Albert the Bull, the world’s largest bull, is at home in Albert the Bull Park in Audubon. He stands 30 feet tall and weighs 45 tons. Audubon County offers other kinds of discoveries, too: scenery along the Nishnabotna River, public art, and places that tell the story of the region’s settlement.
Scenery and Different Tours
The T-Bone Trail runs through farmland and wooded areas in the Nishnabotna River valley. It begins in Albert City Park in Audubon and ends at Dunbar Road, five miles northeast of Atlantic. For a different perspective on the rural surroundings, take the Audubon County Century Farm Tour: a self-guided drive to eight Century Farms in Audubon County.
The two experiences have different focuses: the T-Bone Trail is described in terms of its valley, farmland, and woods, while the Century Farm Tour is defined by its eight farms and drive format. Littlefield Recreation Area covers 444 acres. Lake Littlefield is stocked with channel catfish, sunfish, crappie, and largemouth bass. Albert the Bull Campground has 40 hookups.
History Taking Shape in Local Places
Nathaniel Hamlin Park brings together a specific social history and a broad sweep of time: the County Home was built in 1890 for people in need in the county; the museum in the park tells the story of the area’s settlement from 1850 to the present. The Exira Museum features historical exhibits on Audubon County history and has a genealogy library. County history and family research stand out here as distinct areas of focus.
The Audubon Cultural Center/Library displays a large doll collection and antique toys. Art and nature also meet along the walkways of the John James Audubon Birdwalk: ceramic tile mosaics show reproductions of Audubon’s prints from “Birds of America.” The Audubon County Freedom Rock brings together an artist’s name and a year: the rock was completed in 2014 and was the 13th rock painted by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen.
Art and Unusual Landmarks
A large oak with an iron plow in its trunk stands in Plow in the Oak Park. According to local lore, the plow was leaned against a young tree during the Civil War and was later enclosed by the growing tree. The visible feature and the story told about it are two sides of the same story. Another Audubon County landmark is the Tree in the Middle of the Road, a cottonwood. Audubon County’s Art Deco courthouse is also among Audubon’s attractions.
Experiences with Different Focuses
Danish Countryside Vines & Wines offers a vineyard tour with information about grape growing. Private tours or educational programs can be arranged at Iowa Yak Ranch. Both offerings combine a visit with information about their respective subjects.
Audubon Recreation Center offers a soft-play area, basketball, a batting cage, bowling, and classes. Facilities and class offerings may change, so check what is currently available before your visit. This makes it easy to distinguish the more informative offerings at the vineyard and ranch from the center’s recreational activities and classes.
Discover more destinations: Audubon, Warren County, Jackson, Jasper County, Ida County, Harrison County, Howard County, Clay County
For the main travel overview: Iowa.
