Mike Conklin's Diaries - Part 10 - The Sights
Some of you may think Iowa has nothing to offer but RAGBRAI, that it’s a dull and lonely state, void of meaningful attractions and important history. Nothing could be farther from the truth, of course. Riders pausing to soak up the local sights will not be sorry.
Take the Grotto of the Redemption, for instance. The Grotto is in West Bend, Ia., and has been on the RAGBRAI route twice in the last 10 years. Frequently called the “Eighth Wonder of The World,” the Grotto represents the largest collection of minerals and petrification concentrated in any one spot in the world. This is a must-stop for our club scientist, Herb Nelson, who never fails to be awed by its splendor.
It was only two years ago the RAGBRAI route took us through Nashua, Ia., home of the world famous Little Brown Church in The Vale—and, as I’m sure you all know, inspiration for the popular song, “The Church in the Wildwood.” More weddings are performed in this church than any Las Vegas chapel. In fact, some of us were lucky enough to witness a RAGBRAI couple getting married there on that year’s ride.
Then there has been a Frank Lloyd Wright House in Quasqueton, Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, Field of Dreams in Dyersville, composer Anton Dvorak’s residence in Spillville, Bridges of Madison County, and Hotel Winnesheik in Decorah, where John Brown’s widow moved to escape the public eye after her abolitionist husband’s execution.
My personal favorite? The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, where Buddy Holly, one of rock and roll’s true geniuses, played his final concert before dying in an airplane crash. This was a RAGBRAI overnight stop and bands played for us in the ballroom.
RAGBRAI routes also have taken us through the hometowns of Glenn Miller, Donna Reed, Andy Williams, Herbert Hoover, John Wayne and John Wayne Gacy (not the same towns), Johnny Carson (no, he was born in Red Oak. Ia., not Nebraska), Tom Arnold, Jean Seberg, and Wyatt Earp. Sadly, we have yet to go through LeClaire, birthplace of William “Buffalo Bill” Cody, though it was visible on a bus ride.
One short cut to local color is to simply follow RAGBRAI veteran Jimmy MaCalister, the reigning “Iowa Culture Award” winner with a nose for sniffing out sights. Last year he was the only CUBS rider to visit the Iowa State Penitentiary museum in Anamosa. Fellow rider Marv Bloom, noted criminal defense attorney, also considered visiting the prison, but feared running into former clients.
This year we have two biggies: In Creston we will be passing through the hometown of Frank Phillips, who, I’m sure you all know, founded the Phillips 66 Oil Co. In Algona, we will be visiting the home of the “World’s Largest Cheeto” lying in its natural (or is it unnatural?) state in a glass-enclosed case in Sister Sarah’s Bar, 1515 N. McCoy St.
Folks, you can’t buy that kind of excitement!
