails that offer views of the rolling farmland, the wooded hills, and the wildlife. The park has a campground with both basic and electric sites, as well as modern restrooms and hot showers. The park staff was friendly and helpful, and the park was easy to find and access. Watkins Mill State Park is a great place to learn about the past and enjoy the present. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a historical and relaxing vacation.
John J — Google review
Great place to spend some time exploring. Nice lake, nice campgrounds, all of it kept clean and welcoming. Be sure to visit the Visitor Center for lots of good history. Nice gift shop. Take a few minutes to visit the garden behind the VC. A contingent of Missouri Master Gardeners are there every Tuesday morning March-October.
Reed Anderson — Google review
We did a quick stop by & explored the visitor center. It was very nice, lots of park history. Plan 30 to 45min to look & read all the exhibits. We plan to come back to explore more areas.
Kim Marshall — Google review
A wonderfully amazing place. Beautiful grounds. Lots of folk, including families were out enjoying the path. Some jogging, some strolling, others biking. A really nice place to paddle a kayak or canoe which is what I did on this visit.
Met a local kayak fisherman, Darryl, who told me this was one of his favorite places to paddle and fish in the area.
So much fun! Family owned and operated. It's a beautiful farm. Our family had a great day there.
amanda hewitt — Google review
This was just a great afternoon. The facility is easy to find. The farm is beautiful and represents a great Missouri forest. The staff were excellent and very professional. We were mainly newbies and they made us feel completely safe. The equipment was properly fitted and worked flawlessly.
My only complaint was that the 90 minutes in the trees went way too quickly.
We look forward to another visit.
Jay Kimball — Google review
A wonderful working family farm in a lovely town. The ziplines are on the farm, and the very friendly family run the tours. I was a bit nervous, but they put me at ease and took great safety precautions, and it was so much fun! Definitely worth the money and the drive (took us about 45 minutes from KCK area). I would love to go back and have a night tour next time!
Tamara Clarke — Google review
Been here 2 different times and my family had a blast both times. The family runs and operates a generational farm with 200 acres and 10 ziplines. Super nice people who know the history there and go above and beyond for anyone that comes. Well worth the $$ and better than other zip line places that I have been too.
Johnny Roberts — Google review
Hands down the best Zip line in the KCMO area. This family ran operation is top notch and they welcome you as if you are part of their family. Great lines and a neat history about their farm. Plus my guide was the super cute country girl that is very easy on the eyes. Would highly recommend and will be going back for an evening zip.
Noel P — Google review
Omg so much fun! I am afraid of heights and this was great for me! Came with my brother and 2 boys and everyone had a blast. The owners are such amazing people! Full of stories and very heart felt and fun! Very true American good people! If you ever want a wholesome good time this is THE BEST place to come! Very easy to maneuver and the owners are very patient and good at easing you if you are afraid of heights. Lol. Screw Branson and come here instead, the experience is waaaay better!!!
Cindy Roberts — Google review
We brought our entire crew and families for a great team building adventure. Had a blast! Staff is very knowledgeable and took individual time for instructions. Thanks for living out your Christian Faith!
Connie Oliphant — Google review
Awesome experience. They treated us very well. Great tour and history on this property but the family that runs it makes it worth the drive from Olathe, Ks. Definitely will be coming back soon!!! Thank you so much.
Nas Porter — Google review
My first time zip lining was amazing! I couldn't have asked for a better experience from a family owned business. The staff/family connected with the entire group and even told us unique stories about the poperty. But moat importantly the zip lining experience was riveting! It is completely worth the drive to Rayville!!!
The staff are very informative and super nice! The views are almost as good as the wine! Very peaceful and still fun!
Moriah Howard — Google review
I am so sad. Your wine is the best I have ever had. The bartenders are so fun and kind and will be so missed. I hope you change your mind! Thank you for your wonderful, yummy, delicious wines!!
Angie Mathews — Google review
The place was great and so was the wine. I rate a three star due to the co-owner. She was bartender and came off annoyed when I asked for any service. I did spend 150 dollars that night on wine and hosting the party. Also I came out here with my mom 6 months before and it was the same experience. Good place to have a party but don't expect your bartender to smile and have conversation.
We took a great tour today. Our favorite dairy brand, so it was neat to see. It's a relatively quick tour & an amazingly small farm for what they get out of it. Great to see a local, family owned business going strong.
Christinia Atchison — Google review
My first delivery went amazing! Very convenient and delivery man was so quiet even my dogs didnt hear him on our porch at 3am. Excited to be able to try more in the future!
Mallory Scherer — Google review
Friggin' love this place. They're so welcoming everytime you visit their home store. Dint forget to pet the dog.
Mike Gunselman — Google review
They are the nicest folks you could ever do business with. They also have the best milk and dairy products anywhere! The milk man is super stealthy but extremely friendly when you can catch him. 😆 You cannot beat getting the freshest milk ever delivered right to your door!
Melissa Helms — Google review
Customer service won’t answer and I have been on their waitlist for literally one month.
Edit: After 3 months I finally got ahold of someone who wasn’t eager to tell me “no.” They apologized and said my address was put in incorrectly. I have been enjoying their service ever since.
ArekuHana — Google review
We had a wonderful time. The staff went above and beyond to make sure things went great!
Vicky Goetz — Google review
I absolutely love this place but I really really hope they change the "new chocolate milk" back to making it the old way! The new way is awful. We really really loved it the old way, and got it Alot. The staff is very very friendly and helpful and love the dog! The cheese curds and butters ( have tried them all!) are delicious! I even love the jalapeno mustard. But mannnnn the new chocolate milk may ruin going there for us
Kristina Gibson — Google review
It is a moment of joy, frozen with fresh cream. The best in your dreams. Make fun memories with daily fresh ice creams!!
Shannon Neal — Google review
It seems to be a good place to go but I can't give an honest review because when we went there was 2 school buses. So we didn't stay long because its was busy. I got some strawberry milk and it was really good. My brother got to pet some calf's.
Caleb Razvillas — Google review
Worst customer experience for a company I have ever done business with. I’ve been receiving deliveries with this company for several years and in the beginning it was good but it seems the business is being run very unprofessionally and poorly at this point. As a small business owner myself I am appalled at the blatant disrespect from this company. If I could give a lower rating I would. My advice… find a different company to support.
Beth Gansereit — Google review
Horrible customer service. Have spent over 1000 dollars with them and continue to not return calls and or emails until days later when order is already processed out for delivery. Then tell me that I need to speak to owner before they can continue service. Won’t be referring anyone and will be sharing with everyone
Shelby Sumner — Google review
I want to start out by telling you how much I appreciate the opportunity to have the milk man deliver to my home! My kids and I look forward every week to seeing the truck pull up and go see what treasures are in the cooler awaiting us!
