IOWA: Almost GHOST Towns In The Forgotten Corner Of The State

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 779

  • @eojeojeo1
    @eojeojeo1 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    As of 9/10/23 the house you asked about in Kellerton, IA is listed for sale at $42,000 and the house in Mt Ayr is listed at $182,000. HyVee is a popular 280-store grocery chain throughout the upper midwest. Loving the ride. Keep it up.

  • @LimpBG
    @LimpBG ปีที่แล้ว +119

    Hello, although I am from Bulgaria and have little to do with USA I find your videos very interesting. Seeing little towns that I have never imagined existed, and taking a glimpse at the life in those towns is fascinating. Have a great day!

  • @karmajade5094
    @karmajade5094 4 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    My family and I moved to manson IA from Tampa Fl and I have to admit I was surprised to be welcomed with open arms. Everyone here has been awesome!! I love it here❤❤

  • @kyleelsbernd7566
    @kyleelsbernd7566 ปีที่แล้ว +80

    The prettiest part of Iowa is the NE corner Driftless Region (which also encompasses MN, WI, and IL). Glaciers missed this region so it consists of rugged bluffs, coulees, trout streams, and pre-ice age tree stands. My wife says that Appalachia is like the Driftless Region on steroids. I recommend you visit Dubuque, Galena, Guttenberg, Lansing, Decorah, Viroqua, La Crosse, etc.

    • @Castleknight
      @Castleknight ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I've heard that the Driftless area is very pretty.

    • @stitchescatsfromutah9330
      @stitchescatsfromutah9330 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      My mom grew up in Viroqua and the countryside there is gorgeous!

    • @jeffreyryan4026
      @jeffreyryan4026 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I second the Gutenberg recommendation.

    • @joycelebaron2582
      @joycelebaron2582 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks! I'd never heard of the Driftless region and I'd love to get out there and check it out. I live in the Driftless on Steroids region LOL

    • @kyleelsbernd7566
      @kyleelsbernd7566 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@joycelebaron2582 Ha, well we loved our last trip to Pigeon Forge and the Smokies. Also loved Chattanooga. Hoping to spend some time in Knoxvville as well.

  • @Nancy-lt7zf
    @Nancy-lt7zf ปีที่แล้ว +9

    We visited here in the 70's because MIL was from Maloy and this is the county seat. We brought her with us on vacation so she could visit her childhood home. I was born in Ames and we were visiting my family . After 52 years in CA I moved back. It was wonderful. Got connected to aunt & cousins. Loved it.

    • @Eric-qg6zw
      @Eric-qg6zw 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The Lynch family from near Maloy is my mothers family. I grew up in mount ayr

  • @donnavanmaanen1110
    @donnavanmaanen1110 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    One of the things you might want to look at is the number of farms in the area that call these towns home. The children would be attending the schools and the banks in the towns would have their business. The grocery stores would serve them as well. I grew up in Iowa and lived in smaller towns.

  • @catlover614
    @catlover614 ปีที่แล้ว +56

    An awesome video, as always. I never get tired of exploring these lovely old country towns, there are so many hidden gems in among the trees in the residential areas, and I love the old buildings in the downtown area. I enjoy your videos very much. Thanks so much, Joe and Nic.🥰

  • @carolkokx9638
    @carolkokx9638 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    That courthouse in Bedford was absolutely beautiful

  • @brennamcsweeney5953
    @brennamcsweeney5953 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Hello.. I saw your video on my hometown Maryville, MO, it was nice. Two things, I wished you would have continued on that street because them you would have seen our freedom rock for veterans and would have liked you to drive towards the university, you would have seen some really nice big homes. 😊 My mom and uncle grew up in Mount Ayr, IA and my grandma lived there until she passed. I always liked visiting that town. If you had had extra time, you could have gone up to the third floor of the courthouse and seen a painting of the courthouse that my grandpa Hixson painted in the 70's I believe and who was engineer for the town until he passed away. When you drove into Bedford, you can in the old way. The frosty tree, you showed is delicious!! You must have came into town when it hadn't opened just yet.. but it's still in business 😁 I think they still have what's called a pizza burger (one of my favorites and their hot fudge sundae). In Mount Ayr, the theater was closed for a while but thankfully someone brought it back and their library should still be in business, you could have came at the wrong time of day.

