Adair County

STAY IN TOUCH WITH ADAIR COUNTY

Contact The County

Adair County Tourism
PO Box 23
Greenfield, IA 50849
[email protected]
641-221-0034

For Group Tours

Information contact:
641-743-8444
[email protected]

Greenfield Farmer's Market

June-September
Every Thursday 4:00-6:00PM
Historic Downtown Greefield

Stuart Farmer's Market

Late May – October
Wednesday 4:30 – 6:30PM
Lawbaugh Park, Stuart

EVENTS

Adair County Fair
July 10 – 14,
Greenfield

March 16: Des Moines Irish Session, Greenfield

March 24: Bingo, Greenfield

March 30: Easter Egg Hunt, Greenfield

March 30: Easter Egg Hunt, Adair

April 6: Tropical Steel, Greenfield

April 7: Good News Concert, Greenfield

April 20:Bonnie & Clyde Run/Walk, Dexter to Stuart

April 28: Bingo Gathering Place, Greenfield

May 5: Good News Concert, Greenfield

May 11-12: Renaissance Faire, Greenfield

May 26: Bingo, Greenfield

May 31: Pizza on the Prairie, Greenfield

June 2: Good News Concert, Greenfield

June 7: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

June 8: Annalibera, Greenfield

June 8: Kids Free Fishing Clinic, Adair County

June 14: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

June 14-15: Good Egg Days, Stuart

June 15: Round-up Day, Bridgewater

June 21: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

June 22: Chuckwagon Days, Adair

June 28: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

June 29: St. John’s Fest, Greenfield

June 30: Bingo Gathering Place, Greenfield

July 4: 4th of July Celebration, Fontanelle

July 5: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

July 7: Good News Concert, Greenfield

July 12: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

July 16: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

July 19: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

July 26: Battle of the BBQ, Orient

July 28: Bingo, Greenfield

Aug. 2: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Aug. 4: Good News Concert, Greenfield

Aug. 9: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Aug. 16: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Aug. 23: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Aug. 25: Bingo, Greenfield

Aug. 30: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Sept. 1: Good News Concert, Greenfield

Sept. 1: Gridiron Gatherin’, Stuart

Sept. 6: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Sept. 6-8: Greenfield Swap Meet & City Wide Garage Sales, Greenfield

Sept. 13: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Sept. 20: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Sept. 27: Pizza on the Prairie, Orient

Sept. 29: Lion’s Club Bingo, Greenfield

Oct. 6: Good News Concert, Greenfield

Oct. 6: 2nd Annual Fair Fall Fest, Greenfield

Oct. 27: Lion’s Club Bingo, Greenfield

Nov. 3: Good News Concert, Greenfield

Nov. 21: Ladies Night, Stuart

Nov. 24: Bingo, Greenfield

Nov. 28: Turkey Trot 5K/Mile Run, Adair

Nov. 29: Festival of Lights Parade, Greenfield

Nov. 30: Small Business Saturday, All Adair County Towns

Dec. 7: Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Extravaganza, Greenfield

Dec. 7: Festival of Trees, Adair

Dec. 8: Good News Concert, Greenfield

Dec. 29: Bingo, Greenfield

ATTRACTIONS

Adair County Health & Fitness Center

202 North Townline Road
Greenfield
641-743-2881
www.adaircountyhealthandfitness.com

Adair County Historical Society Complex

May 1-Oct. 1, Mon-Sat 1-4:30 p.m. Or by appointment
2393 S. Lakeview Dr.
Greenfield, IA
641-743-2232

Bridgewater Farm

2409 Brown Avenue
Bridgewater
641-745-5368
www.bfproduce.com

Freedom Rock®

The Original Freedom Rock
I-80 and Hwy. 25
641-343-7110
www.thefreedomrock.com

Greenfield Public Square Historic District

Public Square
Greenfield, IA
641-743-8444

Ed & Eva's

In the Warren Cultural Center
on the Greenfield Square
641-743-2566

Historic Bandstand

Fontanelle City Park

Purdy Sports Complex

202 N. Townline Road
Greenfield, IA
641-743-2881

Iowa Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame

Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame
April-December
M-F 10 am – 5 pm, Sat-Sun 1 – 5 pm
2251 Airport Road
Greenfield, IA
641-343-7184
www.flyingmuseum.com

Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm

2557 Norfolk Avenue
Greenfield
www.farms.ag.iastate.edu

Jesse James Historical Site

1156 Anita-Adair Road
Adair

Restored Rock Island Depot

204 East Front Street, Stuart
515-205-0081
www.traveliowa.com/places/rock-island-railroad-depot/7528/

Saints Center for Culture and the Arts

320 N. Fremont Street
Stuart, IA
515-523-2921
www.saintscenter.com

Schildberg Antique Car Collection

E Iowa & NE 2nd Street
Greenfield
515-327-9213

Sixteen Oaks Event Center

1308 Main Street
Fontanelle
641-745-5271
www.16oaks.com

Slayton's Rock

1174 Fontanelle Road
Casey
641-746-2693

Veterans Memorial

Adair County Courthouse Courtyard
Greenfield

Warren Cultural Center

156 Public Square
Greenfield, IA
641-343-7337
www.warrenculturalcenter.com

Wallace Farm

2773 290th St.,
Orient
641-337-5019
www.wallace.org

White Pole Road Scenic Byway

PLACES TO STAY

Adair Budget Inn

I-80 Exit 76, Adair
641-742-5553

AmericInn Lodge & Suites

I-80 Exit 93, Stuart
515-523-9000 | 1-800-634-3444
www.americinn.com

Armstrong Guest House

307 NE Elm, Greenfield
641-743-2888

Country Blooms Guest Barn and Hunting Lodge

1875 Fontanelle Road, Fontanelle
641-745-4486
www.countryblooms.com

Economy Inn

I-80 Exit 93, Stuart
515-523-1122

Elm Street Dreams Guest House

409 NE Elm, Greenfield
641-221-9043
www.elmstreetdreams.com

Historic Hotel Greenfield

110 East Iowa Street, Greenfield
641-343-7323 or 641-221-0034
[email protected]
www.visithotelgreenfield.com

Huckleberry House

Motel 6

I-80 Exit 93, Stuart
515-523-2888
www.motel6.com

Orient Lofts

101 W 1st Street, Orient
515-971-7008

Relax Inn and Suites

I-80 Exit 76, Adair
641-742-5251

Stuart Motor Lodge

I-80 Exit 93, Stuart
515-523-8045
Facebook.com/stuartmotorlodge

Travelers Guesthouse

306 Jefferson Street, Fontanelle
515-351-7479

Warren Cultural Center Guest Suite

154 Public Square, Greenfield
641-343-7337
Airbnb
www.warrenculturalcenter.com

PARKS/CAMPGROUNDS

Mormon Trail Lake & Park

1 1⁄2 miles east of Bridgewater. Follow signs south from Hwy 92.

Rex Sullivan Wildlife Area

1453 330th Street, 8 miles southeast of Bridgewater.

Lake Orient Recreation Area

Just west of Orient on Hwy 25.

Cornell Wildlife Area

1 mile east and 1 mile north of Adair.

Hoskins Wildlife Area

2009 Adair-Adams Street, 6 miles southwest of Orient.

Meadow Lake

13 miles northeast of Greenfield on Hwy 25.

Jensen-Butler Wildlife Area:

9 miles southeast of Stuart at the corner of Trenton Avenue and 200th Street.

Lake Greenfield - Nodaway Lake - Ken Sidey Nature Area

A multi-park complex just southwest of Greenfield.

Wright Timber Wildlife Area

3202 190th Street, 9 miles south and 3 miles east of Stuart.

Middle River Forest Area

3234 200th Street, 10 miles southeast of Stuart and 13 miles northeast of Greenfield.

Middle River Water Trail

Begins in the Middle River Forest Area in northeastern Adair County and ends at the historic Holliwell Covered Bridge in Madison County.