There is tons of options, including flavored milk and even things you would need in a quick hurry or because you are quarantined at home!
Large forested area with a lake & campgrounds offering hiking, fishing & swimming opportunities.
Didn't spend much time there as this was my first time. I'd like to come back to camp sometime. Only negative I could say about the place is the highway noise from 35 is pretty high.
Lord Jupiter — Google review
We have camped at Wallace State Park for many years. The staff and campground hosts are friendly and courteous. The walking trails are excellent and get you back in touch with nature. The shower house is kept clean. The campground does need more 50 amp campsites. They only have two 50 amp sites at the present. Full hookup sites would be nice as well as they do not have them.
Linda Kimberlin — Google review
Excellent all the way around. Terrific camp host, Ruth was super helpful. Nicest, cleanest campground bathroom I have ever seen in a state park, and even nicer than most all private RV parks costing at least twice as much. No water or sewer on site, some electric sites, only 2 with 50 amp. There is some road noise from interstate but not bad. Thoroughly enjoyed, wish we could have stayed a few more days for the cool front to go through. It was 91 degrees at the end of September but cooled off considerably at night.
Sharon Lindert — Google review
Great place to go for a hike! Beautiful lake nestled in the hills. I can't wait to fish here!
Paul Robbins — Google review
Great camping experience! I was at a primitive site that had a water spigot and wasn't too far from the restrooms and shower area. The showers and restroom were really clean too! The hiking trails were really fun just make sure you have bugspray and look for ticks after. I had a great weekend and the camp host was really friendly and knowledgeable!
Raindance Sam — Google review
Easy access off the interstate. After you make the very quick left turn to get on the road to the park the road is a bit up and down and narrow but we managed ok in our 36 ft. class A pulling our jeep. Spacious, clean, great shower house and quiet. Very easy dump station. Very well kept state park. For sure will return if our travels have us in the area.
D. Cronn — Google review
One of our favorite places to camp that's close to the KC area. It's a quick drive, beautiful scenery, playground for kids, great hiking trails and tent sites that are tucked away in the trees. The shower house and restrooms at each of the camp sites are well maintained and clean (cleaner than some public restrooms at local parks). Very friendly on-site caretakers also. They handed out Halloween treats this weekend as part of their Halloween event and our kids loved it.
Stephanie Dein — Google review
Spent several days camping at this State Park, and overall the experience was a positive one. To begin with, all their campsite locations were well maintained, and reasonably priced to use. Each site had a place to park a vehicle, a fire pit, and a place to set up one's area to rest in for the night. I ended up using one of the Basic Campsites, as I did not need to use any electricity that was offered at the other campsites, nor did I have a trailer or RV that I would need to set up at the 50amp campsites. At the basic campsite, I had access to a picnic table, a fire pit to cook my meals, as well as a wood mulch area to set up my tent, that provided a little cushion that simply camping on dirt ground does not provide. The main attraction for this Park seems to be its trails, as Wallace State Park had several to traverse. The trails seemed to be well maintained, save a few branches and a tree that had fallen at some point, and provided many excellent views, as well as opportunities to view the wildlife. While I could have taken two days to walk them all, I was able to use up an entire day to walk all the trails the park offered. While I did not stay long enough to partake in it, I was pleased to see that the park was still offering programs and events on a regular basis, and they had an entire section of the park dedicated to Scout Use, allowing this Park to offer a little something for everyone.
Tim Jackson — Google review
Wallace State Park is a hidden gem in northwest Missouri. I visited the park with my family and we had a wonderful time. The park has a six-acre lake where you can swim, fish, or boat. The lake is surrounded by trees and has a sandy beach and a picnic area. We also enjoyed hiking on the park’s four scenic trails, which are well-maintained and have benches along the way. The trails offer views of the rolling farmland, the wooded hills, and the wildlife. We saw deer, squirrels, birds, and butterflies. The park also has a campground with both basic and electric sites. The campground is clean and quiet, and has modern restrooms and hot showers. The park staff was friendly and helpful, and the park was easy to find and access. Wallace State Park is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and affordable getaway.
John J — Google review
We enjoyed this park so much we stayed there twice in our round trip, once on the way north and then again on our way south. It's a peaceful park with nice facilities and beautiful hiking paths around lakes. We still visit again!
Tami Merry — Google review
Nice park, the camp sites are pretty close together but the scenery is good and there are activities like fishing and swiming allowed in the lake. You're not allowed to do night hikes for safety reasons im sure.
Darth Ferret — Google review
We very much enjoyed our experience at this park and campground. Loop A is definitely the best place for a more secluded tent camping experience, it had easy access to a steep trail down to the small Lake Allaman. If you are staying in any of the other loops, be sure to get the outside spots are these are more private and wooded. The park is free to enter with the gates being closed at night to lock the campground, campers are given a code to get in and out if necessary. We also did some of the hiking trails that were very well maintained, did not see another person the entire time. You could stay in this park for a night if camping and about a half day. Due to the park's small size you run out of things to do rather quickly.
Jacation Adventure — Google review
🌄SCOUT CAMP AREA. 🌄
Our scout group stayed in JAY camp area.
Plenty of picnic tables👍🏻
There is a large mounted grill for charcoal and a fire pit that's probably a 4x4 cinder block square.
There is a water spigot that is easy to get to and a 2-holer restroom. There was plenty of toilet paper and was a pretty decent sit down situation. I've seen better and I've seen worse for a primitive camp area.
The other camp areas are far enough apart for noise to carry just a bit, but nothing that was inconsiderate.
Definitely recommend for group camping.
Gretchen Leigh Willson — Google review
Great place to camp. The campsites are widely spaced so neighboring campers are hard to see, the sites are spacious with well made tent pads and parking areas, and the bathrooms are clean and have free showers. Also the camping fees are very reasonable.
Unusually good!
I tried the PB@J wine. There's really no describing it other than it tastes exactly like a PB&J sandwich! We were completely blown away. You absolutely have to make a trip to this vineyard if you can't find any locally. My all time new favorite wine.
diane lisa — Google review
CLOSED. Planned a stop here on the way to Hannibal. Too lazy to update your info online
Jill Vacek — Google review
Came back March 2022. Closed and unknown when or if it is going to reopen. Call before you drive over.
Thomas Penuel — Google review
Fantastic Winery and Distillery! Staff were friendly and fun. A hidden gem that we were so happy to find on our travels through the area. Definitely worth a quick detour to grab a drink and friendly conversation
Shane Gansen — Google review
PB & J wine was so amazing and unlike any wine I've ever tried! Ask for Molly-- she's amazing and so friendly! Very fun environment. I will definitely be back!
