Please, oh, please! Forward this to Mainstreet Iowa! Every town in Iowa doesn't have to be a textbook copy of every other town in Iowa! Especially if what becomes one of these places the State wants and expects, using local dollars to make it "happen". In many cases, this program folds in three years when the local cash simply runs out and the locals aren't willing to be bamboozled any longer with ideas that were hatched elsewhere. Not every shoe fits every foot, and what makes a place "special" is often something others find deplorable! A good example was a joint in Sabula, Iowa, that unfortunately the owner died and is no more. It was called "Bombfire Pizza" a throw back to the days of the Hippie generation! Cluttered with odds and ends of the sixties and early 70's, where the wait staff worked for free just to be a part of this! As our waitress told us, "People come in and they either fall in love with the place or they are so distressed with it they leave!" The owner made pizza in a wood fired oven out back and guitar players managed to find a place to park themselves in the front and play for free! We drove 60 miles just to enjoy Valentines Day with my one true Hippie friend who thought he had died and gone to Hippie Heaven! No amount of "Mainstreet" expertise could have created a more iconic location for a place so far off the beaten track than Sabula, Iowa!
Panoramic view of Chamberlain. An addition to the skyline is Dignity a 50 foot steel statue designed by Dale Lamphere (noted for his statues at Trinity Heights, Sioux City), Dignity beckons to the earth, sky and traveler. She draws you to stop at the rest stop at Interstate 90 to experience her brilliant presence. Her sparkling star quilt and knowing expression is magical. Dignity is the true governing woman of South Dakota. Yes Doug, road trips are great adventures and tonic for the soul.
Oh stop! An 849 page recommend, right after I finished Isaacson's Elon Musk, and the epic Cutting for Stone before that. Thought I was ready for less pages, but I will certainly check out this Stephen King book.
Such a beautifully written piece, Doug. Before I moved to Iowa nearly 10 years ago, I was one of those who would have "appreciated" it (and nearby states) only from 20,000 feet. Now, I know what I was missing. And now I have a few more places on my list to visit, thanks to your column. You also make we want to read King's book. Thanks for sharing.
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Loved this one, Doug!
Thank you for writing about the gift of the small places, Doug. It is a good reminder for all of us of the great places one can find on a road trip.
I’ve always enjoyed your observations, keep it up. Thank you.
Please, oh, please! Forward this to Mainstreet Iowa! Every town in Iowa doesn't have to be a textbook copy of every other town in Iowa! Especially if what becomes one of these places the State wants and expects, using local dollars to make it "happen". In many cases, this program folds in three years when the local cash simply runs out and the locals aren't willing to be bamboozled any longer with ideas that were hatched elsewhere. Not every shoe fits every foot, and what makes a place "special" is often something others find deplorable! A good example was a joint in Sabula, Iowa, that unfortunately the owner died and is no more. It was called "Bombfire Pizza" a throw back to the days of the Hippie generation! Cluttered with odds and ends of the sixties and early 70's, where the wait staff worked for free just to be a part of this! As our waitress told us, "People come in and they either fall in love with the place or they are so distressed with it they leave!" The owner made pizza in a wood fired oven out back and guitar players managed to find a place to park themselves in the front and play for free! We drove 60 miles just to enjoy Valentines Day with my one true Hippie friend who thought he had died and gone to Hippie Heaven! No amount of "Mainstreet" expertise could have created a more iconic location for a place so far off the beaten track than Sabula, Iowa!
Panoramic view of Chamberlain. An addition to the skyline is Dignity a 50 foot steel statue designed by Dale Lamphere (noted for his statues at Trinity Heights, Sioux City), Dignity beckons to the earth, sky and traveler. She draws you to stop at the rest stop at Interstate 90 to experience her brilliant presence. Her sparkling star quilt and knowing expression is magical. Dignity is the true governing woman of South Dakota. Yes Doug, road trips are great adventures and tonic for the soul.
Oh stop! An 849 page recommend, right after I finished Isaacson's Elon Musk, and the epic Cutting for Stone before that. Thought I was ready for less pages, but I will certainly check out this Stephen King book.
Such a beautifully written piece, Doug. Before I moved to Iowa nearly 10 years ago, I was one of those who would have "appreciated" it (and nearby states) only from 20,000 feet. Now, I know what I was missing. And now I have a few more places on my list to visit, thanks to your column. You also make we want to read King's book. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the reminder of these places being so important.