  • @coolmanfoo2407
    @coolmanfoo2407 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    Man you have become one of my favorite channels. I get so excited when I sit down in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and see you've uploaded a new video. It's like I get to drive through America with you. Also, thank you for highlighting beauty everywhere you go. It's all around us if we are willing to see it. Cheers!

  • @kennethherget4470
    @kennethherget4470 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    My great great grandmother walked from NYC to council bluff ia behind a covered wagon

  • @jimellison6157
    @jimellison6157 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have been to Bedford Iowa many times. My ex-wife use to live nearby. The Garland Hotel you checked out was restored several years ago. It is reputed that Jesse James stayed there. I read that he would sneak into the hotel via an underground tunnel from a saloon across the street. Also, there’s an awesome place to eat on Highway 2 called the Junction Cafe.

  • @winstonsmith478
    @winstonsmith478 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    $45,000 for the Kellerton house at 12:36. Year built - 1903, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1,088 sq ft. Mount Ayr house at 24:22, year built - 1936, 3 beds, 2 bath, 1,479 sq ft, $182,000.

  • @akaJackLugar
    @akaJackLugar ปีที่แล้ว +12

    My favorite small city in Iowa by far is Dubuque. The Hotel Julian is a must stay type of hotel and the Museum of the Mississippi River is very cool.

    • @jimellison6157
      @jimellison6157 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      We’ve been to Dubuque. It is indeed a very pretty city. We really enjoyed riding the 4th Street Elevator. We also sat along the Mississippi River on the river walk. We were there for 3 days.

  • @gatorgogo2742
    @gatorgogo2742 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    The house with the upstairs balcony and cupola was really appealing to me. It emanates HOME! I love tagging along with ya'll seeing all these places. Thank you.

  • @uraoshi
    @uraoshi ปีที่แล้ว +13

    to be honest everything looks so manicured. the grass is cut. no wild bushes. doesn't look abandoned. there are people over the world who only dream to live in such environment.

  • @walter9724
    @walter9724 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    I'm here in Australia and I purchased a Polk Iowa license plate at a local antique store. The plate is from 1979 and has FOX 082 on it. And also has the small stickers on it from when it was last registered

    • @ronfullerton3162
      @ronfullerton3162 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      If you could get a plate from the sixties or earlier, the Iowa license plate had county number, a dash, then the plate number. My Grandfather was county auditor for Louisa County, Iowa for around thirty years, and his office was right across from the Treasurer's office, and they would let him know when the number he wanted was coming up. Louisa was county #58, and my grandfather was born in the year 1890, so Grandpa wanted license plate 58-1890. And he had it for many years. I have one of his old plates from around 1958 that has 58-1890 on it. The plates were yellow with black letters and trim. And the one I have sits in my bedroom with a license plate frame from a saying from the movie "Field of Dreams" that states, "Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa!"

    • @walter9724
      @walter9724 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@ronfullerton3162 i sold the number plate on ebay just recently 😀 was lucky to make a profit. I've cleared out almost all of my collections, and i must say it's a good feeling not having so many things just sitting their gathering dust and taking uo space. I jave a few number plates still and i actually just found a trailer plate of a car box trailer on the side of the rosd here in Australia. Its from outta state drom new south wales. I'll probably put them on the wall of my workshop.

  • @bodybuilderslave7125
    @bodybuilderslave7125 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    I LOVE to see that so many of the towns still have brick paved streets. I have fond memories of the brick streets of Cedar Rapids IA, especially 2nd Ave and the trees along the street that made it seem like driving in a tunnel.

  • @xnihilo1044
    @xnihilo1044 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Perfect timing! I moved to Cedar Rapids from So. Cal. last year. I used to explore dying or ghost towns via motorcycle travel. Good to know there are places in Iowa to explore.
    Thanks!

  • @patm5594
    @patm5594 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I love Iowa. I live about 10 mins away across the Minnesota border.. I especially like Knoxville, a great racing community.

  • @AyatollahOfDahmsistan
    @AyatollahOfDahmsistan ปีที่แล้ว +26

    Iowa is awesome! I left vowing NEVER TO come back…. 10 yrs later, I was, GET ME BACK. Europe, several states, and BORING IOWA IS THE BEST!! Love Iowans!

    • @catholiccrusader5328
      @catholiccrusader5328 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      I totally agree with you.

    • @ronfullerton3162
      @ronfullerton3162 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I found my Iowa roots hard to give up. I would of returned, but there are just things you have to do. And I am where I am for the needs of someone else. So I will just say, "GO HAWKS!"

