Just down the road from Des Moines sits Altoona… home to casinos, quirky sculptures, and even a rocket ship. If you’re into roadside attractions like I am, it’s a goldmine of quick, fun stops.
Prairie Meadows Casino
The place is huge, and I trekked across it just to find the gift shop (spoiler: no shot glasses). What it did have… plenty of art.
I love when art is out where regular people can bump into it, instead of being tucked in a museum with hushed whispers and symbolism lectures. My rule? If you find one piece you like, ask yourself why. Color, shape, style… it doesn’t matter. That’s art.
Brommel’s Altoona
Turns out my day in Altoona was more of a John Brommel road trip. He’s a local sculptor who’s been creating playful, large-scale pieces for the city since 2001.
Moai Dude
Imagine an 11-foot, one-ton Easter Island head… but with a surfer-dude grin. That’s Moai Dude, planted in Ironwood Park in 2013. He looks like he knows a joke you don’t.
I’ll admit I got a few odd looks while photographing him… nothing like being a lone guy snapping pics in a kid-filled park. I’m careful to keep kids out of the frame (nobody needs that kind of reputation).
Freddy: The Big Frog Head
Outside the Altoona Library, Freddy peeks from the grass like a frog about to nab a fly. Officially called Leap Into Learning, he’s 500 pounds of recycled aluminum with big, bold eyes.
Freddy isn’t just art; he’s a teaching tool. Brommel used him to show students how to weld tiny metal bits into big, curved shapes. And the symbolism? Frogs measure a pond’s health, just like libraries reflect a community’s. Not bad for a giant amphibian head.
Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl & Grill
Attached to Bass Pro Shops, this bowling alley/bar feels like Rainforest Café had a nautical cousin. Shark and gator ball returns, a rusted shipwreck bar, and an undersea vibe.
The menu’s themed, too, but I didn’t stay for food… days off are for moving, not lingering. Turns out Uncle Buck’s isn’t just in Iowa; they’ve popped up in several states. Maybe Wichita’s next.
Retro Rocket Ship
My favorite stop? A 25-foot-tall retro rocket in Haines Park called Mars 1. Straight out of 1950s sci-fi, it’s the kind of thing that makes kids dream of becoming astronauts.
Altoona even added a plaque to honor hometown NASA scientist John Houbolt, the guy who came up with the lunar module idea that actually got us to the moon.
For other stories of quirk and adventure, check out our Road Trips.
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