Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Ammon, Idaho

An eastern suburb of Idaho Falls, Ammon is an emerging city with a population that has seen significant growth since 2000, tripling during this period. Moreover, Ammon boasts excellent amenities, including multiple parks, a shopping mall, a multiplex cinema, and various shopping centers. Its proximity to the commercial and cultural nucleus of Eastern Idaho provides numerous advantages.

Idaho Falls has gained recognition as one of the “Best Places to Raise Kids” by Business Week and has made CNN/Money’s list of the Top 100 cities in the nation. Notably, no location in Idaho Falls is more than 15 minutes away by vehicle, whether it be the state’s premier museum, a picturesque riverside greenbelt, or the stadium for Eastern Idaho’s only professional sports team, the Idaho Falls Chukars.

1. McCowin Park

The city’s largest park is located just west of the main arterial Ammon Road, making it a perfect destination for families on warm summer days.

Within the park, visitors will find the City of Ammon Swimming Pool, which is open Monday through Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day, charging reasonable rates for exercise or for families wishing to utilize the popular splash pad.

Enclosed by a multi-use trail, the park additionally features a children’s playground, a gazebo for events, a seasonal concessions stand, tennis courts, baseball, and soccer fields, as well as a nine-hole disc golf course.

2. Museum of Idaho

Idaho’s leading museum is conveniently situated a short distance away in downtown Idaho Falls. Established in 2003, the facility integrated a modern glass atrium with the historic Carnegie Library, originally completed in 1916, and connected it to a former Masonic Lodge.

The Museum of Idaho serves as an engaging repository for the state, exploring subjects such as paleontology, geology, Native American history, and 19th-century European settlement.

Among the many artifacts on display are one of the world’s earliest snowmobiles, a Revolutionary War American flag, a replica of a Columbian mammoth, and historic equipment from the National Reactor Testing Station, located in Idaho Falls.

In addition to a comprehensive focus on Idaho’s history, the museum regularly hosts important temporary exhibits covering a variety of themes.

3. Tautphaus Park

Rich in amenities, this cherished urban park is named after the German developer Charles C. Tautphaus, who contributed to the region’s irrigation in the late-19th century.

The land for Tautphaus Park was acquired in the 1930s, intersected by the Butte Arm Canal on its western side. This canal was established around 20 years earlier to provide water for Tautphaus’s project: a lake that was filled in the 1890s.

During the 1930s, Works Progress Administration projects enhanced Tautphaus Park with several structures, one of which houses the superintendent’s office for the Idaho Falls Zoo.

Today, the park is a popular recreational hub for the Idaho Falls community, featuring a zoo, skating rink, small amusement park, expansive grassy areas, a skate park, playground, ballfields, horseshoe pits, and three shelters.

4. Idaho Falls River Walk

The magnificent Snake River adds natural beauty to the core of Idaho Falls. The revitalization of five miles of riverside downtown has transformed both banks into an inviting space.

Led by the Idaho Falls Rotary Club, this transformation continues to support events such as the Great Snake River Greenbelt Duck Race in August to generate funds.

The river walk features uninterrupted paved paths for walkers, joggers, and cyclists along beautifully landscaped banks and a series of parks equipped with benches and picnic areas.

A prominent attraction is the artificial waterfall, which converted a section of rapids to generate hydroelectric power.

The trail also serves as a central hub for community social activities, hosting free summer concerts and events at the bandshell on Memorial Drive and nearby Snake River Landing.

5. Idaho Falls Zoo

Renovated during the 2000s, this compact zoo located on the west side of Tautphaus Park advertises itself as the “best little zoo in the West.”

Idaho Falls Zoo is home to over 300 animals, representing 130 species from around the globe, with a strong focus on conservation, participating in more than 40 Species Survival Plans.

Animal exhibits feature snow leopards, penguins, zebras, wallabies, otters, New Guinea singing dogs, macaws, emus, and llamas, organized by geographic regions such as Africa, South America, and North America. The zoo also includes a Children’s Zoo featuring domestic animals like Nigerian dwarf goats, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, peafowl, and Sardinian donkeys.

6. Japanese Friendship Garden

Idaho Falls is twinned with Tokai-Mura in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, which is the origin of an authentic Japanese garden that has developed over the past decade through dedicated volunteer efforts.

The serene setting is located on a river island near the waterfall, complemented by the soothing sounds of flowing water.

This area holds historical significance as the site of the first permanent bridge constructed over the Snake River in Eastern Idaho.

Traditional features of the Japanese Friendship Garden include a pavilion, a garden gate, and a “dragon’s path” traversing a pond.

The partnership with Tokai-Mura has facilitated contributions of expertise and materials, including an imposing lantern, enhancing the garden’s status as a community gem.

7. Melaleuca Field

The only professional sports team in all of Eastern Idaho is located just a few miles away. Competing in the Pioneer League, the Idaho Falls Chukars boast a rich history dating back to the 1920s when they were known as the “Idaho Falls Spuds.”

The team rebranded in 2003 and, in 2007, relocated to Melaleuca Field, a modern stadium that seats 3,400 patrons.