  • @PittsburghMike
    @PittsburghMike ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I love the statistics you reveal with each town visit… we always look forward to the next episode!

  • @lauraparman9722
    @lauraparman9722 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    2-story white house in Mt Ayr (23:35 min) was my Grandmother's house when I was a child. Enjoyed seeing it, brings back so many memories :)

  • @Trenchycoat101ify
    @Trenchycoat101ify 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I student taught in Ottumwa Iowa. My fondest memories of Iowa was a summer I spent in Spencer.

  • @johnw4659
    @johnw4659 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I lived in Taylor County for five years. Loved every minute of that life.

  • @ChrisOREILLY-gc4yq
    @ChrisOREILLY-gc4yq ปีที่แล้ว +19

    I just find it fascinating the respect of other countries and towns and cities
    Keep up the good work bro and also anyone that works behind the scenes that is good and bad in every place you live and visit
    i5 from Chester UK 🇬🇧👍

  • @roberthomiak5003
    @roberthomiak5003 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Thank you for your Road trips. Love traveling along with you and Nicole without ever leaving the comfort of our home. Those old towns in Iowa looked pretty nice. Best Patty

  • @patriciaharkins8407
    @patriciaharkins8407 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Of all the Folks Doing this--You are the best--look forward to your Videos and seeing Rural America

  • @poowg2657
    @poowg2657 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Love the old rat rod at the Mount Ayr gas station. Rat rods are left in their rusty state on purpose. That old small block Chevy would probably light right off. More cool old railroad towns on mostly old CB&Q branch lines that were abandoned in the 40s-60s. Great video, thanks much!

  • @chipsmith1867
    @chipsmith1867 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I remember you are an ex bartender but you are always respectful of churches and religion and I appreciate that. Thanks 😊

  • @jhoskins5630
    @jhoskins5630 ปีที่แล้ว +26

    I've been watching a number of your videos over the past few months. Great stuff! Thanks for visiting south(west) Iowa, I spent some of my formative years in Greenfield. We played football and wrestled Mt Ayr and family knew some people in Bedford so I know those towns well. If you ever get a chance to visit Greenfield it's really a nice little town with a courthouse square and restored opera house (w/ some help from Norman Lear who filmed Cold Turkey there in '69) And there's Winterset right down the road, with John Wayne's childhood home. Clarinda & Villisca both have interesting histories. Thanks for the ride alongs!

    • @Nancy-lt7zf
      @Nancy-lt7zf ปีที่แล้ว +1

      How far to grocery store and other necessities?

    • @jhoskins5630
      @jhoskins5630 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Greenfield, Mt.Ayr, Bedford, Clarinda, and Winterset, all have major chain grocers.

  • @duaneboyd3550
    @duaneboyd3550 ปีที่แล้ว +169

    It's interesting to hear some segments of our society talk about how overpopulated and crowded our country is. Just drive and you will find that there is plenty of room, maybe we should stop flocking to city centers and thinking that is the norm. I love these videos I get to tour the nation from my living room and then decide which places to actually go thanks to Joe and Nic.

    • @hellbythedashboardlight1730
      @hellbythedashboardlight1730 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      Most people do not want to live in a town with nothing but old people and a Casey’s and dollar store

    • @patrickrhea6348
      @patrickrhea6348 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      ​@@hellbythedashboardlight1730Then they can suffer in the larger cities.

    • @hellbythedashboardlight1730
      @hellbythedashboardlight1730 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@patrickrhea6348 I think suffering is looking around and seeing nothing but old dying people and a shut down dollar store

    • @donaldpiper9763
      @donaldpiper9763 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      These places are dying because there isn’t any employment opportunities , no groceries stores,gas stations,cafes, nothing pretty bleak !

    • @patrickrhea6348
      @patrickrhea6348 ปีที่แล้ว +39

      @@hellbythedashboardlight1730 I'll take that over rampant violent crime, mass drug use, and authoritative governments.

  • @MarvinFitzner
    @MarvinFitzner 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I really like your tours though these towns you do a good job.

  • @DonariaRegia
    @DonariaRegia ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Something I'm considering is purchasing a building or two from these ghost towns to reassemble on my acreage. Some have so much character and the materials would be out of any reasonable budget to build new. Before living in a remote rural town one must consider the following: Weak TV and phone signals, no cable or DSL (much less fiber), lack of stores, distant medical services, no vehicle parts and repair services and so on.