Information at Adair County Conservation Board
641-743-6450
www.mycountyparks.com

Golfing

5x80 Golf & Country Club

I-80 Exit 86, Menlo
641-524-2345

Greenfield Golf & Country Club

2116 State Hwy. 92 W., Greenfield
641-743-2113

Hiking & Biking Trails

Ken Sidey Nature Area

2521 Lewis Ave., Greenfield
3 miles of trails through 107 acres of pristine timber

Lake Orient Recreation Area

3103 Orange Ave., Orient
2 miles of mowed grass hiking trails through an 86-acre park. The trail also wraps around the 24-acre lake with 22 modern campsites.

Mormon Trail Park

2828 Delta Ave., Bridgewater
1 mile of mowed grass hiking trails though tall grass prairie. The park also offers a 25-acre lake with 18 modern and primitive campsites.

Corell Wildlife Area

1 mile east of Adair
1.5 miles of mowed grass hiking trails through tall grass prairie.

Lake Greenfield

1 mile southwest of Greenfield
2-mile paved walking trail around Lake Greenfield.

Information at Adair County Conservation Board
641-743-6450
www.mycountyparks.com

Let the fun begin!

So, where would you rather spend your vacation – camped out in an uncomfortable airport chair waiting on a delayed flight while your luggage travels to some exotic location without you? Or exploring Adair County?

Nature. Food. Entertainment. History. It’s all here. Along with friendly people, peace and quiet, and little road traffic. You can even fly in if you want – to the Greenfield Municipal Airport – and you won’t have to stand in line at the ticket counter.

We are officially Iowa’s Garden County, as designated by the Iowa Department of Tourism – filled to the brim with flowers, produce, agriculture crops, lush green pastures and lots of outdoor fun. Our lakes and parks offer some of the best fishing, camping, picnicking and canoeing in the region. You can take a sunset walk around the lake or through prairie and outdoor art exhibits, play traditional or disc golf.

You can pick up local goodness to eat at Farmers Markets or local shops. You can also eat Mexican or Greek cuisine or award-winning burgers and pizza. The Wallace Farm’s Pizza on the Prairie serves up fresh pizza with ingredients grown just a few yards away cooked in an outdoor oven.

Looking for entertainment? Look no further. Entertainment venues ranging from the Warren Cultural Center’s main stage to local bars to outdoor events offer a wide variety of live music and theater.

If you like to shop, Adair County is the place to be. Unique shops and merchandise abound. You’ll find Iowa artists featured among creative gift ideas, antiques, and traditional quality merchandise.

And, of course, you’ll want to spend the night in one of our unique lodging options. All this is against the backdrop of Adair County’s rich history. Jesse James held up his first train here. Bonnie & Clyde robbed a bank. There are vintage aircraft, classic cars, antique farm equipment and historic architecture to be seen. Our museums and libraries are filled with stories waiting to be heard and artifacts to be explored. You can venture back to pre-Interstate days and drive the White Pole Road, or follow the Mormon’s trek across the southern part of the county.

If you haven’t seen this year’s version of the Original Freedom Rock®, an homage to our country’s veterans past and present, you will want to fit that into your itinerary. Or you can tour around the county and see several lesser-known Sorensen murals. With all that and more to do in Adair County, this is the place to be. Here you’ll end your adventure happy, rested, relaxed and inspired, and ready to do it all over again.  We welcome that. And we hope you do, too.

You can find more detailed information on Adair County’s events and attractions at VisitAdairCounty.org. Be sure to check out the Events, and Arts & Entertainment sections, as well as dining and lodging options, along with details about attractions. And be sure to follow Adair County Iowa Tourism on Facebook for the latest news.

Oh, and one more thing – do you geocache? Go to geocaching.com to find out how to use GPS to find hidden treasures around the county. It’s great fun for the whole family.

Enjoy your visit. See you soon.

Driveby Dining

Good food is mobile in Adair County. A growing fleet of food trucks service the area, appearing at community events, private parties, business parking lots or just on the street. Corndogs, tacos, pizza or just plain good homestyle cooking can be had by bellying up to the window.