Angela Bumstead — Google review
Amazing wines where you can't go wrong with any of them! Incredible staff. My husband and I definitely enjoyed hanging out here! Don't forget to try Long Line Distillery's Whiskey. Aaron definitely knows what he's doing 🙂 10/10 recommend anyone passing through to stop here. We will be stopping again for sure!
Shelby Gansen — Google review
Great tasting room! The spiced pear and peanut butter jelly wine are the best!
This place is incredible. The main shop has little vignettes about what is in each of their shops (there are eleven shops!!) you must stop by each of them as they have great stuff in each. The main store also has a lot of MSQC souvenirs. The people are super nice and we even got to meet Jenny Doan. We had a total quilt nerd out. Hit up the other stores in town they are super fun. Great job, friends! This place is a triumph. I can't wait to recommend it and hopefully come back someday!
Oh, one more thing....be sure to take time to go to the museum. It is super cool! There is a big featherweight display there right now. And the other thing the blew my ever-loving mind was the room full of the miniature quilts. Absolutely incredible!!
Wendi G (Wendi Sue) — Google review
What's not to love? Every line of wonderful quilting fabric you could wish for is right there in the space of 3 city blocks! And notions galore! There's even a man cave with leather recliners, a big screen TV, and a pool table. The employees were very nice and helpful if I needed help. Add in a couple of little cafes right in the middle of town, and you've got the makings of a great day. This was my first visit to what should be the center of the quilting universe, but it will not be my last. I'm going again in May!
Tammy Stevenson — Google review
Of course I loved it, I've ordered supplies from this company for years and being able to see it in person was awesome.
We first went into what we thought was "the" store and we both remarked on how underwhelmed we felt, we agreed we thought it would be larger and somehow more grand; I felt the same way about the Coliseum in Rome too, just sayin'. But we quickly realized the shop... It's literally the whole town!
I knew that this business had revived the small town where it is situated, one of the reasons I was so keen to visit is the company's marvelous story, but I didn't quite understand what that meant until we went for a walk around the area.
Beautiful old buildings that sat abandoned have been and are even now being thoughtfully restored and repurposed to serve as arms of this business, one, for example, is devoted to sewing machines, another sells mostly Batik fabrics.
One thing I particularly liked is that there are ample curb cuts, ramps, and handicapped parking spaces, and there are nice wide aisles in most of the stores making these shops accessible to those in wheelchairs and those who use supportive gear. The bathroom I visited in the main store was also accessible.
There is a spot set aside for those who do not find this type of excursion enjoyable, complete with puffy recliners and a television to keep you occupied if you don't care for fiber arts. My complaint with this area is that its design is so hypermasculine that it creates an obvious division between what they believe is supposed to be for "men" and what is supposed to be for "women", and could end up making members of either group (or of no group at all) uncomfortable if their interests don't fall in line and with what Missouri Star's marketing folks have decided their role should be.
I get why they did this and I appreciate it, but I hope that as we move forward and continue to grow as a society they might consider toning down the focus on gender being the dividing line specifically; I do know men who quilt and I know women who hate it, and I know people who fall into yet different categories who just want to decide how they feel about a thing based on factos other than gender.
So, in summation- if you're into fiber arts and quilting, go! Visit! It's a truly lovely place with a lot of interesting history and a great story. It is relatively easy to access, and there is a spot for those who want to opt out of obsessing over different shades on green for two hours, like me.
SofaKingCrafty — Google review
Bucket list ✔️
We made an impromptu stop on the way through Missouri. There was a retreat happening and the ladies were having so much fun doing a scavenger hunt. I will return in the future with some quilty friends for sure!
Gidget Frost-Janvrin — Google review
Bucket list place to go!
Plan for at least 2 days.
Closed Sundays, and local restaurants are closed also, some on Monday as well.
Great diner a little ways down the street from the shops.
Great brewery with wines off a corner street in town, for the "after shopping glow."
Absolutely fantastic and worth the 3 day drive for us. Even my husband had fun.
Patricia S Hansen — Google review
Absolutely great place. Excellent service. I went during a slow period of February. Staff were super helpful. They got things from the warehouse for me that they didn't have in stock in the store. Can't say enough as to how friendly they were.
I will come again.
SUSAN BORDUN — Google review
I ordered an embroidery kit and got a package of needles. When I talked to them, they did refund for the items I did not get (I was going to give them 1 star but feel like they did handle the refund of nonreceived goods quickly and easily so that was the one star) but also the item was out of stock by the time I received not my order and I will have to wait and watch and hope for the best in three weeks when it is restocked. The lady on the chat sent me back to the chat bot without notification. That was the rude icing on the cake. I think I'll look for kits from Etsy, probably, going forward. It seems these guys have enough business they don't need to be nice or helpful when they mess up.
lThe Santastics — Google review
I came here from Colorado specifically to see theses shops, so worth the drive. Staff so helpful and shops are just beautiful! Worth the trip.
Simply Candy — Google review
Tried to order 108” backing. Ordered 2.5yrd. The first order sent was only 57”. Emailed and order was reshipped. The second attempt the fabric had a massive snag in it, right in the middle of the fabric that would have shown on my quilt back. Emailed and again reshipped the order. Just received the third attempt and wrong length again! Only 83”. I don’t get how we aren’t measuring correctly at all! And twice! I understand the snag could be hard to see, but was right on top when I unfolded.
Alison Shuker — Google review
Make sure that your wife has plenty of time to walk through all of the stores, there is more than one. We spent two hours and still didn't see everything. If this is not your thing, park yourself in a leather recliner in the man cave. I want one of those for my family room.
Ric Wright — Google review
I was excited by the variety of fabrics available. Several buildings were filled with specific fabrics. Feeling like a kid in a candy store, I flew through the bolts and found myself wanting all of it. What a great experience to see first hand. Generally, online orders are how I get my supplies, but since I was in the state, a trip to the YouTube store was a must. The main store was my first stop. The patterns for the quilts Jenny made on her show were displayed nicely in each store. (It's the inspiration corners) Then on to the Batik store, which was the hardest to leave. 350.00 dollars later, smile on my face, I carried a bag full of fabric out to my car. You can tell, I enjoyed myself!
Janice Miller — Google review
Was sew excited to finally get to go to Missouri Star Quilt Company. Drove 8 hours. Shops are really cute. But I was disappointed that going to 16 shops and only two employees acknowledged us, there were no hello’s or welcomes. Except at 1 little shop a lady and young man, they were helpful and welcoming so big thank you to them, others need to learn from them. Remember customers make a business. Will try again
Cyndi Townsend — Google review
This place is Disneyland for quilters! They have almost any kind of fabric you will ever want! Tons of notions, patterns, and fun things to buy! They have retreats that are so much! And daily deals that are a steal. You need to visit them at least once in your life if you are a quilter! One day is not long enough. It will take at least 2 full days to get through all the shops.