    • @handmadeiowa
      @handmadeiowa ปีที่แล้ว +7

      It might be shocking to you to find out that in Iowa we have high speed fiber optics 😮 cell towers 😮 and most county roads are paved. We have community college all over and 3 universities 😮 Ahhh, civilization is alive and well, and we like our peace and quiet.

    • @DonariaRegia
      @DonariaRegia ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@handmadeiowa It feels like the state itself just clapped back.💀

    • @handmadeiowa
      @handmadeiowa ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@DonariaRegia eh, the coasts thinks of us as a flyover state. We just hope the liberals don't discover us, move here, and bring their crap politics and high taxes with them. ✌

    • @DonariaRegia
      @DonariaRegia ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@handmadeiowa Cool but 70% of the economy comes from blue counties and Iowa receives $2.5 billion more from the federal government than paid in taxes. You're welcome! Enjoy! 😇

    • @willbass2869
      @willbass2869 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@handmadeiowa Texas reporting 👍

  • @ptownRandy1
    @ptownRandy1 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    What amazes me most about your videos is that there is no one on the streets.

  • @deloiscallaway9442
    @deloiscallaway9442 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This Video Was Everything Thanks For Taking Us Along Such Beautiful Small Towns

  • @DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123
    @DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Looks peaceful to me, love the old buildings & greenery 😊

  • @nicolestuck1849
    @nicolestuck1849 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I grew up in grand river Iowa. I attended elementary school there then went to high school in kellerton til they shut down the high school my junior year and then finished high school in mt ayr. So I know quite a bit about the town s you drove through. I live in Des Moines now and boy the old home grounds have deteriorated. Thanks for the video

  • @sashgordon-smith3322
    @sashgordon-smith3322 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    I’m new to this channel and I love how you go through the statistics of everything and take time to explain the little bits of history. Entertaining and educational at the same time. Much love from Australia 🇦🇺

  • @brianwest7344
    @brianwest7344 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    amazing the difference between towns with a certain community and those with a high number of a different community.

  • @robertgoerss
    @robertgoerss ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Hey thank you for taking us thru these 4 Iowa towns. Love the visuals, commentary and very relevant facts. Know Mt airy well, you represented it well. Lived in w Iowa years ago. Thanks, schoephf.

  • @richardduerr9983
    @richardduerr9983 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    I had no idea those towns out there in the far midwest (I'm from Ohio) were so beautiful, I'm literally stunned to see such pretty towns!!! I also had no idea the countryside between them would be so beautiful, I expected it to be like Ohio, where all the roads (out of town) are flanked by farmland, which is somewhat pretty, but not like that beautiful scenery between the towns in this video. I wonder if you might stitch all the video footage of your drives between the towns, and I'm sure you probably don't have a lot, and stitch them together into a single video, with no narration, no music, just the sound of driving. I think it might make a nice soothing video that might help those of us with insomnia. Just a thought, and something you could do with your existing and future footage that I would love to see. Anyway, this video and the previous one have been my favorites of yours so far, though I have enjoyed them all! I eagerly anticipate the next one!!!

  • @joycelebaron2582
    @joycelebaron2582 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The closest hospital to Grand River is in Mt. Ayr, which on Google is 21 miles, or 25 minutes away. When you went down Main St. there was a 2-story building and it's for sale at $199,000 (2 units, refurbished). It used to be the Grand River Opera House 100 years ago. The selling point for the area is that it's 10 minutes from Sun Valley Lake, and 4.5 miles from 6000 acres of public hunting grounds.

  • @Aroha016
    @Aroha016 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    The tower on that beautiful house in Iowa is called a turret and yes they are a lovely feature on older style homes

  • @ltcajh
    @ltcajh ปีที่แล้ว +13

    It occured to me that the reason populations of the towns appear to have shrunk isn't because there are less households, but because there used to be a lot of kids. I'm the oldest of eight, but you don't see big families anymore.

    • @andrewward5891
      @andrewward5891 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      You don’t see many kids at all in these towns. That’s why most of the average age of the towns is over 40. Most kids move away after high school or college to get jobs so only older people are left.

    • @scarpfish
      @scarpfish 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      There aren't big families anymore because we mechanized agriculture. What was once cheap farm labor became another mouth to feed.

    • @ltcajh
      @ltcajh 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Killed the population numbers, nonetheless.
      @@scarpfish

  • @GardenerEarthGuy
    @GardenerEarthGuy ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Yay for Iowa!

