Get me lost in Iowa

**ca4cy** · 05-03-2012, 10:14 AM

The Enterprise, IA thread got me thinking about this, and it is discussed to some extent in there. Any of us that grew up in rural Iowa had one of those "towns" nearby that are nothing more than a couple houses and maybe a store, a church, or a gas station. Most of them are probably unicorporated now, if they ever were. What's your's?

I had a couple of them. The first was Elon. It's now 4 houses and what's left of the building that used to be the Old Elon Store. It's about 7-8 miles east of Waukon, and is a suburb of Waterville. Waterville still has their elementary school, but the bank, the creamery, and the post office have all long since closed down. If you pass through either of these places, odds are you're on a road trip.

**chuckd4735** · 05-03-2012, 10:17 AM

Shipley, Iowa FTW

**IcSyU** · 05-03-2012, 10:18 AM

Sexton, IA.

**Acylum** · 05-03-2012, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by ca4cy

The Enterprise, IA thread got me thinking about this, and it is discussed to some extent in there. Any of us that grew up in rural Iowa had one of those "towns" nearby that are nothing more than a couple houses and maybe a store, a church, or a gas station. Most of them are probably unicorporated now, if they ever were. What's your's?

I had a couple of them. The first was Elon. It's now 4 houses and what's left of the building that used to be the Old Elon Store. It's about 7-8 miles east of Waukon, and is a suburb of Waterville. Waterville still has their elementary school, but the bank, the creamery, and the post office have all long since closed down. If you pass through either of these places, odds are you're on a road trip.

That's stretching the definition of "suburb" I'd say.

**cycopath25** · 05-03-2012, 10:19 AM

Sometimes I get lost in your eyes.

**Al_4_State** · 05-03-2012, 10:20 AM

Mitchell County is full of these places. I grew up near McIntire and Meyer, and between the two was an old rail road town called Bailey that went under when the railroad intersection went in at McIntire, 2 miles to the south and east. There's still some semblance of the town of Bailey today, as there's one street that runs off of what used to be the old main street, and it has about 2 or 3 houses, and the ruins of the old store, as well some other evidence of other old streets.

McIntire, IA - Google Maps

EDIT: the map says McIntire, but its showing what is left of Bailey

**CLONECONES** · 05-03-2012, 10:21 AM

old roomates made me visit Traer, IA and the neighboring "village" of Buckingham, IA... which had maybe 4 houses

**Hawkeye11en1** · 05-03-2012, 10:21 AM

Kalmes Breaktime Bar & Grill in the middle of nowhere outside of Dubuque.

**cyclonesurveyor** · 05-03-2012, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by ca4cy

The Enterprise, IA thread got me thinking about this, and it is discussed to some extent in there. Any of us that grew up in rural Iowa had one of those "towns" nearby that are nothing more than a couple houses and maybe a store, a church, or a gas station. Most of them are probably unicorporated now, if they ever were. What's your's?

I had a couple of them. The first was Elon. It's now 4 houses and what's left of the building that used to be the Old Elon Store. It's about 7-8 miles east of Waukon, and is a suburb of Waterville. Waterville still has their elementary school, but the bank, the creamery, and the post office have all long since closed down. If you pass through either of these places, odds are you're on a road trip.

is this my Cousin David?

i have family near waterville, neat area. i grew up between waukon and decorah, just north of Frankville.

**Bret44** · 05-03-2012, 10:23 AM

Georgetown Iowa

Georgetown. With a very impressive old Catholic Church.

**dtlantz** · 05-03-2012, 10:23 AM

Stanzel, between Winterset and Greenfield

**MNCyGuy** · 05-03-2012, 10:23 AM

When I was in school some friends and I were randomly driving around north of Ames (the reasons for which are another story) and wound up in Garden City. I have not even seen a sign for this town since that night.

**chuckd4735** · 05-03-2012, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye11en1

Kalmes Breaktime Bar & Grill in the middle of nowhere outside of Dubuque.

St Donatus! Being originally from Dubuque, one of the only things that keeps me coming home for weddings is knowing that just about every wedding reception will be catered by Kalmes.

**cy1010** · 05-03-2012, 10:25 AM

Iowa Center. It's over by Maxwell, which is itself roughly 4 blocks long. It took some doing to even get anything on Google. Iowa Center - Ghost Town

Couldn't even find it on the map. There is still a sign on HWY 65, though. I think there might be two houses left. No businesses of any kind.

**cyclonesurveyor** · 05-03-2012, 10:25 AM

Cargill was started in Conover, a little town just south of Decorah and just west of Hwy 52. just a few houses now.

http://maps.google.com/maps?rlz=1C1C...ed=0CCYQ8gEwAA