Hotels in Creston: Art, Depot History, and Parks

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Editor's Choice

Pure Luxury

“Call me spoiled - but I love to be treated like a queen when traveling. Only the best is good enough for me. Hotels that make my vacation a dream of luxury and seduction are my choices. Pay attention to the (violet Medal) for luxury accommodation.”

Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

Editor's Choice

Sustainable Travel

“There is only one earth and we should go out and see it. I like hotels, which look for sustainability. It is not only protecting the ecology, but also taking care for the local business and culture. I recommend the medal for eco accomodation. Let’s protect our earth. Sustainable travel is travelling with responsibility.”

Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Creston combines art in a historic depot with several things to do at McKinley Park: the park has a pond used for fishing, an 18-hole disc golf course, and a paved trail for hiking and biking. Travelers can choose among different priorities: rotating exhibits, a historic building, park recreation, or a longer route. The timing also varies: the gallery changes its exhibits monthly, while the Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days is an annual event.

Art and History at the Restored Depot

The Restored Depot was built in 1899. In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as it was being restored to serve as Creston’s city hall. Today, it houses the Creston Arts Gallery. The gallery presents rotating exhibits by local and visiting artists each month, and admission is free. If you want to see a particular exhibit, check the program for your travel month. The building’s construction date and its rotating exhibits offer two different points of interest: the building’s history and the art program. The Creston Arts Center also hosts a Summer Art Camp, poetry workshops, and classes. If one of these offerings is the reason for your visit, check the date of the specific event in advance.

McKinley Park: Fishing, Disc Golf, and History

McKinley Park offers a different focus. A pond covering 11 acres is used for fishing, and the park also has an 18-hole disc golf course. When planning time at the park, you can choose between different interests: fishing at the pond or playing disc golf on the course. The Union County Historical Village is also located in McKinley Park. It maintains 16 buildings and the exhibits inside them. The park thus offers both recreation and a distinct historical attraction. The 16-building Village differs in scale from the single Restored Depot. These are two different historical points of interest for planning around a theme: a former city hall and a Village with multiple buildings and exhibits.

Trail and Event Dates

If you want to include a longer route alongside the park’s activities, consider the Park to Park Trail. The trail is more than eight miles long and paved, and is intended for hiking and biking. It runs through McKinley Park in Creston to the campground at Green Valley State Park. Unlike the disc golf course, it is a route with a named endpoint. Its length, paved surface, and permitted uses help distinguish this route from the individual activities in the park.

The Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days is an annual event in Creston. In 2026, it was scheduled for September 17–20; the program included a parade, balloon races, tethered balloon rides, and a vendor market. Those dates have now passed. If you are planning a future trip specifically around the event, check the dates for that year’s edition rather than assuming it will take place on the same September dates. This is a different planning rhythm from the gallery: its exhibits change monthly, while the Balloon Days takes place on specific event dates.

For the broader travel overview: Union County.

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