  • @cs7359
    @cs7359 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Just sitting here in rural germany and enjoying the trip into rural iowa. Keep it comeing and thanks buddy, nice content

  • @HankPanky
    @HankPanky ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Hyvee where there's a helpful smile in every aisle.

  • @bennfisherr6317
    @bennfisherr6317 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I'm about 10 minutes north of the Iowa border, so near the other end of the state. But yeah, pretty standard looking small towns there....especially the diagonal parking stalls downtown. I'm sure you'll be seeing plenty more Hy-Vee grocery stores and Casey's General Stores if you're heading into my neck of the woods. Looking forward to your next video!

  • @lapetitemaison4219
    @lapetitemaison4219 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    One thing about "US" smaller , rural towns....Less stress and quieter. So we have to drive 1/2 an hour or more to hit a Walmart or bigger town. I don't mind. I moved to the next county over from Ringgold County after living in the capital Des Moines most of my life. You couldn't drag me back there. Lot's of Amish and Mennonite families around here. I LOVE IT!

  • @bobmanfre5083
    @bobmanfre5083 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    5:00. Yes - It is absolutely still being utilized. People from about an 80-mile radius come here twice a week to attend Services. They believe that the actual building is not the church - the Congregation is the church. They can hold their Services in an open field if they had to.

  • @rocinblues
    @rocinblues ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Great video, enjoyed downtown Bedford, the brick streets and courthouse really stood out. Nice to see the level of self-respect the residents had for themselves, showing their pride for their country and maintaining their homes. Safe travels, Cheers!

  • @kellymccullough130
    @kellymccullough130 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My dad grew up in Kellerton and Beaconsfield. My Grandma ran the telephone switchboard[1940's]. we visited it in the 80's and I remember a large abandoned school in Beaconsfield. Thanks for the video. I live in a small town in eastern Iowa.

  • @manofaction1807
    @manofaction1807 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    It's small town America. People go to church on Sundays, go to work during the week. The Ball games are on Fridays, After-words, you get a pizza at the local soda shop. Legion hall has a catfish fry on Fridays, and The VFW has fish fry's once a month. Once again-- EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY, AND EVERYBODY GREW UP TOGETHER. Outsiders are viewed with interest, and suspicion.
    People work the fields, or they work in Des Moines, down the highway. Like their parents, or their parents before them.
    IT'S NOT EXCITING, AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.

    • @andrewward5891
      @andrewward5891 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      That’s certainly the idealized version of small town America you see in Hallmark movies. Maybe it still exists in larger more prosperous towns. But most of the towns Joe goes through the VFW Hall and soda shop closed years ago and the small farms went belly up. And yeah people drive to Des Moine for jobs, shopping, and medical care because there’s none of those things in their towns.

    • @manofaction1807
      @manofaction1807 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@andrewward5891 Yes!

    • @Jilly-Kerry-2Mullens
      @Jilly-Kerry-2Mullens 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@andrewward5891 Sorry you are mistaken. Some towns are like that, but most towns are only 6 to 20 miles apart and plenty of jobs. Lots of small farms in SW Iowa.

  • @deanabanks8443
    @deanabanks8443 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Thank you for being so informative about the states in which you travel through keep up the good work Joe t Nic.

  • @cherriroberdes3914
    @cherriroberdes3914 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Enjoyed watching your travels through the little towns in Iowa..big thanks for showing the post offices! you guys are great! Can't wait for your next video! Happy Fourth of July!

  • @3thano1
    @3thano1 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Thank you for your videos. It's a true joy to be able to see these otherwise remote towns and get a glimpse of what the culture is like in these areas. I often would wonder what growing up in rural Iowa, Nebraska, etc. would be like, and this seems to cover that wonderfully. Please keep the videos coming!

  • @stevenmiller175
    @stevenmiller175 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Another great video. I love you new touches to the video, including the map of your journey showing all of your stops. One suggestion, and I’ve seen this in a few of your videos, is more pictures of parks or recreational areas. I would like to see the towns high school football stadium if there is one. I’m fascinated with all of these places you’ve gone to since there are places I have never or rarely visited. I’m a west coast guy and I like seeing other parts of the country. Thanks for your continued great work and keep the videos coming. Can’t wait for you to come out west.

