Tuesday, 27 June
The Journey from Kansas City to Saylorville Lake
We drove 220 miles up I-35 from Kansas City to the Acorn Valley Campground just north of Des Moines. Since we cound not check in until 4 pm, we did not leave until the afternoon.
Acorn Valley Campground
Acorn Valley Campground, located near Saylorville Lake in central Iowa, is maintained by the Corps of Engineers. The campground features over 29 electric campsites, 18 non-electric sites, and three walk-in tent sites. The spacious sites are surrounded by trees, providing a sense of privacy. Each site includes a picnic table, a fire ring, and access to drinking water. The campground also has restrooms, hot showers, and a dump station, with paved roads throughout.
We were fortunate to find a site at this popular campground, though we only stayed on weekday nights. We had site 001, which had an electrical hookup only, so we needed to fill our fresh water tank before parking the camper on our site. It was a nice site, though it lacked shade. None of the sites at the campground had a view of the lake.
Upon arrival, we checked in at the entrance booth and received directions to our site. Site 001 had a wide gravel back-in pad, though we had to use a couple of leveling blocks. It was partly shady and backed up to some trees, with a nice firepit and a newer metal picnic table. We had water and electricity connections. Overall, it was a very nice site, as I have come to expect from COE campgrounds, and it only cost $11 per night with my America the Beautiful pass.
Dinner at Fleetwood on Salylorville Lake
After we set up our camper, we ran over to a Fleetwood on Saylorville Lake. This was a popular waterfront destination located on Saylorville Lake.
The restaurant and event venue is situated to take full advantage of its lakefront setting, featuring large windows and outdoor seating areas that offer panoramic views of the water. The menu focuses on classic American cuisine with a modern twist, emphasizing fresh ingredients and locally inspired flavors. Guests can enjoy dishes like burgers, fresh salads, seafood, and hearty entrées, paired with a variety of craft beers, cocktails, and wines.
The weather was perfect and we got a nice outside table overlooking the water. We asked the waitress for a couple of recommendations for some local beers. I ordered a Gable Golden Lager from Singlespeed Brewing, and Lisa got a Ruthie Gold Lager brewed by the Exile Brewing Company, both from Des Moines. Both were good, but the Ruthie was our favorite. We then enjoyed some Fish Tacos (Lisa) and Sprimp Tacos (Sam) that our waitress stated were the popular entrees.
Evening
On our way back to the camper, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
When we got back to the camper, I attempted to repair our leaky toilet, but discovered that I needed some plumbers tape to finish up. Lucily there was a nice bathroom facility on the campground which we used until I could get the tape the next day,
Wednesday, 28 June
Drake Diner
We decided to have breakfast at the Drake Diner in Des Moines the following day. The diner offers a nostalgic 1950s-style dining experience with a modern twist. Situated near Drake University, this iconic diner has been a popular spot for students, locals, and visitors since it opened in 1987. It captures the essence of a classic American diner with its retro decor, featuring stainless steel accents, red vinyl booths, neon lights, and a checkerboard floor. Breakfast was good and we were really impressed with the waitress who despite having a lot of tables was very efficient and quick.
After breakfast we stopped by Lowes to get some plumbers tape and a shut-off valve for my toilet.
Buddy Holly Crash Site
We then drove north to see the Buddy Holly Crash Site, located almost two hours north of Des Moines. This part of the country was very flat and full of corn that was 2-3 feet high at this part of the season. The air was very hazy because of the smoke from Canadian forest fires. This caused “unprecedented” air quality indices.
The Buddy Holly Crash Site, also known as the “The Day the Music Died” Memorial from a line in the song American Pie, is near Clear Lake, Iowa. It marks the tragic spot where a plane carrying rock ‘n’ roll icons Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson crashed in the early hours of February 3, 1959. This event profoundly impacted the music world and is remembered as a pivotal moment in rock history.
The crash site is situated on private farmland, accessible by a short walk along a path leading from a nearby parking lot. The gravel parking lot was marked by a large banner with “Don McLean – American Pie” and a guitar sign on a tall pole. The guitar had LED lights connected to a solar charger so it would light up at night.
A large pair of horned-rim glasses marked the beginning of the trail and blocked access to vehicles. Previous visitors had hung sunglasses on it in tribute. The trail was a half-mile two-track road that divided two cornfields.
