Lucas County, Iowa
Good times for kids, year-round
Chariton is a great place to be a kid. Along with outstanding school facilities, an aquatic center, a new softball complex and other fine recreational opportunities, the community sponsors several events designed with younger citizens in mind.
The Chamber’s Community Betterment division puts on the annual Kids’ Carnival, held the Saturday before Halloween on the Courthouse lawn. Upwards of 300 children turn out for the games, contests, food and prizes. The celebration includes a free breakfast, goodie bags, a Halloween costume contest, carnival booths, refreshments, free hotdogs for lunch and trick-or-treating at Chariton businesses.
On the third Saturday in April, Tourism Lucas County holds its Redbud Festival, which features a Bike and Pet Parade on the town square. In the afternoon, kids of all ages enjoy a free fishing contest at Red Haw State Park, where hundreds of redbud trees are likely to be sporting bright pink blossoms.
Chariton Farmers’ Market
Looking for fresh, homegrown produce, homemade baked goods and craft items made by hand? You’ll find all this and more at Chariton’s weekly Farmers’ Market, held Thursdays 4-6 p.m. from late May through early October on the east side of the Courthouse lawn.
Four Seasons Beauty
With an abundance of public land, Lucas County is one of the state’s prime locations for outdoor activities. Red Haw State Park, a 420-acre part located just east of Chariton, comes alive each spring
when hundreds of the area’s famous redbud trees
color the landscape with their
pink and violet blossoms. Red Haw also includes a campground with electrical
hookups and a 72-acre lake with a sandy beach for swimmers and sunbathers.
South of Chariton, Pin Oak Marsh is a nature lover’s paradise, with great blue herons, white pelicans, river otters and other birds and wildlife making their homes amid the native prairie and marshlands. There are walking trails, a picnic area and a lodge featuring a meeting room, library and displays of live animals and taxidermy mounts.
Stephens State Forest, south and west of Lucas, boasts 31 miles of trails for horseback riding, four stocked ponds for fishing, public hunting and seven camping areas. In 2008 Stephens State Forest was designated as the state’s 13th Bird Conservation Area by the state Department of Natural Resources. Notable species making their homes at Stephens Forest include the Red-shouldered Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Boblink, Grasshopper Sparrow, Wood Thrush, Kentucky Warbler, Whip-poor-will and American Woodcock
Tourism Lucas County: Five great tours … one great destination!
Groups of 10 or more coming to Lucas County? Consider one of the outstanding tour packages offered through Tourism Lucas County. Call the Chariton Chamber and Development Corporation at 641-774-4059 for reservations. If we don’t have exactly what you’re looking for, we’ll work with you to design a tour to fit your group’s needs.
Amish Country: A Step Back in Time – Tour an Amish farm and enjoy an old-fashioned lunch prepared and served in an Amish home. You’ll also visit an Amish general store, woodworking shop and school.
A Taste of Chariton – See what this southern Iowa town has to offer by sampling its history, its scenic beauty, its unique shops and two of its culinary landmarks.
Tour Historic Lucas County – A must for lovers of Iowa history. Three different styles of museums in three different communities.
Lucas, Iowa: The Past Comes Alive – Iowa’s coal-mining history and traditions are captured in Lucas, birthplace of labor leader John L. Lewis.
“A Helpful Smile”: Behind the Scenes at Hy-Vee – Tour state-of-the-art distribution facilities of one of the nation’s largest and most successful grocery chains.
Holiday Festivities
The holiday season in Chariton kicks off on the
Friday after Thanksgiving with the city’s annual Holiday Open House. The town
square is thronged with people shopping and enjoying live window displays,
refreshments and entertainment.
The Holiday Open House begins with the community Tree of Lights ceremony and the lighting of the memorial tree on the Courthouse lawn. Businesses around the square decorate their store windows, with many featuring live mannequins acting out Christmas scenes. Children scurry from store to store as part of a scavenger hunt that promises a prize at the end. As the courthouse clock strikes seven, the Norman and Connie Moon Memorial Lighted Float parade begins, featuring all manner of floats, vehicles and walkers providing their own illumination. Following the parade, spectators witness the crowing of Miss Merry Christmas and Little St. Nick, and the evening always concludes with a visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus to the town bandstand.