  • @jimmyday9536
    @jimmyday9536 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I retired a few years ago and moved from Maryland to a small town in western IA. I like it here, folks are friendly, housing is affordable, but my first winter out here is proof that "no one moves to the Midwest for the weather.". It got down to -25F. I had never in my life seen it below 0. And the summers are very hot and humid. Guess you can't have everything!

    • @seththomas9105
      @seththomas9105 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Welcome to Iowa. Glad you joined us!

    • @skylermummert24
      @skylermummert24 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

      North south central western Iowa? From NW Iowa myself now live in east central South Dakota

  • @mwin3303
    @mwin3303 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’m from New Zealand and your video’s are my favourite to watch. Fascinating because of the history behind the towns and the beautiful houses that once was. Cool

  • @stew6518
    @stew6518 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Really interesting stuff. Over the pond in Scotland watching these fascinating pieces you post whilst trying to follow you on a map.

  • @JavierNoyola-ot6zi
    @JavierNoyola-ot6zi ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Another awesome video! Your right they don't make court houses like they used to. That Bedford county court house is just spectacular.

  • @yesemitesam333
    @yesemitesam333 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    I'm from Scotland so I thought I'd look up the population of Ayr to give you a comparison. The estimated population in 2021 was just over 46,000. Keep up the great work with these videos. I love travelling the US with you.

    • @JoeandNicsRoadTrip
      @JoeandNicsRoadTrip  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Interesting! I was actually wondering about that.

    • @dw620
      @dw620 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      ​@@JoeandNicsRoadTrip I wonder if the British phonebox (17:01, 17:37, 21:47) came from Ayr. : )
      The former hotel in Bedford even has its own Wikipedia page; Bedford House (Bedford, Iowa)
      Love your relaxed, unrushed presentation style to capture the feeling of each place you visit, thank you!

  • @juliogonzales5441
    @juliogonzales5441 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Another.....GOLD VIDEO....from Joe and nic 😊😊😊

  • @CapitulationTrader
    @CapitulationTrader ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Thanks for these videos. I’ve become a big fan of your work. Thank you

  • @joonyer77
    @joonyer77 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Another great video! I heard Iowa was a great place to live. That appears to be the case.
    Thoroughly enjoyable!

  • @evaeriksson9950
    @evaeriksson9950 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Just found your Chanel and I am watching a lot of your videos now. Though I am from Sweden and have never even been to the States I find this very fascinating!

  • @zoidmo3388
    @zoidmo3388 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Yes! fly those flags high! I luv seeing USA Patriotism. July 4th is around the corner. When I lived there many yrs ago, it's what I loved the most about Americans. Happy Canada Day fellow Canadians. Love your Channel Joe n Nic.🤩

    • @daviddecelles8714
      @daviddecelles8714 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Happy Canada Day today! But, do something about reining in your Prime Minister, please.

    • @zoidmo3388
      @zoidmo3388 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@daviddecelles8714 I've been trying since before 2015 personally but as you may have noticed, Canada has quite the problem with passivity & it's how socialism & now communism has crept in. Now @ warp speed Globalism. I'm not one of those 'oh I'm sorry' or passive Canadians. Honk Honk!

    • @melg6834
      @melg6834 ปีที่แล้ว

      🤣🤣🤣

  • @alexandralovesgoats3360
    @alexandralovesgoats3360 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The house in Kellerton can be yours for $45,000. I loved the road you were driving on leading into Kellerton. I like the town square in Mount Ayr. Love the red brick roads, the old gas station and the library. Bedford looks nice too. Gorgeous courthouse! Since I’ve only been to Cedar Rapids, I enjoyed seeing other areas of Iowa. Have a great weekend!

  • @amym.694
    @amym.694 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    The house is $45,000 in Kellerton. These are very peaceful towns, but I couldn’t live in these kinds of places. I like having my suburban conveniences.

    • @stevenvox6549
      @stevenvox6549 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Iowa is boring. Even Des Moines nearly a half a million people (metro area) has nothing to offer except for 3 day long gun shows and high school sports. Young people are leaving. Run for your lives.

    • @melg6834
      @melg6834 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@stevenvox6549 the *Hottest* millennial, Mr. Colby Daniel STILL lives there fyi.... Seth Rollins for ya all...

    • @calessassracer
      @calessassracer ปีที่แล้ว

      @@melg6834Who?

  • @lonniecrawford6991
    @lonniecrawford6991 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    If you are still up north, try to come back thru Kalona, IA. Beautiful Amish & Mennonite community. The Golden Delight Bakery is is a must!