At the crash site, we found several small stainless steel signs. One was shaped like a guitar with the three singers’ names and 2-3-59. Another was shaped like three 45 rpm records that were stamped with popular songs from each artist: Mercury – Chantilly Lace (Big Bopper), Coral – Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly), and Delfi – Donna (Ritchie Valens). There was also a sign in tribute to the pilot Roger Peterson shaped like pilot wings. Around the signs were mementos left by fans, such as eyeglasses, guitar picks, flowers, notes, and photographs, as a way of paying their respects.
Central Gardens of North Iowa
In the nearby Clear Lake, the last city the three singers had performed, we stopped at the Central Gardens of North Iowa. This beautiful public garden spanned several acres and had a vibrant collection of themed garden areas designed to showcase the beauty of plants and horticulture in northern Iowa. It was free, and we explored different garden sections, such as perennial gardens, rose gardens, a butterfly garden, and a water garden featuring a serene pond with aquatic plants and koi fish.
One of the standout features of Central Gardens is its commitment to sustainability. Many of the plants are native to the region, making them well-suited to the local climate and offering benefits to local wildlife, including bees, butterflies, and birds. The garden also includes educational elements, such as signage explaining the plant varieties and gardening techniques.
Cerro Gordo County Freedom Rock
While in Clear Lake, we drove over to see the Cerro Gordo County Freedom Rock. This was part of the larger Freedom Rock project, which aims to honor military veterans across Iowa. Painted by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, this rock featured a large American eagle on one side and a local Civil War hero on the other. A painted American flag was dropped over the top.
Nearby was a sundial made from a sailboat honoring a past member of the local garden club, flags from all the services, and the Holy Apples Orchard and Ice Cream Shop in a repurposed church. Unfortunately, the ice cream shop was closed.
The Music Man Square
We then drove over to the The Music Man Square. This indoor museum brought the musical Music Man to life with a recreated town square and exhibits on the life of Meredith Willson, the creation of the musical, and the story behind its lasting success. Visitors can explore memorabilia, photographs, scripts, and other artifacts related to the show and learn about Willson’s upbringing in Clear Lake and his contributions to American music.
Nearby was Meredith Willson’s boyhood home and a statue of Meredith Wilson. The museum admission was $10 each and was only open for another hour, so we decided to just explore the outside area.
Rancho Deluxe Z Garden
We decided to visit Max Weaver’s colorful garden-like junk art retreat, Rancho Deluxe Z Garden. Weaver started this project in 2003 as a shade garden for his wife, but it has since evolved into a sprawling half-acre filled with recycled, repurposed, and rogue art. Elements from North Iowa’s history, including bicycle racks, hub caps, license plates, school gates, signs, and even pieces of granite from the former County Courthouse, have been creatively incorporated into this unique and ever-changing folk/art outsider art space. There are even veterans memorials.
Nearby, a large military-themed mural adorned the side of a building, complete with a helicopter tail that gave it a striking 3-D effect. Despite my research, I couldn’t find any information about it.
The Stockman House
We drove on Lakeview Drive trying to get a peak at the lake but there were no views. Along the way we drove through Clear Lake State Park campground which was packed but it looked like a nice destination for a future trip.
We then headed to Mason City, about 9 miles away, to see the Stockman House. This home was built by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908 and was one of Wright’s earliest and most important residential works in the Prairie School style. its distinctive design elements, which are hallmarks of Wright’s Prairie Style.
We walked outside the home and recognized several of his notable design elements, such as the horizontal lines, low-pitched roof, wide eaves, and numerous windows that emphasized natural light and a strong connection to the outdoors. The house was originally part of a larger residential development designed by Wright, but many of the surrounding buildings were demolished over time. Today, the Stockman House stands as a testament to Wright’s early work and a vital part of the architectural history of Mason City.
Reiman Gardens and Giant Troll
We then returned to the campground but stopped at Reiman Gardens, hoping to see its Giant Troll. This garden is located near Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Though we drove completely around the outside of the gardens, we only saw a small glimpse at his hat.
El Azteca
We decided to eat at a popular Mexican restaurant called El Azteca before we returned to the camper.
Sunset
That evening, we were able to catch a beautiful sunset when we returned to the campground.
Thursday, 29 June
In the morning we enjoyed watching a Chipmunk eating the berries from the trees, before we finished packing up and headed on to Lowden State Park in Illinois after visiting the dump.