Kelsey Leonard — Google review
I have not been out to the Missouri store yet but I do buy online :)
I was shopping for panels and came across this unique panel. I have a sewing school in NC and challenge my students to make creative garments from unique fabrics and bought it to with the challenge of making a skirt out of it. It was perfect my trip to Hollywood for a costume designers meeting. Love their wide selection of beautiful panels and speedy shipping. Can't wait to go in person!
shawnelle cherry — Google review
Although the fabric was fine it took 12 days after they processed the order to arrive. They used FedEx. Other fabric stores use UPS or USPS and it always comes within 5 days of processing. I'll never order from here again.
kim PARKS — Google review
They have a wonderful selection of goods. That being said, that’s where my compliments end. Their prices are good if you buy something on sale. But for the most part, they are over priced. They are SLOW to ship and then they ship the slowest possible way. It takes forever to get anything here.
There is much to learn about J.C. Penney at the museum. It's a self guided tour where donations are appreciated. They have a couple souvenirs you can pick up that aren't expensive.
They have artifacts and lots of pictures of him and his family.
Nobody Special — Google review
Was closed due to covid, but interesting from what we could see.
Marvin — Google review
I could've spent more time, but was whisked away by others in my group who had an appointment.
Shawn Wyble — Google review
Learned a lot his believe in the golden rule should apply to all stores and people
Blaine Murray — Google review
Very much pleasantly surprised by what we learned about JCPenney--his life, his company, and his beliefs.
Deborah Cowdery — Google review
nice pice of history!
Ulrich Lang — Google review
Nice read about the history of JC Penney and visited the first store after learning where it was.
Vance Viter — Google review
Worth an hour of your time not so much for the exhibits as for the story of JC Penney's life.
I made a purchase about a month ago and got everything within a week! I was actually shocked with the quick turn around rate especially with things being down for the virus. I bought 2 shirts and an insanely soft sweatshirt with graphics that I found pretty clever. I also bought a shirt for a friend and he absolutely loved it ❤️ I’ll definitely be shopping here again soon, there’s so much more I want to get and Christmas is right around the corner.
Megan B — Google review
I placed an order on September 11th for one bag and a onsie. I have called twice where I received a voicemail listing that their company was back up and running. It allowed me to leave a message for which i did. I have also emailed the company twice and left a post on their Facebook page. Nowhere on their social media, website or voicemail does it state that there is a delay in shipping at this time. It lists 7-10 business days. I realize it is a small company however my order is now one month old and I have no update in regards to the status. I dont even know if it is a reputable company at this point. They have however made 12 Facebook posts on their Facebook page advertising their products since I placed my order one month ago. Unsure how they can continue to advertise so frequently yet not a address their current orders. Please spare me any excuses - a 10 second reply to update me is not asking for a whole heck of a lot.
Sarah Damer — Google review
Unbelievably bad customer sevice- actually I wouldn't know because they haven't bothered to respond to my 3 emails, Facebook message or voicemail.
Originally ordered 2 shirts, after 2 weeks without any update I sent an email to their customer service to find out the status of my order. I understand this is a small operation and would have completely understood if their order time is several weeks but I still have not received a reply.
If you order online don't expect your order to ship in any reasonable amount of time and don't expect any type of customer service.
UPDATE: increased from 1 star to 3 stars. I received the shirts after almost a month- the length of time it took to get the shirts can be expected from a small company but the lack of communication is still incredibly frustrating.
The shirts are very soft! If you order online, expect a very long ship time, no shipping notification and no response to communication.
Angela Grumbach — Google review
The hoodie I purchased is by far my favorite. Soft, warm and only slightly fitted which makes it perfect. I also highly recommend the Henley shirt as well. They immediately contacted me regarding other items in my order that were out of stock. Customer service is a solid 10/10!
We have had get-togethers at the shelter houses and kayaked on the lake but mainly use Crowder for walking and bicycling along the roads. Only a few vehicles come by, and those that do are driving slow, so it's a safe place for it. The walking trails are fun but are rougher walking. So glad this park is close to home!
Tom Powell — Google review
Nice friendly and safe campground, great place for families. Lots of kids playing. The gates close after 10:30, and there's a park ranger that patrols. The showers and restrooms were clean and well maintained.
James Ramsey — Google review
Very well kept camp sites. Hosts are helpful and informative. Quiet and relaxing. Everything goes quiet at 10p . I like that they recycle cans and plastic. Keep up the good job, will return to camp.
Dona Hicks — Google review
One of the best kept spots! David, the park ranger, was an amazing host. The bathrooms were some of the cleanest I’ve seen. The trails were amazing, perfect for families, small groups, and adventurous travelers.
Corinne Alexander — Google review
Clean and well taken care of. Trails are from easy to difficult. The camp ground has shaded lots and very clean bath houses.
Violet Stevens — Google review
Excellent campground. The staff kept the bathroom/ shower area clean and we're always around for general maintenance or any questions that we had.
JM L — Google review
Beautiful scenery. Very well laid out and maintained. Nice picnic shelters that have oversized grated grills with multiple tables for large groups. Walking trails, adequate parking.
Julene Younger — Google review
What a great park. We stayed over Labor Day weekend and had a great time. We’ve stayed at many Missouri state parks over the years and I’ve never left a review but the staff at this camp were most gracious of any camp we’ve stay at. Superintendent Anna and hosts Dennis and Sharon made us feel like family. Never happened at any other park. Thank you, Anna, Dennis & Sharon.
Dean Eikenberry — Google review
A fabulous park with a nice shower house and camp host. Not many tent spots to choose from, but they are usually open for walk up. The trails are nice, they may have a bit of flood damage so wear good boots. There is a lake for fishing and rentable shelter houses. Miles of trails with plenty of wildlife to observe. I'll will return again.
Rosanne Thompson — Google review
Our trip was delightful. Bathrooms were very clean. Well supplied. Camp sites were perfect and area was very well taken care of. David the park ranger was amazing and friendly. extremely helpful and always making rounds.
trails were the best I've ever seen. couldn't have asked for more.
Pretty fun store with lots of merchandise to look at and purchase. Connected to the store is a Maderite restaurant with the famous loose hamburger sandwiches. They have other foods to choose from as well
Tim Hamel — Google review
All sorts of neat things in this store! Many of the items for sale are not Amish-made, but they are cute and fun nonetheless. They do have handmade baskets, furniture, "barn quilt" wall art, actual quilts, and preserves, though. There are also some chickens outside and a fun photo op with some metal sculpture cows. A fun family stop!