  • @donniehopkins8439
    @donniehopkins8439 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love your trips and detailed info. FYI,if you see a meter (electric) on a dwelling and it is not turned sideways it is an active account used for something,maybe storage.

  • @mort5490
    @mort5490 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    My daughter drove from Michigan to Iowa to buy a German Shepherd puppy 8 years ago. I thought she was crazy but the puppy grew to be beautiful. The only down fall is she sheds enought fur to make a small animal.

  • @jennimartin1470
    @jennimartin1470 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You want to see. A couple of small ghost towns. Check out Buck Grove Iowa near Dow City...
    Or Deloit IA which is 5 miles north of Denison on Hwy 39 I think it is.. well basically it's the same Hwy that goes to Kiron, IA .. and Lil tid bit of info .. Deloit is the Oldest town in the County . And our house was built in 1908 .. it's a very old lil town but a nice place

  • @walter9724
    @walter9724 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I really enjoy watching these videos. I've never been outside of Australia and I usually look at placesjke this on google earth on my laptop. Its amazing to see so many places of a decent size just abandoned or almost abandoned

  • @bbastii123
    @bbastii123 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video. Its so interesting for someone from outside the US to see these remote small town areas.

  • @LyleFrancisDelp
    @LyleFrancisDelp ปีที่แล้ว +2

    24:46. That is an absolute amazing Craftsman style home. Beautiful in every way.

  • @michaelscottcutler3627
    @michaelscottcutler3627 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Really enjoyed seeing Bedford. Thanks, Joe.

  • @veronicarivera2675
    @veronicarivera2675 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I love your channel I never seen Iowa before. Even though is a Ghost town status looks clean . That house you passed by is actually $45,000 lol . Thank you for taking us this far . I love all the information we get and some history.

    • @aeroplod
      @aeroplod ปีที่แล้ว

      $42000 now!

  • @Cons2911
    @Cons2911 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I’ve been experiencing some anxiety (not sure of my grammar).. and I think your videos will help. I like it, it’s calm and interesting. Maybe it will help me, I’ll keep it on the background as well when I hit the sack

  • @chrisjolly6954
    @chrisjolly6954 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Always good you show us where you are! I'm on the Isle of Man!

  • @LonnieDufty-wg9lz
    @LonnieDufty-wg9lz 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you! I have been enjoying your travel videos, love your respectful approach to your subject matter. This video brings back LOTS of personal memories because the towns you cover alongside HW 2 are where my ancestors settled in Iowa. Kellerton and Mt Ayre for my father's side. East of I 35, Leon, where my mother and I were born and graduated from the same high school (since torn down). Near Kellerton on the north side of HW 2 you would have passed by a farm with a number of well preserved old buildings. That used to be a great-grandparents' farm. I remember as a 5 or 6 year old riding on the hill with Grandpa Vance on his John Deere A tractor, and being in that house. They moved to a big house in Mt.Ayre, then to a nursing home where she eventually died at the age of 104 years. As a 10t grader, my first wrestling match was in Bedford. I also wrestled in My Ayre where I saw my father's photo with his high school track team. Our rural phone company was Grand River Mutual. I bought two registered Polled Herford heifers near Grand River. All this was decades ago, back when these towns were much more active than they are now. The land remains but the people and the buildings pass away. Your videos are a fitting remembrance.

  • @LB-sk3vl
    @LB-sk3vl ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The thought of getting away from it all and moving to one of these small towns is just romantic. I imagine actually doing it is anything but.

    • @andrewward5891
      @andrewward5891 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It would get old real fast unless all you want to do is sit in your house and watch tv.

  • @jdet3855
    @jdet3855 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I was born and raised at Grand River. It has gone downhill so much since I was younger. The apartments that you guessed as closed are actually not. People live there. Too bad you didn’t visit with a few locals to get accurate info on places you pointed out. And there are definitely more than 4 or 5 streets!

  • @martinhaub6828
    @martinhaub6828 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Boy does this bring back memories. I'm from Iowa and spent many summers and some winters in towns just like what you see in this video. When all the old folks are gone I wonder what will become of those places? There are two books that are well worth finding: Happiness was My Universe, and, Before the Colors Fade.

    • @Jilly-Kerry-2Mullens
      @Jilly-Kerry-2Mullens 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      All of our adult children are moving home, we are good.

