After spending part of our day exploring downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, Mom and I weren’t quite ready to head home.
Instead, we decided to make one more detour.
A short drive outside Ottumwa took us into the quiet countryside of southeastern Iowa and eventually to Lake Wapello State Park, near Drakesville.
And this is exactly the kind of place that inspired Worth the Detour.
A Scenic Drive Into the Iowa Countryside
Part of the fun of visiting Lake Wapello was simply getting there.
As we left Ottumwa behind, the scenery became increasingly rural, with rolling countryside, small communities and farms along the way.
We even passed a horse-drawn buggy and several Amish businesses — one of those little reminders that sometimes the drive between destinations becomes part of the experience itself.
Lake Wapello sits in the heart of Iowa’s Amish country, with a number of craft and furniture shops located only a few miles from the park.
Arriving at Lake Wapello State Park
Lake Wapello State Park feels wonderfully removed from the busier world we had just left behind.
The park encompasses more than 1,000 acres of wooded hillsides surrounding a 289-acre lake, with plenty of places to simply stop, enjoy the scenery and spend some time outdoors.
We didn’t come prepared for a full day at the park. This was an impromptu stop before heading home, so our visit was really about exploring, driving through the park and seeing what we might want to return for another time.
And sometimes those spontaneous stops are the best kind.
A Little History Along the Lake
One of the things that immediately caught our attention was the beautiful stone architecture near the water.
Much of Lake Wapello State Park’s early infrastructure was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s, including its distinctive beach house.
Built from native stone and designed in a Pueblo-inspired style, the beach house is one of the park’s most recognizable features and gives this little Iowa lake an unexpected sense of history.
Standing along the lake, surrounded by the old stonework and wooded shoreline, it doesn’t feel like a place you would necessarily expect to stumble across on a casual drive through southeastern Iowa.
More Than Just a Pretty View
We only scratched the surface during our visit, but there is quite a bit to do here if you want to make Lake Wapello a destination rather than a quick detour.
Visitors can hike the approximately seven-mile Lake Shore Trail, swim at the park’s sand beach, kayak or canoe, fish, picnic or simply spend an afternoon beside the water.
There are also campsites and family cabins for travelers who want to stay overnight.
That makes this one of those places that could work equally well as a short scenic stop, an afternoon outing or a quiet weekend getaway.
Would We Go Back?
Absolutely — particularly if we were already traveling through southeastern Iowa.
Our stop at Lake Wapello wasn’t elaborate. We didn’t hike seven miles, rent a kayak or spend the night in a cabin.
We simply explored.
And that’s part of what Worth the Detour is about.
Not every worthwhile travel experience needs to be a famous landmark or a carefully planned itinerary. Sometimes it’s turning off the main road, discovering an old stone building beside a lake, watching a horse-drawn buggy pass by and realizing there is far more to explore in a place than you expected.
Lake Wapello was one of those stops.
If You Go
Lake Wapello State Park
Drakesville, Iowa
The park offers hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, camping and cabin rentals. If you’re planning activities rather than simply sightseeing, check current park conditions, beach advisories and reservation information with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources before visiting.
If you’re visiting Ottumwa or traveling through southeastern Iowa, Lake Wapello State Park is an easy addition to your itinerary — and a lovely excuse to take the scenic route.
Worth the detour?
We think so.