Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Fort Dodge, Iowa

Fort Dodge, named for a brief fort erected by the Des Moines River in 1850, quickly evolved into a hub of commerce, mining, and agriculture in North Central Iowa.

Today, it boasts an impressive outdoor museum that chronicles its origins, while the downtown area features numerous grand buildings from the early 1900s across approximately 33 blocks.

The Blanden Memorial Art Museum stands as Iowa’s oldest public art museum, distinguished by its substantial collections of European and American art, and an exceptional museum shop.

Fort Dodge is home to many thriving local businesses, including wineries, craft breweries, and farms that welcome the public during the warmer months.

1. Blanden Memorial Art Museum

Since its opening in 1932, the Blanden Memorial Art Museum has served as Iowa’s inaugural public art museum. The institution is situated within an impressive Neoclassical building, established on private land and financed by Charles Granger Blanden.

This museum is a crucial cultural institution for North Central Iowa, showcasing significant collections that encompass Iowa art, European and American paintings, sculptures, prints, American photography, contemporary American art, and Japanese screens and prints.

Noteworthy selections from these collections are available for viewing, alongside high-profile traveling exhibits and solo exhibitions featuring both established and emerging regional artists.

Be sure to visit the One of a Kind gift shop, which is filled with unique items created by local and nearby artists.

2. The Fort Museum and Frontier Village

This captivating outdoor museum offers a historical exploration beginning with the Mid-19th century frontier days when E Company of the 6th Infantry selected the junction of the Des Moines River and Lizard Creek as the site for a fort.

The Fort Museum and Frontier Village features a reconstructed Fort Dodge, along with several authentic 19th-century structures, including a log cabin and a one-room schoolhouse, all adorned with genuine artifacts from the period.

Visitors can also learn about the Sioux, Winnebago, and Sac and Fox Native American tribes who inhabited this region long before the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

3. Downtown Fort Dodge

For enthusiasts of early 20th-century architecture, Downtown Fort Dodge is a true gem.

At that time, prominent architectural firms such as Liebbe, Nourse & Rasmussen, and Proudfoot, Bird & Rawson deliberately modeled parts of the city on Chicago, earning it the nickname “Little Chicago.”

The central commercial district, notable for its brick construction, spans over 30 blocks and is preserved as a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2010.

This area features 100 contributing structures, including the Beaux-Arts Webster County Courthouse (1902), the towering First National Bank Building (1908), and the Wahkonsa Hotel (1910). Over time, Downtown Fort Dodge has transformed into a vibrant space for shopping, dining, and socializing.

Visitors can explore specialty retailers offering comic books, musical instruments, collectibles, jewelry, home decor, and fashion, as well as participate in dynamic community events throughout the year.

4. Oleson Park

Oleson Park, located in the southern part of Fort Dodge, is a beloved public park known for its extensive facilities, particularly its 1938 structure.

The Oleson Park Music Pavilion, part of a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, is a striking architectural piece that beautifully combines Modernist and Art Deco styles.

Notably, military bandmaster Karl King (1891-1971) played a significant role in its establishment, and his name was bestowed upon Fort Dodge’s municipal band, which performs in the pavilion during summer evenings.

In addition to the music pavilion, Oleson Park features a delightful splash pad, new playground equipment, four shelters, picnic areas, a wooded mountain biking trail, and a zoo currently undergoing renovation.

5. Kennedy Park

Located just north of Fort Dodge Regional Airport, Kennedy Park serves as the nearest camping spot accessible from the city.

Managed by Webster County, this park encompasses the 53-acre Badger Lake, a popular destination for various recreational activities, including fishing, non-motorized boating, and paddlesports. The park features a scenic trail that circles the lakeshore, with multiple side trails available for exploration.

Additionally, the 18-hole Lakeside Municipal Golf Course is situated on the south shore, and nearby is an excellent camping facility featuring 75 sites, complete with modern restrooms and showers that are meticulously maintained.

6. Soldier Creek Winery

Situated north of Fort Dodge, Soldier Creek Winery is a picturesque ten-acre vineyard amidst a landscape of corn and soybean fields.

This family-owned farm has been sustained by the Secor family for over fifty years. The winery emerged following a devastating barn fire in 2002, which prompted a reevaluation of the farm’s future direction.

Soldier Creek Winery produces its wines from ten hybrid French-American grape varieties, such as Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette, which are well-suited for Iowa’s winter climate.

The winery welcomes visitors from Friday to Sunday, presenting regular live music throughout the year and an eagerly anticipated harvest festival each September.

7. Fort Dodge Grain Silo Mural

In 2018, an abandoned 100-foot grain silo in Fort Dodge underwent a remarkable transformation with the state’s largest mural.

This impressive artwork, created by Australian artist Guido van Helten, was inspired by photographs he took of Fort Dodge residents.

