Fort Dodge, Iowa: A Guide to Top Attractions & Unique Finds

*During my stay in Fort Dodge, I was a guest of Visit Fort Dodge. The opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Echoes of frontier history, modern art, mystery and adventure all come together in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Situated along the Des Moines River, this town of about 25,000 may not be on your radar. There are plenty of surprising finds in Fort Dodge, which makes it far from an ordinary place. Here are things you won’t want to miss during a visit.

Colorful exhibit demonstrating how a watershed works — Ever wonder how a watershed works? This exhibit at the River’s Edge Discovery Center uses larger than life “ping pong” balls and vacuum tubes to give you the answers to that question.

River’s Edge discovery center

The Des Moines River cuts a deep path through the Fort Dodge area. It’s a waterway with many stories to tell. An attraction that opened in the summer of 2024, River’s Edge Discovery Center, takes you through the life of the river in some interesting and interactive ways including a giant “ping pong/vacuum tube” exhibit that helps you learn more about what happens to precipitation in the watershed. The Discovery Center also has a few local history lessons including an exhibit on “Lazy Ike” fishing lures. Admission is free. After a visit, check out the trails and disc golf opportunities nearby.

Iowa’s tallest mural

A first time visitor to Iowa might consider the massively tall grain silos throughout the state, the skyscrapers of the Midwest. In Fort Dodge, that skyscraper is now a 110-foot tall mural. Painted by international artist, Guido Van Helten, this piece of art is probably unlike any you’ve seen before. The people depicted in the mural are all residents who helped shape the city’s rich history. And while you can read about all the mural’s details, it’s just difficult to understand the immense scope of this artwork until you are standing beside it.

Blanden Memorial Museum

A fine art museum in a small town? Fort Dodge has one. The Blanden Memorial Museum was financed by Charles Granger Blanden and built on private land. The neo-classical style building helps it stand out in the Historic Oak Hill district as well as the public art displays adorning the lawn. Inside, you’ll find just about everything you would expect from an art museum with a mix of permanent and traveling exhibits. After a visit be sure and walk around the neighborhood and check out homes like the one owned by Adeline M. Swain, a regional leader in the women’s suffrage movement.

a grand skylight lights up the atrium of an historic fourthouse — Step inside the Webster County (Iowa) Courthouse and you’ll quickly notice the spacious atrium flooded in natural light as well as the numerous architectural details.

Historic Webster County Courthouse

While visiting a courthouse may not be high on the list of things to do on a trip, you can find some amazing spaces inside them. In the heart of downtown Fort Dodge, the Webster County Courthouse remains an important center of civic life. Built in 1902, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Outside you’ll notice its impressive clock tower, stone construction and striking copper elements. Step inside this four-story building and the skylight at the top fills the atrium with immense light, accentuating the hundreds of artistic touches you’ll find throughout the building.

Coca Cola Borax and other business ads adorn the side of a large building in Downtown Fort Dodge Iowa — The days of advertising on the sides of buildings comes to life on this wall and many others in Downtown Fort Dodge.

Hidden Murals

When you explore downtown Fort Dodge be on the lookout for “signs” of the past adorning many of the city’s older buildings. Layer upon layer of old advertising seeps its way out of the high brick walls revealing the ways products and businesses would try to catch your attention long before the days of those annoying pop-up ads on the internet. Everything from Coca-Cola, to Borax and the not so long forgotten Sears Stores beckon to be remembered in the many hidden murals you’ll find.

An old cabinet shop and several other buildings line a street at a frontier village in Fort Dodge Iowa — Step inside any of these buildings at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village and you’ll find unique collections of items depicting life in the 19th Century.

The Fort Museum and Frontier Village

A large 10 foot statue made of gypsum sits in a special exhibit in the Fort Museum at Fort Dodge — The Cardiff Giant was one of the biggest hoaxes of the 19th Century. The rock used to carve out the giant came from Fort Dodge.

Learning about life in 19th Century Fort Dodge comes into focus at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village. The fort itself is a replica but there are several historic structures that have been relocated to the site to help tell the region’s history. Overall, this museum complex will likely exceed your expectations as the collections are unique and varied. Among the thousands of artifacts at the Fort, you’ll find things like early medicines, educational tools, exhibits on the industries that shaped the city’s history, Native American art, military memorabilia and a whole building dedicated to one of the greatest American hoaxes, the Cardiff Giant, which has ties to Fort Dodge.