  • @joycelebaron2582
    @joycelebaron2582 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    That courthouse in Bedford is gorgeous. I love Romanesque Revival. I remember when you were in Steubenville, OH you pointed out several examples. The Garland Hotel closed in 1997, partly collapsed in 2004 and was going to be demolished. The town rallied around and they saved and restored part of the building. The 2nd and 3rd floors still need work before they could reopen. It's such a pretty town, colorful and still fancy looking. It's only about an hour from I-29, and 1 1/2 hours from the southern Omaha suburbs. That house you passed on the pretty street in Mount Ayr is $182,000. Remodeled, including bat proofing!

  • @chaschas3199
    @chaschas3199 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Very nice. Iowa is filled with small towns like these.

  • @leisuretimeadventures
    @leisuretimeadventures ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I enjoy your videos, this one here hit close to home, literally. I was born and raised in Mt. Ayr. Sadly you skipped showing the Freedom Rock there on the corner of the square featuring Astronaut Peggy Whitson whom was from Ringgold County town of Ellston. HY Vee was founded in Ringgold County also in another almost ghost town of Beaconsfield.

  • @ozymandias7940
    @ozymandias7940 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The house for sale in Kellerton was built in 1903 and is a 2brm, 1bth and is currently listed for $45,000.
    The cute little house in Grand River on the corner was built in 2000 and is a 1brm, 1bth and is for sale for $29,000. It is currently rented at $400/mth with a long term tennant since 2018.

  • @WilliamCooper-l6f
    @WilliamCooper-l6f ปีที่แล้ว +3

    It's beautiful there. If I ever move, it'll be to Iowa.

  • @jb117354
    @jb117354 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The County Courthouse at 31:50 has perfect symmetry. Talk about a beautiful building.

  • @joeykremple
    @joeykremple ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Iowa is beautiful and when I saw this video in my stream, I said to my wife, “Lord Spoda has a new one!”

  • @burndog5520
    @burndog5520 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    To add glad you made it here! Some beautiful areas and diverse areas of the state you would find interesting...including Iowa City and several of the Mississippi River towns

  • @blcjck8121
    @blcjck8121 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    19:48 It's funny to see how gas stations back then never considered the price ever being above ¢99 with only two digits on the pump 😁
    Yet again, thank you for a genuine and great video.

  • @cowboygeologist7772
    @cowboygeologist7772 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    The first town, where you made the comment about the house for sale on the corner. That looks like an old gas station. They usually had the overhang from the front out to the gas pumps. Looks like they walled in that part to make a house. There were two buildings on each side painted the same with red trim. They all have leases but for sale as a package for $78,000. The next town you asked about the white house for sale - $45,000 on 1/4 acre.

  • @DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123
    @DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE123 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Thanks for the video, Thanks for the drive along... Australia is so big, it's the same size as America in land size, but mostly desert, Cheers 😊

  • @jwaller132
    @jwaller132 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Hey Joe! I really enjoy watching your videos. I like the way you focus on the architecture of each small town you visit.
    I'm originally from Illinois and my paternal grandmother lived in Lewiston Illinois. It's the county seat of Fulton County.
    There's a larger town close to Lewiston called Canton. Named after Canton, China. There's a reason for that. Look it up. Quite interesting. 👍

  • @MarkovianMan
    @MarkovianMan ปีที่แล้ว +10

    Trivia: in 1873, Jesse James robbed a train in Anita, Iowa, and then stayed at the Garland Hotel afterwards. The wife of the hotel's owner was James' cousin.
    There was also a tunnel for the Underground Railroad that stretched from the hotel to a livery stable to help slaves escape to freedom.

    • @erinsmithparks5686
      @erinsmithparks5686 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I am from Bedford and can tell you this is true!

    • @SlurpJ
      @SlurpJ หลายเดือนก่อน

      I believe the first bank he robbed is in Corydon, IA from the book I read my grandmother gave me who lived close by.

  • @jennywilson9731
    @jennywilson9731 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Thankyou ! For sharing these places, so much to see as your traveling along...there's alot of different and interesting buildings..."love it Joe", take carel and safe travels !..God bless America and our freedom's .🌼

  • @JJJBRICE
    @JJJBRICE ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Most of the small towns that Lord Spoda travels through look aimilar , no matter what state they are in . Long live Lord Spoda AKA Joe & Nic for showing us the good old USA ! Even these places are far better than places in other countries .