The mural wraps around the entire structure and was part of a revitalization initiative for the city’s Northwest River District.

Van Helten has previously painted grain elevators in states such as South Dakota, Tennessee, and Arkansas, and he completed this substantial piece in harsh winter conditions, utilizing heaters to maintain the paint’s temperature.

8. Fort 8 Theater

Fort Dodge benefits from a contemporary, first-run cinema conveniently situated downtown. With continual upgrades and expansions over the past four decades, the Fort 8 Theater first opened in the early 1980s.

The latest renovations have introduced plush recliners in the auditoriums, allowing guests to enjoy the latest films in comfort.

The theater is also commended for its cleanliness and the quality of its popcorn, which, alongside other concessions, is offered at reasonable prices. Be on the lookout for special promotions, such as $5 Tuesdays applicable to all movies throughout the day.

9. The Community Orchard

Located in a picturesque setting just before the Des Moines River reaches Fort Dodge, the Community Orchard encompasses 50 acres and opens to the public from August until just before Christmas. It features around 5,000 trees presenting 15 apple varieties.

Visitors can acquire pre-picked apples at the farm market, in addition to tempting baked goods and an array of charming home decor items and gifts.

The orchard also provides entertaining activities for both children and adults at the Back 40 Playground, while the Apple Orchard Café serves a selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, and delightful desserts crafted from homegrown ingredients.

10. Fort Frenzy

Fort Frenzy, the city’s primary family entertainment center, is situated in the eastern part of Fort Dodge, a brief distance beyond the former Crossroads Mall.

This venue operates year-round, featuring both indoor and outdoor attractions. Inside, visitors can enjoy an arcade equipped with over 45 video and redemption games, a 2,500-square-foot laser tag arena, bumper cars, and the interactive trampoline game Valojump.

Outdoor activities include an 18-hole mini golf course, go-karts on an 850-foot banked racetrack, and the Sweeper, which challenges participants to avoid a massive rotating beam.

11. ShinyTop Brewing

Located adjacent to City Square Park on Central Avenue, ShinyTop Brewing is a craft brewery in Downtown Fort Dodge. The brewery offers a selection of regularly featured beers, including Rippen’ Red Irish Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Unbewheatable (Wheat Beer), and Hop Peach of Ash IPA.

In addition to beer, there is an extensive cocktail menu featuring more than ten variations of Moscow Mules, alongside a wide selection of whiskeys.

Distinctively, ShinyTop Brewing includes a kitchen offering beer-friendly comfort food options, such as pizzas, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and shareable items ranging from quesadillas to pepperoni pinwheels.

12. Fort Dodge Farmers’ Market

The Fort Dodge Farmers’ Market, an open-air venue, operates on the east side of the former Crossroads Mall, providing direct access to fruits and vegetables sourced from the Iowa countryside.

This market is in session from June through October, every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning, featuring a diverse selection that evolves as the seasons change.

Aside from farm-fresh produce, patrons can typically find vendors selling eggs, honey, nuts, flowers, enticing baked goods, kettle corn, ready-to-eat meals like BBQ, and an array of artisanal crafts.

13. Snell-Crawford Park

Snell-Crawford Park is a favored destination for outdoor activities on weekends, situated along the banks of Soldier Creek.

The Soldier Creek Nature Trail traces the watercourse as it journeys toward its mouth at the Des Moines River.

In addition to the scenic trail, the park features a disc golf course, a backstop, three sand volleyball courts, and newly installed Miracle-brand playground equipment designed for children aged 5-12.

This park is also ideal for relaxation with friends and family, equipped with picnic tables, grills, and a large cabin available for rental.

14. Dolliver Memorial State Park

Located a short distance downriver from Fort Dodge, Dolliver Memorial State Park encompasses a picturesque section of riverbank characterized by deep ravines and towering bluffs.

Here, two tributaries, Prairie Creek and Boneyard Hollow, have sculpted canyons exceeding 100 feet in depth, revealing stunning sandstone and conglomerate formations.

Beyond its geological significance, the park holds archaeological value, hosting several Native American mounds within its 590 acres.

Visitors can traverse five miles of rugged trails that meander through oak forests, prairies, and canyons, while overnight accommodations are available at the campground, which offers 33 sites and two cabin units for campers.

15. Rosedale Rapids Aquatic Center

This modern aquatic center, operated by the city, opened in East Fort Dodge in 2010, offering a variety of attractions designed to keep children entertained during the summer months.

The facility features two main pools: an eight-lane, 25-yard lap pool with a diving well and a separate recreation pool equipped with a large play structure and a 1,000-gallon dumping bucket.

Additional amenities include a lazy river and multiple slides, including a plunge slide, swirl bowl slide, and both open and enclosed tube slides.