Funding for the construction was raised within the community, with individual bricks engraved with the names of the stadium’s generous supporters.

The venue offers a charming small-town ballpark atmosphere, making it an enjoyable destination for summer evenings while indulging in a cold beverage and a hot dog.

8. Art Museum of Eastern Idaho (TAM)

This unique art museum, the only one in Southeastern Idaho, is located along the riverfront in Idaho Falls. Inaugurated in 2002, it serves as an invaluable resource for the city and neighboring regions, functioning as a platform and gathering space for area artists.

The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho hosts prominent temporary exhibitions, complemented by various studio sessions, workshops, and classes.

Additionally, the museum boasts a full events schedule, including an artisan fair during the holiday season and regular family days, among other activities.

The venue also organizes ART Idaho, a biennial juried competition and showcase for the entire state, typically conducted in the summer and fall on odd-numbered years.

9. Collectors Corner Museum

Located in a former one-story grocery store just minutes away, this establishment has been transformed into a hub for every collectible trend from the last sixty years.

The Collectors Corner Museum reflects the tireless dedication of its founders, Jim and Nida Gyorfy, who have been married since 1960 and opened this distinctive museum in 2003.

A collection of approximately 125 different types of collectibles is carefully arranged on shelves and in display cases.

The duo has amassed a diverse range of items, encompassing troll dolls, commemorative plates, stuffed animal toys, model airplanes, Precious Moments figurines, hubcaps, Ron Lee clowns, and far more.

They are delighted to escort visitors throughout their exhibits and engage in discussions about the collections.

10. Idaho Falls Idaho Temple

Approximately two-thirds of the metropolitan population of Idaho Falls belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1945, the city became home to the eighth operational temple for this faith, constructed in the Art Deco style and reaching a height of 143 feet.

This temple was notably the first to feature a Modernist spire and was designed by the church’s board of temple architects.

Regardless of one’s faith, it serves as a striking landmark in the city, situated prominently along the east bank of the Snake River within beautifully landscaped grounds.

For those interested in the building or the dominant belief system in Idaho Falls, a visitor center provides informative exhibits regarding the Book of Mormon and the building’s construction history.

11. Sand Creek Golf Course

Located on Ammon’s southwestern fringe, Sand Creek Golf Course is widely recognized as one of the premier courses in Eastern Idaho. The 18-hole championship course provides an enjoyable experience for both novice and experienced golfers alike.

This accessibility can be attributed to the forgiving greens and fairways. The course provides reasonable green fees, welcoming non-residents and out-of-state visitors throughout the week.

A six-hole par 3 course and a driving range with multiple stalls are available for those looking to improve their skills.

12. Willard Arts Center

In 1994, prominent Idaho Falls resident Dick Clayton Sr. and his son Steve donated three adjacent buildings in downtown to the nonprofit Idaho Falls Arts Council.

One notable structure included in this donation is the beautifully designed Colonial Theater, constructed in 1919, which originally served as a vaudeville stage before transitioning into a movie theater.

Subsequent renovations transformed this complex into the Willard Arts Center, featuring two galleries for visual arts, nine artist studios, meeting rooms, office space, and of course, the Colonial Theater.

The center hosts up to 16 mainstage productions each season, primarily in the Colonial Theater, while showcasing exhibitions featuring both local and national artists at the Hall and Carr Galleries.

13. Joe Marmo/Wayne Lehto Ice Arena

Another excellent facility located within Tautphaus Park is the premier skating arena for Southeastern Idaho.

In addition to popular public skating sessions, the Joe Marmo/Wayne Lehto Ice Arena offers skating lessons, hockey programs, and a busy calendar filled with events ranging from state hockey tournaments to figure skating competitions.

The NHL regulation-sized rink measures 80 feet by 190 feet and includes the state’s finest locker room facilities, a snack bar, and a rental shop.

The ice surface is meticulously groomed before each public session, and a combined admission and skate rental fee is often as low as $10.

14. East Idaho Aquarium

Another prominent attraction near Idaho Falls is the East Idaho Aquarium, established in a former commercial building in 2013.

The aquarium is the result of considerable volunteer efforts and the support of local businesses.

Every visit reveals new experiences, featuring substantial exhibits such as a shark display and touch tanks for safe interactions with stingrays and starfish.

Other illuminated tanks showcase jellyfish, eels, octopuses, sea turtles, a wide array of colorful tropical fish, and various freshwater species native to Idaho’s waterways.

The aquarium also houses several non-marine animals, including parakeets, iguanas, a porcupine, and a boa constrictor.

15. Grand Teton Mall

Shopping is abundantly available in Ammon, featuring a large mall established in 1984, surrounded by newer mixed-use developments addressing the needs of the city’s progressively expanding demographic.

Grand Teton Mall hosts 80 stores anchored by Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, Dillard’s, and JCPenney, along with additional popular locations such as Best Buy, Foot Locker, Victoria’s Secret, and others.

Nearby, expansive power centers feature a range of chain restaurants and stores such as Kohl’s, T. J. Maxx, Walmart, and Target, along with the Regal Edwards Grand Teton multiplex.