"If you build it, they will come." The movie "Field of Dreams" captured the imagination of millions in 1989 and garnered an Academy award nomination for Best Picture. Baseball fans, as well as fans of the movie, will enjoy visiting the actual field that served as the movie set. Visitors will recall scenes in which the magical baseball diamond brought famous players from history back onto the field, in Dyersville, Iowa. There are free tours for groups of 20 or more, with advance reservations. The Lansing family farm is privately owned but open to the public with free admission and a concession stand. Sales of souvenirs and memorabilia help the owners with costs of upkeep.
Corydon celebrates Jesses James Days on the first Saturday each June, according to Jerome Pohlen's "Oddball Iowa." Jesse James and his gang robbed the Ocobock Brothers' Bank here on June 3, 1871, and the town seems to agree that is worth remembering. A new bank stands on the site of the old bank, and you can visit the Prairie Trails Museum. Here, you can see the safe the Jesse James gang emptied. If you are interested in a treasure hunt, gold coins amounting to $35,000 are reportedly still located where the James gang buried them years ago, on Route 191 north of Weston.
Lost Island Water Park in Waterloo is a seasonal park open in summer with a variety of water slides that will provide hours of fun for families or friends. In Lost Soul Falls, you can free fall at 28 feet per second. Wailua Kupua, the newest slide as of 2010, is a water roller coaster and one of only ten of its kind in the world. Tangerine Tempest swirls you around toward the bottom in a 45-foot diameter bowl and has an observation deck where you can watch your friends. Tsunami Bay is a wave pool with zero-depth entry that allows easy access for all, including those in wheelchairs and strollers.
