In West Bend stands the Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption, the world’s largest man-made grotto. Admission is free, and groups of any size are welcome on guided tours. The grotto provides a striking cultural highlight for anyone who wants to begin exploring at a special place.
Grotto and Regional History
The Palo Alto County Historical Museum complements this highlight with a different perspective on history. It was founded in 1969 to preserve historical treasures from the region. While the grotto stands out for its world-class scale, the museum focuses on its mission of regional preservation. Together, they offer two distinct cultural interests: one remarkable site and the history of the region.
Nature Watching and Water
Lost Island-Huston Park offers a wildlife observation blind, a swimming beach, and a boat ramp. Each offers a distinct reason to visit: the blind is for wildlife watching, the beach for swimming, and the ramp for boating. You can choose what to focus on based on which of these activities interests you.
Lost Island Lake lies mostly in western Palo Alto County and is one of Iowa’s natural lakes. Telford Prairie is a wildlife refuge and adds another conservation aspect to the region’s nature attractions. Together, these destinations offer different perspectives on nature: a natural lake, a place for wildlife watching in a park, and a wildlife refuge.
Ruthven: A Memorial and an Event
In September 2013, Ruthven was selected as the site of the Palo Alto County Freedom Rock. It is located in Freedom Park on Gowrie Street, across from City Hall. This precise location makes it easy to find the Freedom Rock in Ruthven: the destination is the park across from City Hall.
Ruthven also hosts Bully Bullhead Weekend annually on the weekend after the Fourth of July. Dates may change. If the weekend is important to your travel plans, check the specific event dates before planning your stay around it.
The Palo Alto County Fair
Local food vendors and special events are part of the program at the Palo Alto County Fair. There are also static 4-H exhibits and evening barbecues. The barbecue offerings may vary from year to year. The fair brings together a range of interests: exhibits, special events, and local food. If you’re planning to attend for a particular program item, it’s worth checking the dates and offerings for that year.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
This guide helps you plan your trip around the experiences that interest you, without assuming a fixed route. You can then search for hotels in Palo Alto County.
Discover more destinations: Ayrshire, Booth, Emmetsburg, Jasper County, Warren County, Emmet County, Hamilton County, Allamakee County.
Go to the main travel overview: Iowa.
