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Amish Business Directory
Davis County is home to about 300 Amish families, the most in the state, with about 1,400 residents being Old Order Amish. With the soil not as fertile as in other Amish settlements, those who located to Davis County began creating businesses where they saw a niche that was compatible with their craftsmanship and way of life. More than 90 businesses are listed on the Amish Business Map, which can be downloaded at visitdaviscounty. com / amish-community, or picked up at the Davis County Welcome Center in Bloomfield.
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Bridge View Center
Opened in 2007 along the banks of the Des Moines River, Bridge View Center is Ottumwa’ s premier event facility. The 92,000-square-foot venue features a 664-seat theater, multiple meeting rooms and a 30,000-square-foot exposition hall, accommodating events from 3 to 3,000 guests. Ideal for banquets, weddings, meetings, trade shows and conventions, the center offers professional event planning support and in-house catering with a chef-prepared menu, making it a versatile and scenic gathering place in the heart of Iowa. See the latest shows schedule at www. bridgeviewcenter. com.
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Carnegie Historical Museum
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Fairfield’ s Carnegie Historical Museum was the first Carnegie library west of the Mississippi River, funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1891 and built in 1892. Located on the first and third floors of the former Fairfield Public Library, the museum’ s collection dates back to 1876, making it one of Iowa’ s oldest museums. Visitors can explore exhibits that highlight local and regional history inside this landmark building, which played a key role in launching Carnegie’ s worldwide library program.
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Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock, the largest lake in Iowa, holds more than 15,000 acres of water and 35,000 acres of land to form a spectacular outdoor recreation area. The lake serves as a host for fishing, boating, camping and other outdoor fun. There are overlooks and recreation areas along the entire length of the lake, and the site is popular for watching bald eagles during the winter. A few of the area’ s bestknown features are the“ Mile Long Bridge” and the Cordova Park Observation Tower. This converted water tower provides a view of the Des Moines River Valley and the lake. At 170 steps and 106 ft. tall, it’ s the tallest observation tower in the Midwest. Lake Red Rock is located in Marion County; those going through Knoxville should head north on Highway 14, while those coming from Pella can head west on Highway G28 or Highway T15.
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Lake Wapello
Lake Wapello State Park sits on 1,150 acres of wooded hillsides in Davis County and contains a 289-acre lake and shaded picnic areas. The lake has sand beaches and the largest beach house facility in Iowa’ s state park system. While swimming and sunbathing are allowed, no lifeguards are on duty. The site offers fishing, canoeing, kayaking and pleasure cruising. There is also Lake Shore Trail, comprising seven miles of trails that take hikers around the lake through the park. Family cabins are available for rental seasonally, as are electric and nonelectric camping sites with modern shower and restroom facilities.
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Rathbun Lake
Rathbun Lake in Appanoose County is one of Iowa’ s largest lakes, featuring 11,000 acres of water surrounded by more than 23,000 acres of public land. As the state’ s second-largest lake, it is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, including boating, sailing, fishing and swimming. The surrounding area also offers seven campgrounds along with miles of hiking, biking, ATV and snowmobile trails. Known for its abundant wildlife habitat, the region supports whitetail deer, turkey, pheasants, quail and waterfowl, making it a year-round destination for both outdoor enthusiasts and sportsmen.
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