Corndog Caravan operates out of Fontanelle and serves – you guessed it – corndogs. They also have what have been dubbed by customers as the best fries around. Roger and Jesse Young bought the truck in May of 2022 and made its debut at the 4th of July Celebration. They purchased the business from the late Wayne Bohling, who made Wayne’s Corndogs essential for any celebration. With a large extended family to help, the Youngs are available for both public and private events as well as pop-up streetside service.  “We enjoy being out and serving and meeting new people and we are always looking for new ideas and foods to add to our trailer,” says Jesse.

Also calling Fontanelle home is Soulshine Food Truck and Catering. The bright yellow truck can be seen street side or in the nearest parking lot offering a menu that is guaranteed handmade. Burritos, BBQ, sandwiches and comfort food all flow from the portable kitchen. Pop-ups are announced and orders taken online and recommended. They usually sell out. Soulshine is owned and operated by Amy Sivadge and Jalene Sandin-Sivadge. Amy trained as a chef across the U.S. before returning to her roots. The irregular food truck schedule suits their lives as parents and Amy’s duties as Nodaway Valley varsity girls basketball assistant coach.

“We make everything from scratch,” says Jalene. “We shop for groceries personally to ensure we are getting the best quality, and we prep, cook, box, and serve – just the two of us. Meats are hand-seasoned, trimmed, pulled/cut by us, every burrito is hand-rolled and stuffed by us.”

The Jessi (Soulshine mac-n-cheese topped with smoked pulled pork and Soulshine BBQ) and The Bull (Soulshine mac-n-cheese topped with Guinness braised brisket and Soulshine BBQ) are two of their crowd-pleasing offerings.

Zipp’s Pizzaria out of Adair was named Iowa’s Best Pizza by Travel Iowa in 2016. The establishment quickly became a popular place to eat. But COVID took its toll. Limited traffic and available help made owners Jim and Janet Zimmerline look for other options. They converted their onsite business to a food truck and now offer Zipp’s across a multi-county area. It’s still the same great award-winning pizza. It’s just more portable, and can be found in a location near you.

Los Altos Mexican Restaurant in Stuart began as part of a family-owned chain and has become an area staple. Now they’ve gone mobile. In addition to their extensive menu of authentic Mexican cuisine served onsite, the eatery now serves via the Taco Express as well.

The taco truck is available for public and private events and can serve a variety of menu items. Within weeks of its debut, it was booked for 3 weddings. The truck also does pop-ups.

Adair County’s mobile fleet of eateries is joined by others from neighboring counties that pay us a visit, and the Adair County Cattlemen and Adair County Pork Producers are ready for any event with their portable grills.

Of course, there are also plenty of good eats to be had in Adair County’s permanent shops. Fried chicken and ice cream at Tiger Drive-in, hamballs at the Bridgewater Café, award-winning burgers at Chuckwagon Restaurant, Greek food at the Olive Branch and hand-breaded pork tenderloins at Ruby’s Pub & Grill are just a few of the delights that await the hungry traveler in Adair County

Do you like live music? Adair County is the place to be.

Live music is a regular happening in several venues including the Warren Cultural Center. The Warren Cultural Center is the restored E.E. Warren Opera House, one of many historic features of Adair County. Along with its main performance auditorium, WCC includes a Lobby Gallery featuring professional and student artwork, and Ed & Eva’s, a retail establishment, selling the works of nearly 100 Iowa artists.

WCC kicked off its 2023-24 Locals & Legends Series with a bluegrass show, a comedian, and a Cheap Trick tribute band. Shows booked for 2024 include David Graham & the Eskimo Brothers, Des Moines Irish Session, Tropical Steel and Annalibera. The Underground brings folks into the native limestone walled basement space at WCC for a Cavern Club-esque experience of genres ranging from indie-folk to heavy metal.

The Wallace Farm uses the natural backdrop of restored prairie and the Iowa countryside for peaceful evenings of relaxation, music and pizza with its Pizza on the Prairie events. Every Friday night from June through September, guests can dine on pizza handmade from the onsite gardens baked in an outdoor oven and listen to a variety of musical artists.

