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Nelson Pioneer Farm and Museum
In 1843, pioneers and Margaret Nelson settled in Mahaska County. More than a century later, their descendants ensured the farm would be home of the Mahaska County Historical Society. The farm and museum have many historical artifacts and buildings. Nelson Pioneer Farm is located at 2211 Nelson Lane in Oskaloosa.
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Pella Historical Society & Museums
Pella Historical Society & Museums is a Dutch-American heritage village museum with 22 buildings and collections, the Vermeer Mill Museum and Interpretive Center and the Scholte House Museum. Pella Historical is also home to the tallest working windmill in the United States, the boyhood home of Wyatt Earp and Maria’ s Tea Room. The nonprofit is in charge of planning Pella’ s annual Tulip Time Festival in May.
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Pioneer Ridge
Located on 995 acres of land on U. S. Highway 63 between Ottumwa and Bloomfield, this nature center offers interpretive displays and programming. The site features an extensive trail system for foot, bike or horseback. It also features four fishing ponds, a bird observation blind, open grass ridge tops and oak and hickory timber rentals for special events are available, as are primitive and electrical campsites and modern camping log cabins. Pioneer Ridge recently tripled the size of its campground from nine spots to almost 30 through Destination Iowa grant funding.
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Rathbun Lake / Honey Creek Resort
Rathbun Lake / Honey Creek Resort in Appanoose County is Iowa’ s only destination resort. The lake has 11,000 acres of water and 23,000 acres of surrounding lake. The lake is the second largest in the state and is surrounded by seven campgrounds. Along with boating, sailing and fishing, there are also options for hiking, biking, ATV and snowmobile trails. Honey Creek resort includes 16,000 acres of park land with a hotel, rental cottages and a golf course. The hotel houses Buccaneer Bay indoor water park, playgrounds and hosts a variety of events.
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