Hannah F. — Google review
I was driving from Kansas City, MO to Des Moines and found a perfect midpoint to stop over for lunch. That’s how we stumbled upon this gem of a store, selling so many cute merchandise. They had a wide selection of pickled goods, jams and other condiments and it all looked so fresh and home made. They had a lot of local Iowa merchandise so that’s perfect for tourists to get a keepsake. I also bought some hand made soaps made from goat milk, in some delightful scents. I liked how the packaging was completely biodegradable making it a much better plastic-free alternative. The setting was also very pretty and they had a turkey coop to the side. I walked around the store, exploring their garden and relaxing by the swing set. Definitely worth getting off the highway and checking this place out. The store was also connected to Maid-rite fast food joint so it made for the perfect pit stop. Really nice staff.
Shiona Deliozar — Google review
This place is so charming! Stopped on our way home to Kansas City. We didn't eat at the restaurant, but we will try it next time. I bought some pickles and jam, both are spectacular!
Everyone who works there is pleasant and personable. The young lady at the register was very nice, like talking to an old friend. I highly recommend stopping here if you end up in the neck of the woods. A great place to take the whole family!
Al — Google review
We bought 8 of the different types of jam, and then stopped into the Maid Rite. Not kidding, the ham and swiss sandwich was the best my gf and I have ever had in our lives. We were still talking about it after we left. This place is definitely worth the stop.
haakon nelson — Google review
They have some good food and a wide range of gifts and furniture. The cinnamon rolls are so good!
Samuel S — Google review
This is the cutest place! We always look forward to stopping here when we travel to see family. They have a wonderful toy section (mostly Melissa and Doug), kitchen and home gear and decor, and a great bulk food selection.
The restaurant has yummy food - kids and grownups alike were pleased. The pricing was very reasonable. And, for ambience - the smell of homemade cinnamon rolls! Yum!
The bathrooms aren't huge, but they are well looked after.
Also, when the weather is nice, we like to take a peek at the heritage breed chickens outside on the way to the car.
Excellent place!
Sarah Vermeer — Google review
We were in a big rig Sport Chassis + 45 ft RV. We had no problem parking. Super good fried pies and can’t wait to have some cinnamon bread. Even bought a handmade basket. I even saw an Amish gentleman and his horse and buggy. Loved our visit!!! Easy on and off for big trucks!!
Allen and Danielle Shepard — Google review
Been driving past here for years and never stopped. Decided yesterday was the day. I'm glad I did! The store was filled with treasures and sweets! Oh, and it smells like a tenderloin thanks to the Maid-Rite inside. I didn't try any food, but I'm sure it was delicious. They had everything from furniture to jellies, jams and pillows inside. Also, before you leave make sure to pick up some Iowa travel guides and delicious free coffee. My Grandma just kept talking about how good the coffee was and I agree. This place is worth the short detour off I-35.
Kaleb Huffman — Google review
We must stop here anytime we drive thru from Wisconsin.
Always factor in at least 45 min inside. Between shopping and eating amazing food. Can go wrong here
Beautiful area. Lake was super clear water. Great hiking, kayaking and camping.
Kraig Loftin — Google review
About this this park.
Great shade in the non electric tent sites.
Price is reasonable and on par with other parks in the state.
The sites are partially graveled.
There are 3 ft. Fire rings with grill and picnic table at each site.
It is easy enough to either find dead fall or buy firewood not far from the park.
Site 39 at the end of the park is reservable and is by a trail and slightly slanted with two places for a tent...the stakes go in the ground easily.
There are gravel pads for parking but it's all paved into the park.
The trails will tax the glutes and calves as they are poorly maintained but passable.
Showers are older and separate from the rest rooms I would call them old modern.
At night this park is quiet except around holidays.
The birds sing in the mornings and only a slight highway sound now n then echos through distantly.
The DNR and conservation officers are very present and friendly .
There are trails to a nicely maintained beach area with beach showers and restroom.
As well as a covered picnic area and boat dock.
There is access to cleaning station and fishing piers.
Luke Orndorff — Google review
Camped here a nice weekend in November. It is a beautiful park to drive thru. Has a few easy trails. The non electric campground is beautiful and feels like it's nestled in the forest, lots of shade and a nice bathhouse. The electric campground is terrible. The sites are cramped and close together and no trees whatsoever in the camp area. Also has equestrian camping (no electricity) which is nice but no modern restrooms.
Jason Clements — Google review
Nine Eagles is a gem. Gorgeous park that has so much to offer, for campers, fishermen, or anyone looking for a place to relax and enjoy Nature. Staff are great. Everything is beautifully maintained and super clean.
Elizabeth Klein — Google review
Great state park, love the single cabin in the park, fishing was good, got my first ever 4 largemouth bass at this park. Great swimming, water is clear 3-4 feet down !!!
Nick Waters — Google review
Nine eagles is a beautiful park, we were very impressed. They have rental cabins, rv park and an equestrian center.
Jesse — Google review
Beautiful Park with free beach, playground and plenty of picnic tables and grills. Lake water was impressively clear.
Michelle Opperman — Google review
Not a lot of traffic in the winter, so the roads weren't plowed/campsite isn't kept up but Nine Eagle's is still awesome to go. The trails were untouched and peaceful, I hiked because there wasn't a lot of snow but you could snowshoe if there was more snow. The pit toilets are open - just do your due diligence to clean up after yourself 🙂
In August of 2021 my husband , son and I had to plan a trip to see our other son off to be deployed to South Korea. One of my favorite movies is Bridges To Madison County. So my husband snuck this trip in for a early anniversary present and it was one of the most amazing days I've ever had. This is so beautiful. I can not describe the true beauty of it. There was actually a little gift shop close by it but it was closed at the time . If you can ever come see this you should !
Honest Reviews — Google review
This is a very cool piece of history, both as a bridge and for the markings found inside made by the people who visit. Surprisingly, there is no graffiti or defamation of any kind. There are locks of love around the steel brace lines on the outside of the bridge on the corners. Its a really cool place to visit at least once.
Jeremy Stockdall — Google review
Beautiful covered bridge, same one used in the movie, "The Bridges of Madison County" starring both Oscar winners, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep in aove story about a photographer who is a loner with no children who lives on the road and meets a married woman with children on a farm in Iowa...
Rahn Savage, is the man who owns the land all around this bridge and the Roseman Covered Bridge Gift shop next to the Bridge...he is a really good fellow to meet and talk about life with too!