Fort Frenzy

While a frontier fort gave rise to the city we see today, a very different kind of fort in town provides hours of fun and entertainment to children of all ages. Fort Frenzy offers up arcade games, virtual reality experiences, laser tag, mini-golf, and a go-kart racing experience. You can buy all day passes or two-hour ones. Either way you’re sure to enjoy the frenzy.

Large rocks stacked with small mining cars form the entrance sign at Gypsum City — If you have drywall in your home there is a chance that the gypsum contained in it came from Fort Dodge, Iowa. Today there are still several active gypsum mines in the area as well as the Gypsum City OHV park located on old mine sites.

Gypsum City OHV Park

Modern day construction wouldn’t be the same without drywall. It’s probably not an exciting topic of conversation, but in Fort Dodge, the key ingredient for this building staple creates an opportunity for revved up recreation. Gypsum quarries in the area carved out the perfect area for off road adventure. The Gypsum City OHV park covers 800 acres and includes 60 mile of trails and a campground.

The Des Moines River flowing through a state park — Looking for a way to get close to nature? Dolliver Memorial State Park near Fort Dodge covers nearly 600 acres. It features access to the Des Moines river, forests and interesting rock formations.

Dolliver Memorial State Park

For people not familiar with the Midwest, there is often the misconception that it’s all flat. However, a quick trip to Dolliver Memorial State Park lets you know that waterways like the Des Moines river often carve out some deep paths. This small park features opportunities to enjoy the river, hike through the hills and forests and check out cool rock formations.

Large building with high pitched roof, black metal siding and wood inlays — Convenience stores and travel stores dot the landscape of America, but Marker 126 brings hometown touches and an immense sense of style to the travel center.

Marker 126

In a land of Casey’s, Kwik-Star and Kum & Go and hundreds of miles from the nearest Buc-ee’s, standing out from the crowd of convenience stores isn’t easy. Southeast of Fort Dodge along U.S. 20 you’ll find Marker 126, a supersized, Midwest nice, family owned and operated travel center. Come in for a cup of coffee, order a bite from the restaurant, grab a drink or shop in the boutique. And don’t leave without a picture with the Sinclair Dino out front.

wine barrels line the back wall of a winery with tables set up to enjoy tastings and live music — Each wine selection at Soldier Creek Winery is made from grapes sourced from the farm’s 10 acre vineyard or from grapes grown at nearby Iowa vineyards. This local sourcing brings you a true taste of Iowa.

Soldier Creek Winery

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, or so the saying goes. But what happens when a decades old farm loses a barn to fire? Well, in the case of Soldier Creek, you plant a vineyard, produce wine and bring home the bacon in a different way.

Situated amongst the seemingly endless landscape of corn and beans, the vineyard at Soldier Creek helps the winery produce a wide variety of both red and white wines. Time your visit right and you might be able to sit just outside the barn with your glass of wine and enjoy live music.

A small lake, prairie grass and walkways at a Veterans memorial park — The Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park is just one part of this sprawling natural space in Webster County, Iowa. There are walking trails and a children’s forest there too.

Veterans Park

Set against a stunning natural backdrop, the Terry Moehnke Veterans Memorial Park near Ft. Dodge puts the spotlight on those who served. With unique sculptures, benches, bricks and an amphitheater, it’s easy to find solace and remember the sacrifice of others.

While you’re there you may notice larger than life Dr. Suess characters in the distance. They are part of the adjacent Children’s Forest which includes a StoryWalk trail, tree carvings and places to better understand the natural world around you.

stately buildings and store fronts line a downtown street

Plan your Fort Dodge Visit

Fort Dodge sits along U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 169 in the Des Moines River Valley. Stay at one of the many hotels (chain and local) in town or six area campgrounds. If you’re hungry, Fort Dodge offers up some great restaurants including the only authentic Korean restaurant in the state, Gaga & Hoo. Throughout the year you can enjoy a wide variety of events including the Webster County Fair. Start planning how you can “dodge the ordinary” at the button below.

Visit Fort Dodge