A Quick 48 Hours: Rathbun Lake, Iowa
In our house, Rathbun Lake, holds two important titles: one of the largest man-made lakes in the state and most importantly, my husband Aaron’s favorite place in Iowa. Raised in nearby Centerville, he camped at Rathbun all during his childhood and spent many memorably rowdy weekends there with his buddies during high school. The lake was his first taste of the freedom of adulthood, just as mine was the Pearl River in Jackson, Mississippi. (Warning: this blog post is a tad sentimental. My apologies.)
Southern Iowa
Southern Iowa is a remarkably beautiful (and hilly!) region of the state, and home to many former coal mining communities, such as Mystic, Sunshine, Buxton, and What Cheer. Discovered in Iowa in the 1830’s, coal became a major industry in the southern region of the state until the end of World War I. The coal industry attracted European immigrants, as well as African Americans from the Deep South who were in search of a better and more safe existence. In fact, Buxton was a predominantly African American community from 1880 to 1920, with 2700 Black Americans and 1990 white Americans and Europeans in 1905. Currently an Iowa “ghost town,” the Buxton community included Black doctors, lawyers, and business owners (and no police or city council), as well as an integrated YMCA, community pool, and the Buxton Wonders, a winning Iowa baseball team. The demise of this community, as with many others in southern Iowa, was due to a combination of factors, mainly companies exhausting the local coal supply and a decreased demand for coal.
Rathbun Lake
In 1971, none other than President Richard Nixon served as the keynote speaker for the Rathbun Lake dedication. Located in Appanoose County, Rathbun Lake today provides drinking water for 80,000 people in south central Iowa and northern Missouri, and is a critical asset for tourism in the area.
Where to Stay
Honey Creek Resort (Lodge + Cabins), Honey Creek.
The Continental Hotel, Centerville - A great hotel located right on the Centerville Square.
South Fork Campground, Rathbun Lake.
Prairie Ridge Campground, Rathbun Lake.
Rolling Cove Campground, Rathbun Lake.
Lelah Bradley Park Campground, Centerville.
What to Do
Shop on Iowa’s Largest Town Square, Centerville. The town square really is gigantic, in large part due to all the parking and two lanes of traffic. And apparently, cruising the square was the thing to do and the place to be for high school students in the mid 1990’s, according to Aaron.
Visit the Appanoose County Historical & Coal Mining Museum, Centerville. A must see.
Attend Pancake Day, last Saturday in September, Centerville. Since 1949, local businesses have been serving up free pancakes one day a year to thank the community for its patronage. The festival has expanded over the years into a full-day affair, complete with parade, petting zoo, local booths and vendors, live music, and the Pancake Day Queen contest. It’s a trip.
Bike, hike, fish, boat, and stand up paddle board at Rathbun Lake.
Visit the Honey Creek Resort indoor water park.
Explore the historic remains of Buxton, a ghost town in nearby Monroe County.
Aaron took me to Pancake Day for the first time in 2013. Each year is an unofficial family reunion for Aaron’s mom’s side of the family. Photo credit: Amie Davidson.
Where to Eat
Red Barn Saloon & Grille, Melrose.
George & Nick’s, Centerville.
Lucile’s, Centerville - an upscale restaurant in the Continental Hotel.
Have a beer at the Pale Moon Cocktail Lounge in nearby Sunshine, courtesy of Aaron’s cousin, Josh.
I’m hoping the rest of the Wonderlich crew weighs in here and lets me know what other treasures in the Rathbun region that I’ve neglected to miss. (Hint, hint.)
Want the condensed list? Download a free PDF of great ways to spend A Quick 48 Hours near Rathbun Lake.
Plus! Learn more about Rahtbun Lake here.
Looking for a few other off-the-beaten-path itineraries this year? Check out more places to spend A Quick 48 Hours:
Me and Aaron at the Pale Moon in 2016, pre-our engagement party hosted by his family. :)