Bodhi Smith — Google review
Wow! this is very nice looking bridge and it is very old covered bridge. The location is very remote in the middle of Iowa's beautiful farming field. The road to the bridge is very beautiful. You can see wavy fields as far as your eyes go.
Istiaque Ahmed — Google review
Beautiful historic bridge. Amazing design and construction built in 1883.
You can walk around and through. Would be amazing to tube down the river.
Mark Larson — Google review
A place recommended to visit...If you like Bridges of Madison County movie, you'll come to see famous Roseman Covered Bridge.
Vukasin Gvozdenovic — Google review
This bridge has some of the best places for taking photos,you can get the whole bridge in view and it has a nice background. There was also a gift shop (why?) That was closed when I was there.
Richard Doyle — Google review
Can you smell the old timber? Love that smell. Stop with the graffiti! Why do you feel the need to write on old historical landmarks? Nobody cares who you love or where your from. If they did there would be a guest registry to sign.
Debbie Drives and Travels — Google review
A must-visit covered bridge if you are a fan of the movie by Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. There is a small gift shop nearby the bridge.
PL — Google review
The most remote of Madison County's six surviving covered bridges was the next to last to be built. The 104 foot long town lattice truss span was erected in 1883 by Benton Jones and George K. Foster to bridge the Middle River. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
John K Evans — Google review
Checking out the magical covered bridges of Madison County is a great way to spend a weekend day driving through old country roads.
Great time - watch out for wasps!
Oh yeah, grab some of that Raspberry-Peach Jam from the gift store. You will thank me later.
Jacob Ingram — Google review
It's a fun drive, not far from John Wayne's birthplace. The area is beautiful.
Mike Cardwell — Google review
We enjoyed visiting the Roseman Covered Bridge. What made it special was that we had a docent from the Madison County Chamber of Commerce guide us to the Bridges and around the town of Winterset. He provided so much history and movie background to the tour that we would have missed otherwise.
Terri McBride — Google review
Beautiful spot. The road from i80 to get here is dirt part of the way but very scenic even during April before all the trees start blooming. Enjoyed how peaceful it was as well! Gift shop was unfortunately closed when I was there.
Nice museum. Looking forward to coming back when the new part is open so to see the items we were anxious to see but weren't on display. There was a discounted rate during this time. The birthplace house was wonderful. The people working the museum and the house were very nice and friendly.
Darla Wells — Google review
John Wayne has been one of my favorite actors since I was a kid. Visiting the birthplace museum was a fun experience and provided me with some historical insights on the big screen icon. For John Wayne fans, this is a must see. It's a good half day excursion that you can easily combine with of self-guided tour of the Bridges of Madison County.
S. Combs — Google review
If you have even the slightest interest in John Wayne, this is a great place to visit. The staff are super knowledgeable and great people. The museum is gorgeous and has a wealth of exhibits, information, and memorabilia. Seeing his childhood home was very neat and Skip gave us an awesome tour and was great to talk to.
Kyle Roush — Google review
Fantastic place to visit especially if you're a John Wayne fan. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Lots of personal items. It is definitely worth the trip to visit. I will be visiting again the next time I am in the area.
Sarah B. — Google review
This is a fun place to visit if you are a mom or buff, John Wayne fan. It's very cool to see stuff outside of what you see on the movie screen. I would recommend going just for the history and knowledge and found something out of the ordinary.
Jeremy Stockdall — Google review
Absolutely loved this place, and the area. There are many covered bridges of Madison County around here as well. The folks at the chamber of commerce are friendly and have maps.
Such a treat to visit the birthplace of John Wayne and his museum. A bit pricy but I was happy to pay to help the place up and running. I did buy a puzzle in the gift store. The tour of the home was great. The museum was well kept and I liked the exhibits.
It was great to see a Freedom Rock near by. These big painted boulders are across the state of Iowa painted by Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II. This one featured John Wayne portraying him in his many military roles.
John Wayne an iconic movie actor playing the role of an American frontier man and other American heroic roles. You should really stop here if you are traveling near by.
David Madlener — Google review
Such a wonderful tribute to a person that has entertained me with movies for as long as I can remember. My personal favorites The Green Berets, Rio Lobo, The Shootist, and True Grit. The birthplace house; adorable, with still original wood flooring and moldings. At 169 movies, it was about 50 more than Henry Fonda.
Debbie Drives and Travels — Google review
Nice to experience but not sure it’s worth the price of admission. The staff is friendly and full of JW knowledge. I enjoyed seeing his car as well as his home.
Scott Evans — Google review
This was lots of fun to go and see. I really am a big fan of John Wayne and I learned things about his life that I never new. All the employees are very friendly and they have plenty of artifacts from his movies and personal life. I really like the stethoscope from the doctor that gave birth to John, who by the way was a woman, and John weighted 13 lbs. WOW! He was a big boy even then. I definitely recommend go to see the museum and his birth home.
Redneck and Baby Robbins — Google review
Lots of gift choices, nicely done in side, in May there opening up the rest of the museum
Adam fry — Google review
We had a incredible time. Lots of costumes "The Duke" wore in movies , lots of history. Any John Wayne fan will love this place. Gift shop is great. If you're a veteran show your license stating Veteran, or show your VA card. You get discounted admission and a secret gift!
Michael Novak — Google review
Nice tribute to John Wayne. We found it very interesting that the house he was born in was virtually untouched since the early 1900's! My father was a huge John Wayne fan and I grew up watching his movies often. As I grew older and learned more about him I gained a deep respect for the man he was and if you're a fan this is a must-visit!
John DeLuca — Google review
I'm so glad we made this side trip after our bike ride! Well worth the visit! We didn't have time to go through the museum as we were on our way to our next stop. Also drove to see the Holliwell covered bridge, one of 7 bridges featured in "Bridges of Madison County" movie. Beware, the Iowa dust will get EVERYWHERE!
Barb Longello — Google review
This is our second visit to this museum, the first being two years ago. We decided a return visit was in order as they were currently building a new gallery. I originally believed this was in order to house additional undisplayed items, but learned on this trip it was more likely to decrease the clutter of the original space.
The gift shop is one of the best, much better stocked and reasonably priced than the John Wayne museum in Texas.
The tour Eclectic — Google review
I really enjoyed the museum and birthplace of John Wayne. The staff was amazing. The Alamo model of the movie set was spectacular! OMG! The town of Winterset was like taking a step back in time. The courthouse was in the middle of the town square, and all the old buildings surrounding it. It's very refreshing to meet nice people, they come so few and far between nowadays. This is a must see for any John Wayne fan. The gift shop has wide range of items to choose from. Something for everyone!
