Union County

Creston and Union County are located in the beautiful rolling hillsides of southwest Iowa, 75 miles southwest of Des Moines and 100 miles southeast of Omaha. It is the perfect place to spend your next vacation or holiday. Our many “High Lakes” offer an array of outdoor recreational opportunities unmatched in SW Iowa. Over 2,100 acres of water, including five lakes and over 6,000 acres of publicly owned parks, woodlands, prairie and wetlands. All conveniently located within a 25 mile radius. Here you can also experience our railroad history or that of the Mormons who passed through on their way to Utah. Our expanding trails are becoming more and more popular. Please come enjoy and experience Union County.

The Union County Historical Village and Museum is located in Creston just off Highway 34 West in beautiful McKinley Park. Here you can find buildings reminiscent of a prospering rural town in Iowa around the 1890’s. You can see the fully furnished last operating rural school in Union County. Other original buildings brought to the complex include an 1855 log cabin, a barn originally built in 1896, a house built before 1900 and the Spaulding Methodist Church where weddings still take place today. A depot, originally from Lucas and later used at Brooks, along with a signal tower from the Creston rail yards and a caboose, emphasize the importance of the railroad heritage to the area.

Replicas in the village include a general store, harness shop, barbershop, blacksmith shop, fire station, machine shed, print shop and gristmill. A museum adjoins the village and contains hundreds of artifacts and Union County memorabilia.

The Village is open from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day or by appointment and is free to the public. Tours can also be scheduled during the year. For more information please call Dick at 641-782-4000 or Sharon at 641-782-2870.

Afton is a community that meets you and greets you on their square. It is located at the intersection of Highways 169 and 34 and is the southern Gateway to Three Mile Lake in Union County.

Every Tuesday evening from June through mid-August, the community gathers in the City Park, located in downtown Afton, to enjoy Lawn Chair Nights and a Farmers Market complete with music and food.  The Lion’s Club holds a Pre-Fourth of July celebration in the park the Sunday before the Fourth. A Community Church Service, food, entertainment and games are some of the activities on the day’s agenda. The splash pad on the square is a fun stop for locals as well as visitors anytime.

Afton has been host to the Union County Fair held in July (July 15 to July 21, 2021) for as long as anyone can remember.  A parade, rodeo and demolition derby headline the fair. While at the fair, visit the industry booths, tour the animal barns, 4-H booths and enjoy the great cooking and homemade ice cream.

Be sure to add Afton to your travel agenda.  It is a great place to visit. Please call 641-347-5224 for further details or visit their website at www.aftoniowa.com

The High Lakes Outdoor Alliance Shooting Range is the newest addition to the Three Lake Recreation Area in Union County. The range was recently constructed and is managed by the High Lakes Outdoor Alliance, an all volunteer, non-profit group.

The Range consist of 5 separate ATA certified trap shooting stations, 50 yards, a pistol range, rifle range with targets at 100, 200, 300, 400, 600 and 800 yards. There is a clubhouse at the facility as well.

The High Lakes Outdoor Alliance hosts numerous shooting events along with local, collegiate, FFA and 4H Trap Shooting teams.

For more information on the Range or questions on how to obtain a membership please call the Union County Conservation Board at 641-347-5100.

Union County is one of southwest Iowa’s wildlife and outdoor recreation “must go to places”. Located along and near Highway 34, with easy access to Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 the lakes and beautiful landscape are easily accessible to the avid outdoorsman and those who enjoy the outdoors and the beauty which Southwest Iowa offers.

Whether its deer or turkey, waterfowl or pheasants, walleye, Muskie or the lowly catfish, opportunities for hunting and fishing are plentiful in and around Union County. Union County’s High Lakes offer an array of outdoor recreational opportunities unmatched in southern Iowa. Five lakes including award winning 3-Mile Lake and 12 Mile Lake along with Green Valley State Park with 2,500 acres of publicly owned woodland and prairie….are all conveniently located within a 20-mile radius of each other.

The lakes offer opportunities for water-skiing, boating, camping, swimming, hiking and picnicking and some great ice fishing during the winter months for the entire family.

The duck and goose hunting is excellent. Turkeys were stocked in the area in the late 70’s and have expanded to the point where just about every patch of woods has turkeys now.

The region has become a favorite for deer hunters as well.

Thousands of acres of CRP and cropland furnish an excellent habitat for wildlife. Or, if you prefer, you can hunt along the banks of Three Mile and Twelve-Mile Lakes, where hundreds of acres of cover and food plots have been created to draw wildlife. Opened in 2013, the High Lakes Shooting Range, is another spot for the outdoor enthusiast.

Three great golf courses can also be found in Union County along with an expanding hiking and biking trail which runs from McKinley Park in Creston north to the campground at Green Valley State Park. This Park to Park Trail is paved over five miles and once at Green Valley State Park you can enjoy another 3 plus miles of paved trails along with 6 miles of grass trails around Green Valley Lake. These latter trails are suitable for hiking and mountain bikes.

For more information on hunting, fishing or other activities in the area please call Union County Conservation at 641-3475100. Call Creston/Union County Tourism for a free travel guide at 641-7827022 or visit our website at www.unioncountyiowatourism.com

Uptown Creston offers locals, visitors and guests a wide variety of shopping experiences and artwork. Here you can find unique shops for clothing, furniture, art supplies and collectibles along with several great local restaurants to mention a few of the businesses that await you. Several salons and spas also occupy space in the Uptown. In addition, there are several outdoor wall murals that have been painted in the last three years along with a sculpture depicting our railroad heritage from our Sesquicentennial in 2019 in front of our Historic Depot. A street quilt was added in late 2019 on the corner of Maple and Adams Street. An art gallery can be found in the Depot as well.