Join us in Chariton on the Friday after Thanksgiving for a magical holiday evening!
Two-wheeled recreation
Cycling – both motorized and non-motorized – is a popular pastime in Lucas County.
The Cinder Path, Iowa’s first “rails to trails” recreational trail, celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2009. This rustic 13.5-mile trail winds its way from Chariton south through acres of woodlands and native prairie. Catch the trailhead just off Court Avenue (Business 34) at the west edge of Chariton.
On June 20, 2009, cyclists and bikers from throughout the state will converge on Chariton for two popular events – the 24th annual Chariton Classic bike ride, and the annual John Dale Clark Memorial Motorcycle Ride. In July, the Benjamin Smiles Motorcycle Run will deliver toys and cheer to young patients at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines.
Preserving Iowa’s Heritage
An active Historic Preservation Committee in Lucas County has been instrumental in the identification and renovation of several buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two of these attractions are owned by the Lucas County Arts Council: the CB&Q Freight House, a former railroad freight depot that has been fully restored and now serves as an arts and cultural center and meeting facility; and the Dual Gables House at the intersection of Highway 14 and Auburn Avenue, a 19th century cottage that is available for daily or overnight rental.
Call the Lucas County Arts Council at 641-774-2434 for information on either facility.
Other local buildings listed on the National Register include the Chariton Public Library, the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion building, City Hall, the First United Methodist Church and the Lucas County Courthouse.
A “must” for quilters
If you enjoy quilting, sewing or fabric crafts, you’ve come to the right county. Three locally-owned quilt stores in Lucas County offer abundant selection, friendly service and the expertise to help you make your next project your best ever.
The Sampler in Chariton has been owned by Carol Trumbull for 25 years. You will find nearly 4000 bolts of fabric in this small shop on south Grand, just off the southeast corner of the Chariton square.
Betty Peping, owner of Betty’s Quilt Shop and Gifts, offers a wide variety of fabrics and teaches classes in the spring and fall. The store, which also sells house wares, candles and gift items adjoins the Ben Franklin Store owned by Betty and her husband, Gary. The stores are located on the north side of the square in Chariton.
At Quilt With Us in Lucas, owner Mary Kinsey offers a large selection of fabrics along with some antiques in a building that formerly housed a lumber and hardware store. She offers classes throughout the year and has many samples on display.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Among the first settlers in Lucas County were Mormons who camped here during the winter of 1846-47 while making their way west on the Mormon Trail. Commemorative markers throughout the county provide information regarding this historic trek.
Three museums in three Lucas County communities allow you to fully experience life in a bygone era:
The Lucas County Historical Museum, in Chariton, is located in the A.J. Stephens House, a 1908 mansion on the National Register of Historic Places that has been authentically furnished with period pieces. The museum campus includes three other historic buildings that have been relocated to the grounds: Puckerbrush School, Otterbein Church and an 1870s pioneer log cabin. The museum opens for the 2009 season on May 23 and remains open Tuesday through Saturday 1-4 p.m. through September 26, or by appointment for tour groups. The museum will celebrate its annual Peanut Day on June 18 and will conclude its season with a Fall Festival on September 26.
The John L. Lewis Memorial Museum of Mining and Labor in Lucas pays tribute to native son John L. Lewis, the famous labor leader, and showcases southern Iowa’s mining heritage. The museum’s 2009 season runs from April 15 through October 15. On April 25, the museum will host John L. Lewis Appreciation Day, with author Mark Nowak on hand to autograph copies of his book, “Coal Mountain Elementary.” Other events at the museum in 2009 include the John L. Lewis Festival on September 5 and the Lucas Fall Festival on October 3.
In Russell, a former country doctor’s office has been converted to a museum. History buffs can listen to the museum’s collection of oral histories and view the work of local artists, past and present.