Todd Copeland — Google review
John Wayne fans will love. Nice video narrated by his daughter. Be aware that house is closed in winter but no discount in $20 admission which we thought was kind of a rip off. Nice gift shop.
A Shirley — Google review
A fun visit. Being from Southern California was interesting to see the collection of memorabilia and little house that is being preserved in Iowa.
Best part are the stories from the museum curators!
Might be a little overcharge but the town of Winterset is nicely preserved with other tourists attractions and fun to walk around. Bridges of Madison Couny is nearby too. All in all an enjoyable side trip from the highway.
Jamie Rosenthal — Google review
This local museum has many John Wayne artifacts, a theater to watch a documentary about his career and you walk outside and tour his birthplace home where he was born in 1907 delivered by a woman doctor. The museum staff is helpful and friendly they are happy to answer any questions and visit with you. It doesn't take too long to go through this museum. I thought it was a fitting tribute to such a great American actor. This place is inspiring and the little Iowa town it's in is so picture perfect American small town. This museum has several very nicely done bronze statues of John Wayne.
Colette Erck — Google review
We loved seeing all the John Wayne personal stuff. Displays were set up with good information so you really learned a lot about him. Enjoyed the film and seeing his birth place.
Loved the view! GPS took me the wrong way so I just followed the roads on the map and ultimately you can reach this location via the city park.
Robert Koockogey — Google review
Resides in Winterset City Park. You can drive or hike to it and view the surrounding vistas. I suggest in the fall during Covered Bridgefestival when the fall leaf season at peak
Lonnie McDonald — Google review
Great place to have picturesque outdoor events. Winterset Parks and Rec is easy to work with to rent a shelter.
Daniel me — Google review
This whole park and surrounding areas are wonderful. There's playgrounds, walking and hiking paths, a hedge maze and shelters you can rent. I love to go to the beautiful creek that is outside the park. It's a fossil and bone hunter's dream! Definitely check it out if you're in the area and in need of nature!
There is a little bit of tornado damage still but they appear to be clearing it out.
Kristina Whiteley — Google review
This was an awesome find you can drive back to it or hike it to me it's more worth it hiking it.
Justin Eddy — Google review
This was a really worthwhile pit stop! I suggest bringing water and a jacket since the hike to the tower is 2 miles or so round trip!
Amy Zwarycz — Google review
Fun stop with a beautiful drive. The view from the top was wonderful. Would certainly like to come back and get somepictures when the leaves change in the fall.
Shiloh Matousek — Google review
We always enjoy our hikes up to the tower. The entire park is beautiful.
Randi Stone — Google review
Beautiful spot! A little scary with small children-the steps and lower flower are stone and very uneven. The steep stair/ladder to the top level is adjacent to an open window and we didn’t go up for fear of my children falling out of the second story window.
Colleen Allen — Google review
Love all of the parks here in Iowa. Big or small they all offer a great insight into history, nature, or a quiet respite from everyday business as usual. The Clark Tower offers some unique perspective in the area from the view to the history.
Great hiking and sites to see here. Spent some time tromping the trails and bird watching. Well worth your time to stop and check out the sights and sounds.
Marty Hogan — Google review
Great hike up to the tower. It is March, so all the trees are dormant and it was cold and wet today, but still a beautiful hike and the views were great. I am sure on a beautiful summer day they are stunning!
Calie M. — Google review
This was pretty rad. The drive up to it is a bit bumpy in certain spots but we took it slow and got up there fine. The view was pretty special.
Marty McMann — Google review
This park is one of my all time favorites to visit. They have a miniature garden maze and the trails and road that lead to the tower are awesome. Good spot for outdoor adventures.
James Linville — Google review
A neat place to visit! Great place to see all the fall colors and the grandkids had a blast! Highly recommend going at least once.
MyLisa S. — Google review
A neat tower that was very fun to get to. The view in early November was amazing. The town park at the foothills is awesome. A great place to rest or have a picnic.
My sister and I recently visited Winterset. We went into the Chamber office bright and early on a Monday morning and were greeted by Leslie. She is the perfect person to work with the public. So kind, helpful, and just all around a great person. She suggested places to us to see, which was everything Winterset had to offer. We were happy to see her again on Wednesday night at the movie theatre.
Amy Feigley — Google review
My husband and I traveled from IL for the weekend to see Madison County and it's bridges. I'm so happy we stopped in the Chamber of Commerce in Winterset. Leslie was working on Saturday morning and she was so helpful. She made excellent suggestions of things to see. She spent more time then she had to talking with me, my husband, and our puppy Mondo. Everything that she suggested was worth the stop. Leslie was friendly, knowledgeable, and just awesome! Thank you for making our visit to Madison County one to remember.
Leslie Miller — Google review
I really enjoyed the lady who was working, she explained things well along with sharing other places to visit. I do wish you carried larger sizes in all shirts, I did buy a long sleeved one but honestly I wanted a short sleeve shirt I probably won't wear the long sleeve very much.
Barbra Harvey — Google review
We came to do a tour of the bridges not knowing that you had to call ahead first and set up the 2 hour tour. But they got us the most fantastic guide. His name was Bob and he was an extra in the film as well has being born and raised there. He showed us so much more than just the bridges!! We went past John Wayne's house and down back roads that the other tour guides did not know. He was a wealth of information and really made it fun!!!
Deb B — Google review
Great effort by those businesses participating in your first “live action” windows! The courthouse was festive, the carriage ride added to the sounds of night, most storefronts were beautifully decorated, and the ones who included real people and pets were wonderful! Those businesses creating action windows not only put the time and effort into their design, they were ALL SO GRACIOUS in sharing their enthusiasm for the holidays with visitors and patrons! I don’t what your criteria is for making it an annual tradition, but please remember it warmed the hearts and brought a lot of holiday cheer to those who attended. It’s something that could become a long-standing seasonal tradition and bring many benefits for Winterset /Madison County. Congratulations on your collective efforts!
Robin Norris — Google review
Probably the best place to start your tour of Winterset and old bridges nearby. The lady who work there was extremely helpful, as she helped us to fit the points of interest within the designated time we had. She knew all important details, obviously about all historic bridges, but also about what to eat and working hours of local restaurants.
igor marinovic — Google review
This was our second trip to Winterset. We truly enjoy this peaceful little town! The Chamber is always helpful and eager to make our stay special.
Valinda Beasley — Google review
The Chamber of Commerce really stepped up during the recent tornado in winterset. The staff used their time and space to sign up volunteers and coordinate whatever needed to be done for the impacted families. They have also recommended my Airbnb even though I am not a chamber member.
Spacious campground, boat rentals, fishing, sandy beach & trails featured in a 770-acre preserve.