An example of the stores in the Uptown is Create Creston, 104 North Maple. They offer a wide range of arts supplies along with a wonderful selection of local and regional handmade items for sale. Tee shirts are made on premise and various types of art classes are offered for all ages and abilities during the year. Artist can also work in the studio area by reservation. Stop by or give them a call at 641-782-8932.

As you can tell, there is LOTS to SEE and DO in Uptown Creston.

McKinley Park, is a picturesque park located in the northwest area of Creston. The Park has an all purpose court, picnic and camping areas including Creston McKinley Campers Camp Ground with 34 electrical hookups and water. There are eight shelter houses, a band shell, 18 hole disc golf course and playground area. In addition, the Park to Park Trail connects McKinley Park to Green Valley State Park. The Creston Farmers’ Market sets up in the Park on Mondays during the summer from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

McKinley Lake attracts numerous types of migratory birds throughout the year. Many people enjoy watching the flocks as they fly in and out of the area. Shoreline fishing can be done at the lake as well.

Also at the Park is a Leisure Pool featuring a wading pool, heated swimming pool, diving boards and a large water slide. McKinley Park is the beginning point of the paved trail that runs through west Creston to the campground area at Green Valley State Park.

For more information on what is available or to reserve a shelter house please call 641-782-2000 ext. 208 or visit the City Website at www.crestoniowa.gov

Between 1846 and 1852 more than 2,000 people made their homes at Mt Pisgah while thousands of others simply passed through on their way west. Even those headed west to the gold fields in California stopped here for supplies and rest.

Mt. Pisgah located four miles south and one mile west of Lorimor, just off Highway 169, was the first white settlement in Union County. This site was founded by Mormon Scout, Parley Pratt and served as a way station on the original Mormon Trail from 1846 until 1852.

Today you can tour a cabin that was built as a reproduction of the type built as shelter by those early travelers. You can pause at the monument erected in memory of the residents who did not survive their journey. Three hundred Mormons were buried here in just the first few months. You can trace wagon tracks across the prairie grass trail that eventually became a main thoroughfare to the west. You may picnic in the park near the site.

Tours are available. For more information or to schedule a tour please call Bob Brown at 641763-2504, or email at bbrown1704@yahoo. com.

Creston and Southwest Iowa’s hills and blue skies are a perfect setting for nearly 40 hot air balloons participating in the Creston/SW Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days the third weekend in September – September 17, 18 & 19, 2021.  Now in its 43^rdyear, the event is the second largest of its kind in the state of Iowa. 

In addition to the balloon races during the weekend there is also the annual Hot Air Balloon Days Parade with high school marching bands from across the area, along with balloonists and many others on Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m. in Uptown Creston.   The Creston City Center is the site of various activities for spectators of all ages as well.  A Flea Market and Craft Fair is a must see as well as a stroll through town to visit the local merchants open for your shopping pleasure during the day.

On Saturday afternoon you can continue to enjoy your day at the airport and participate in or enjoy the pedal pull and Pet Show. Weather permitting there are also tethered balloon rides available. The very popular NightGlow begins around dusk. The event wraps up on Sunday morning with the last balloon race, weather permitting.

Mark your calendar and make your plans early to attend. For more information please contact the Creston Chamber of Commerce at 641-782-7022 or visit their website at www.crestoniowachamber.com.

Up, Up and Away.

Between 1846 and 1852 more than 2,000 people made their homes at Mt Pisgah while thousands of others simply passed through on their way west.  Even those headed west to the gold fields in California stopped here for supplies and rest.

Mt. Pisgah located four miles south and one mile west of Lorimor, just off Highway 169, was the first white settlement in Union County.  This site was founded by Mormon Scout, Parley Pratt and  served as a way station on the original Mormon Trail from 1846 until 1852.

Today you can tour a cabin that was built as a reproduction of the type built as shelter by those early travelers.  You can pause at the monument erected in memory of the residents who did not survive their journey.  Three hundred Mormons were buried here in just the first few months. You can trace wagon tracks across the prairie grass trail that eventually became a main thoroughfare to the west.  You may picnic in the park near the site.

Looking for a fun hometown Fourth of July Celebration.? Look no further than Creston, Iowa.

One of the highlights of the event is the annual 4th of July Parade held on July 4th in Uptown Creston. Creston is known for their parades and the July 4th Parade is one of the best and biggest usually lasting at least 45 minutes. Before and or after the parade many people enjoy shopping the Flea Market.

McKinley Park is the center of many other Fourth of July events on the big day. The Union County Historical Village holds their annual Pioneer Days Celebration and food and several other activities are taking place.

Another highlight of the 4th of July Celebration in Creston each year is the annual fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. in McKinley Park. on the 4th While fireworks are a staple of many Independence Day celebrations, Creston’s are well above standard. Visitors from around the area, SW Iowa and northern Missouri come again and again to enjoy the show.

For a complete listing of events and activities please visit www.crestoniowachamber.com.

If you are looking for a place to spend the 4th of July, remember Creston. You won’t be disappointed.