The farm also delves into outdoor theater with Picnic Theater events. The Wallace Farm is a 40-acre celebration of native prairie, home-grown produce, outdoor art, wide-open space and rural Iowa peace. Gardens and orchards provide stuff for dining experiences at Wallace Centers of Iowa locations and outlets.

The multi-site network is devoted to the history and natural philosophies of Henry A. Wallace, Adair County native, founder of Pioneer Hi-Bred and vice-president of the United States under Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

At the farm site near Orient, guests will find walking trials through the prairie and artwork, the Gathering Barn event center, produce and gift shop, and a historic corn plot. Throughout the summer the Wallace Farm is host to the Prairie Art Exhibit.

The Good News Concert Series continues at the Gathering Place in Greenfield. The first Sunday of each month brings a gospel act for the price of a FREE WILL offering. Any number of bars in the area regularly have live music as well. Be sure to check the Arts & Entertainment section on VisitAdairCounty.org, or the Adair County Iowa Tourism Facebook page for the latest listings.

Iowa's Garden County - Look around. Soak in the great outdoors.

Adair County outdoes itself, earning its designation as Iowa’s Garden County.In the early 2000’s, Adair County Tourism hosted “The Gardens of Adair County” a self-guided tour of gardens across the county. As part of that effort, the group applied to the state for, and was granted, the official designation of Iowa’s Garden County.From native wildflowers blooming at will as is their birthright, to crops grown to burst food bins around the world, to razor straight rows of vegetables and finely honed flower gardens, we’re proud to live up to that reputation.

If you attended a 4th of July parade, visited one of our local libraries, or checked out the Adair County Fair, you may have had a chance to pick up a packet of seeds courtesy of Adair County Tourism. It’s our way of keeping Adair County growing and promoting the tourism website with the attached sticker.

The website VisitAdairCounty.org provides listings of upcoming events and entertainment, lodging and dining options, tourist and historical attractions and other tourism related information.

We have the space, you bring the fun

Adair County is the ideal place to host your next event. Weddings, meetings, reunions, conferences – all can be showcased in unique settings.

Saints Center in Stuart rose from the ashes of an arsonist’s attack on the historic All Saints Catholic Church, a shining example of Byzantine architecture once voted Most Beautiful Church in Iowa by readers of the Des Moines Register. There are five gathering spaces to choose from. The main hall features a 90-foot dome with a cathedral ceiling. A smaller chapel has been restored with original chandeliers, woodwork and stained-glass windows.

The Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield is a shining example of history combined with modern amenities. A main auditorium, gallery, historic rooms and small meeting rooms offer a variety of spaces for your event, each equipped with the latest technology and oozing historic ambience. A 2-bedroom guest suite is available for overnight stays.

Sixteen Oaks on the edge of Fontanelle provides climate-controlled space for 400, plus an outdoor wedding area. Situated on a 40-acre family farm, parts of the original 100-year-old barn can be found in the new structure. There’s a full-service bar and commercial kitchen and a recommended vendor list for support services.

The Wallace Farm is part of the Wallace Centers of Iowa. The historic Henry A. Wallace birthplace farmstead includes 40 acres of the original 160-acre farm. Along with outdoor spaces that include gardens, orchards, and walking trails through restored prairie and outdoor art, the Gathering Barn provides a meeting and educational space with onsite catering options.

The 4-H & FFA Center on the Adair County Fairgrounds seats 300 banquet style and includes a kitchen and small meeting room. Full bar service is available. Other spaces on the fairgrounds are available as well, including the courtyard and gazebo, and the horse arena.

For a true taste of history, Penn Avenue Church on the Adair County Historical Society grounds is a restored country church ready for your wedding. There’s also a meeting room onsite.

There are several other sites in the county as well. The Stuart Railroad Depot, Hotel Greenfield Lobby and Mary Wise Room, Fontanelle Community Center, the Gathering Place in Greenfield, and others provide options for the gathering of your choice.