Visions for Appanoose County

Appanoose County is in the midst of an exciting turnaround, with many projects planned to enrich the lives of residents and visitors.

Honey Creek Resort State Park

Honey Creek Resort State Park is currently under construction with a completion date of July 2008. Honey Creek Resort is Iowa's first state park resort destination providing state-of-the-art meeting facilities and full-service catering. Extensive educational and recreational facilities, interpretive programs, multi-purpose trails, and unique nearby shopping make this resort an ideal destination for groups of all kinds. Overlooking 11,000 acre Rathbun Lake, this first-class resort includes a 108-room lodge, 28 cabins, restaurant and lounge, and features an indoor waterpark and 18-hole golf course.

Appanoose County Connector Trail System

Significant trail development has been completed by two separate entities, the Lake Rathbun Army Corps of Engineers and Appanoose County Conservation.  The Army Corps of Engineers built the Oxbow Trail that highlights river-bottom forest countryside; it is excellent for bird watching and the study of other wildlife.  Two other trails were collaborative efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers and user groups; they are the Snowmobile trail and the Off Road Vehicle Area.  Appanoose County Conservation has built trails that traverse the Lelah Bradley Park/Reservoir. Plans are underway to construct a trail system that links the County Conservation sites of Lelah Bradley Park and Sharon Bluffs State Park with the Lake Rathbun area.  This new trail system will enhance the Lake Rathbun tourism attraction but will also be used extensively by the citizens of Appanoose County.

Rathbun Lighthouse Project

Rathbun Lighthouse was initiated in Appanoose County by private citizens and the Rathbun Rural Water Association. This will be located at the northeast end of Rathbun Dam, where most of the boat traffic coming from the marina will be passing. The beautiful lighthouse will be built to include a Visitor's Center, a multi-purpose facility, display areas, and an amphitheatre. There will also be boat access from a courtesy dock.

Ritz Theatre

Scheduled to open in late 2008, the renovated Ritz Theatre will be a regional performing arts center with very diverse offerings.  The original theatre will be doubled in size in order for the theatre to provide a full venue of entertainment. A summer stock company will provide most of the entertainment in the summer, catering to tourists visiting Appanoose County.  The rest of the year there will be children’s theatre, country music, bluegrass, local recitals, touring theatre groups, and touring concert groups.