We really enjoyed our stay here. The park was clean and well maintained. The restrooms and showers were clearly well taken care of. They have some walking trails that were also great. Most of the sites were electric only, with water spigots sprinkled throughout, but there are also full hook-up sites. For electric only, it was $20 a night. But, if you try to book starting on a Saturday, you have to book the Friday before, or it won't let you. If you have T-mobile, the service is very spotty at best. But, overall, not a bad place to stay. We'd stay here again.
Staci Willden — Google review
Would give it 5 stars if it was mown better. Having said that, I know the budget constraints keep them from maintaining like the "old days". It's still a wonderful place to spend time.
Schuler Schuler — Google review
Great day for an hour and a half. A storm kicked up with high winds and rain. Highly recommend it though. The beach was clean and lots of rentals to enjoy on the lake.
Jeff Killam — Google review
Pretty nice state park that features hiking trails and a lake. The lake was nearly dry and there were workers in there so I have not seen the park at its prettiest, but still a good place to hike and have a picnic.
Christopher Cameron — Google review
Campground reopened today. Many, but not all full hookups. Only ADA and host site are concrete - rest gravel. Playground seems gone. Not overly impressed but a few sites nice.
Gary Stone — Google review
Absolutely gorgeous. The restrooms were pretty clean for a park like this, but smelled a little mildewy. The showers got kind of dirty over the weekend with so many visitors (gorgeous May weather, who can resist?) and because of the mildew smell I decided against using the showers. But if you're prepared for that, the lake, scenery, and walking trails are great. Very relaxing. Listening to the birds and frogs in the morning was awesome.
Michelle Hand — Google review
We stayed 3 nights and had a great time. We rented a paddle boat for a day ($37 for the whole day) and was glad to have that experience. The campsite was great. Well definitely go again.
Melissa Walker — Google review
Big beautiful clean sites, so.e on concrete and some on crushed concrete. excellent facilities and fire pits
Chris MacPhee — Google review
If you discount the bleak weather, Ahquabi State Park is one of the better state parks. Plenty of campgrounds and RV hookups. Fishing, swimming, paddle boats, canoes, and kayaks are available for use...or bring your own. Always check with park officials first to make sure spots and hookups are available. There is no entry fee, but you will be charged for camp space, RV hookups and boat rentals. Great place for the day or a weekend out of town.
Michael Schmidt — Google review
Boat rentals! Paddle boats, row boats, and canoes.There are not enough tables but plenty of shade. A nice log work encloser thats usually rented or filled. A nice concessions stand thats cheap. A couple mowed trails that are steep. A small beach. Great picknick place and fishing. Oh flushing toilets. All the people are nice and its very clean.
Rodney Gates — Google review
It's a nice place but they really did a number on the campground. Now, it resembles more of a parking lot than a campground...kind of like that song that goes:
"They paved paradise and put up a parking lot".
Most of the trees and grass are gone, with giant slabs of concrete in their place. The campsites are nice, though, with brand new fire pits and grills.
You used to be able to go tent camping here for $11 a night, but now there is a flat fee of $20 + $4 to process your credit or debit card. I might have missed it, but I didn't see an option to pay in cash like before.
I really wish they would have left this place alone, because it really was a beautiful campground, but not so much anymore. Thankfully, you still have the lake there and hiking trails, so there is still some natural beauty there that wasn't destroyed...by the Department of Natural Resources or whoever's idea it was to renovate the campground.
Keith Riffle — Google review
Beautiful park can't wait for it to be re-opened
Logan Allen — Google review
Amazingly beautiful place! Nice campground with good size space between sites. The trails and beach are a bonus! We love it here and always catch fish! Fun to see the hot air balloons. Really nice that Indianola is so close. Went to Crouse Cafe. So delicious! Also the farmers market and grocery store. We'll be back!
Annie Lewis — Google review
This could be an awesome place. Didnt know the lake was drained. I can imagine how fun it would be and invision it with water. Hope they fill it back up!
What a great 20 minute stop on Van Meter Iowa. Doubles as the City Hqll building space on one side and baseball HOF legend Bob Feller Museum on the other side. Love the military service tie in and the memorabilia alone is worth it for any baseball fan. You will not be disappointed visiting here. Young and old alike... this is a great spot to take the time and stop.
Marty Hogan — Google review
Unsure of their hours but wasn’t open on the Saturday we went.
It’s the town’s City Hall that it’s collocated with. I am sure it’s great to see and would give 5 stars if it was open but since it wasn’t… here we are.
Tam Henders — Google review
Artbyjo documenting America one town at a time
Jo Owens Murray — Google review
This was an incredible museum and tribute to a hometown hero. The museum is small and it was not staffed which was fine. But the displays were absolutely incredible. There was a plethora or incredible memorabilia. I cannot recommend this museum enough to Indians fans, baseball fans and just anyone who wants to learn about American history.
Jeremiah Feicht — Google review
A great surprise! Wonderful. Small but very detailed and friendly people. It's free and easy to find. Very educational and great memorabilia!
James Larson — Google review
Great little museum in Van Meter, Iowa's Town Hall. A nice tribute to one of the greatest pitchers of all time.
John Brandon — Google review
A location of baseball history. Bob Feller's home made the pitcher and the heart of the player!
David Winslow — Google review
This is now the City Hall for the City of Van Meter. They still have museum prices on loan from the Cleveland Indians.
Jon B — Google review
Bob Feller was an amazing ball player, unequaled even today! So glad I stopped @ his museum.
National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame
Museums
Specialty Museums
Extremely informative. Becky was wonderful. We learned so much.
Carrie Verdin — Google review
It was a lot but it was pretty cool! Found awesome wooden-made hot air balloon earrings in the gift shop!
Sierra Navarro — Google review
Neat museum and great way to learn about a unique and specialized subject matter. We love exploring off the beaten path. Staff was lovely. Inspired us to try to make it to the balloon fiesta some day. It looks like a magical experience. Thanks for your hospitality!
April Fisher — Google review
Great history on hot air ballooning. Good displays. Friendly staff.
Donald Dreier — Google review
What you get at the museum is the curator, who is an amazing historian. Thoroughly enjoyed our experience. Left a big fan!
keith epperson — Google review
You are closed on Tuesday! Really, ugh. You get a three for being closed. It's the summer tourist season.
Debbie Drives and Travels — Google review
Ms. Becky was so great. She gave one of the best tours ever and has extensive knowledge of hot air balloons and their history.
Brian Verdin — Google review
As a pilot this has to be my favorite event to attend. The competition and family atmosphere is unmatched. Can't wait till next year!
cody robinson — Google review
Please was very friendly, and a great place to stop if you like Hot Air Ballooning