A large aircraft collection, more than 60 arcade games and an indoor and outdoor water park reveal three very different sides of Ottumwa. The city also offers historic churches, the scenic Des Moines River and a distinct culinary scene. When choosing what to do, you can focus on the kind of experience you want: aviation history, active play, water, churches, scenery or food.
Aviation and Gaming History
At the Airpower Museum at Antique Airfield, visitors can explore aviation from the period since World War II. The museum has a large aircraft collection, and many of the aircraft are flown regularly. Historical context and the regular use of many of the aircraft go hand in hand. For travelers interested in aviation, this gives Ottumwa a clear thematic focus.
At Ottumwa's Old School Pinball & Arcade, visitors can become part of the city’s gaming history. For $10, the arcade offers access to more than 60 games, including video games, pinball machines and other skill games. Here, playing the games is the main attraction; at the Airpower Museum, by contrast, the focus is on the historic aircraft collection and aviation history since World War II.
Water Park with Indoor and Outdoor Areas
Beach Ottumwa is an indoor and outdoor water park on 13 acres with more than 1 million gallons of water. The outdoor area includes a wave pool, a winding slide, a 100-foot speed slide, a children’s play area and two sand volleyball courts. If water attractions are important to you, you can choose between the wave pool and two different slides; the play area and volleyball offer other options. The 100-foot speed slide is about 30.5 meters tall, making its size easier to visualize in metric units when planning your trip.
Churches and a River View
Visitors can take a self-guided tour of Ottumwa’s historic churches. The tour draws attention to several buildings and offers a themed way to explore the city’s church history.
St. Patrick Church was dedicated on April 15, 1883, as the first church in South Ottumwa. The exact date and its connection to South Ottumwa give this historic event a specific time and place.
For a scenic perspective, visitors can experience the scenic Des Moines River from the Wapello County Trail System. This offers a different experience from visiting the churches: the focus here is on the river and the view from the trail system.
A Culinary Connection
Canteen Lunch in the Alley opened in 1927 and serves a loose-meat sandwich made with ground beef, milkshakes and a slice of homemade pie. St. Patrick Church, dedicated in 1883, and Canteen Lunch in the Alley, which opened in 1927, mark two dated aspects of the city’s history; 44 years separate them.
For the broader travel overview: Wapello.
