Day Trip

by Connye Griffin

Windmills and Wyatt Earp

The Netherlands of the Midwest found in Pella, Iowa

Just four and a half hours from Lake of the Ozarks is an Iowa town where Wyatt Earp and Dutch windmills meet. Pella, known for Tulip Time in early May, but has plenty to offer any time of year.

Pella’s founding pilgrims sailed from the Netherlands to Pittsburg in the early 1800s. From Pittsburg, they traveled to St. Louis, picked up passage on a steamboat, and went ashore in Keokuk. From there, they searched for land they could buy and develop. A blank space with promise became Pella, now a destination for Dutch food, tulips, and the Vermeer windmill, the tallest working 1850s-style windmill in the United States. It originated in the Netherlands, was disassembled piece by piece, and reassembled in Pella. It stands five stories, the topmost providing excellent views of the town and surrounding land.

Pella is home to another of Iowa’s largest features: Lake Red Rock. Built for flood control of the Des Moines and Mississippi rivers, the dam was completed in 1969 and generates energy for Iowans. The lake is also a place for boating and fishing with camping on shore.

Above: Vermeer Windmill in Pella Historical Village. Top (opposite page): Pella’s quaint street.

Photos provided by the Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance

Pella Checklist

- If you are an avid golfer, you might want to bring your clubs. Check out the Pella Golf & Country Club and Bos Landen Golf Resort. - Art fans have plenty of places to visit including the Pella Community Center, Joan Kuyper Farver Art Gallery, The Des Moines Art Center, Union Street Players, and the Pella Opera House. - The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum is the open daily year-round. It’s the world’s only museum dedicated to preserving the history of big car, sprint car and super modified racing. - A Foodie Trail has been mapped out for visitors at www.visitpella.com. - There’s plenty of shopping for antiques, at boutiques and for Dutch specialties.

Above: The childhood home of Wyatt Earp is full of historic information and memorabilia from the famous Old West lawman. Some call Pella the Netherlands in the Midwest. Dutch architecture and culture is everywhere.

Photos provided by the Pella Convention & Visitors Bureau

Another feature of Pella’s culture looming large in the nation’s imagination is Wyatt Earp. He spent his youth in Pella, and Pella will celebrate Earp with Wyatt Earp Days in September. During the festival reenactors playing Wyatt and his brothers are on hand as well as other artisans and craft booths.

Pella has cared for the building where Wyatt lived. It is part of the historical village consisting of 22 buildings. Admission to the village allows visitors to tour a sod house replica, a log cabin moved piece by piece from a nearby farm, a blacksmith’s shop, an 1850s bakery, and Earp’s boyhood home. Other buildings hold items representative of the Dutch culture.

Several restaurants in Pella serve Dutch foods. Frisian Farms Cheese House offers tours by reservation for its gouda production. Three bakeries and two meat markets provide additional authenticity in Dutch breads, pastries, and sausages. Tassel Ridge Winery specializes in Iowa wines while Cellar Peanut Pub supplies 50 craft beers on tap.

After Dutch fare or old-fashioned fast food, Pella’s 170step to the top observation tower and a stroll through Molengracht Plaza showcasing Dutch architecture will insure in-town exercise. For those desiring outdoor fitness, the 14mile Volksweg Trail from Pella to Lake Red Rock guarantees beautiful scenery while completing a great workout.

Throughout the visit, guests will hear Pella’s Klokkenspel, a 147-bell carillon featuring eight mechanical figures performing to the music. It’s a treat for the eyes and ears.

Without doubt, Missouri has many fine villages, towns, and cities with charm. Iowa adds its own in Pella.