Heritage Farm Park

Heritage Farm Park is a recreational and educational facility that celebrates and preserves Northeast Iowa's rural agricultural and cultural heritage. We make every effort to keep the buildings and grounds as historically accurate as possible. At one time, all the buildings and grounds at the Heritage Farm Park were in use serving a thriving community.

The Appleman Barn at the Heritage Farm Park is original to the site. Built in 1890 for the purpose of raising cattle on the main floor and pigs below, the barn was fully restored thanks to a grant in 2003 from the Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation and help from many volunteers.  It now serves as a resource into farming past as well as a banquet hall, dance hall, bar, and is a must-see for all visitors. The barn was built by Captain Alias Appleman, father-in-law to Governor William Larrabee, who settled Clermont in 1862.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Log Cabin

The 1850's cabin was added to the park in the Spring of 2003 from a farm in Ossian, Iowa. The building was taken down piece by piece, numbered and marked so it could be put back together. At one time this cabin was home to a family of 10! Come down and experience life for yourself in one of the first Iowa homes. Rent the cabin for a night for your family.

Clermont Riverside #2, Rural 2-Room School House  Donated to the park by the Clermont Historical Society. Thanks to fundraising by previous students, the building has been restored. A Clermont resident, Allan Johnson donated back the original school bell and the desks are from St. Peter Catholic School. Many continue to donate artifacts to the rural schoolhouse.  This building is available for rental.

Caboose                 

The caboose at the Heritage Farm Park entrance was donated by a group of railroad enthusiasts from New Glarus, WI. Park visitors are invited to step aboard and experience this fully restored attraction.

 

The petting zoo is a popular attraction for young and old alike. Goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, ponies, horses, a donkey, a pot-bellied pig and geese are all residents of our interactive petting zoo!

 The Silo is a treasure piece. It was donated to the park in the Fall of 2000. Thanks to a Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation grant, the silo was restored and a silage room was added in the Spring of 2003.

The Smokehouse is a unique building. While you are here, you can almost smell the hickory burning and see the sausage and hams hanging in this farm building. The building was donated to the park and moved into the park the Spring of 2001.

40's Motor Lodge - Honymoon Cottage is a little cottage that came from Decorah, IA and had been on a farm. Soon available to rent.

Blacksmith Shop was put into work in the Summer of 2002. This building is used to provide a place for demonstrating metal works. It is used during school tours and special events!

Sorghum Shed was brought to the park by a local farmer. At Heritage Farm Park we grow our own organic Sorghum and follow through with the old tradition of pressing, cooking and canning it.  The Heritage Farm Park is one of the few remaining places in Iowa still making sorghum.

Windmill   In the Spring 2002, a windmill was relocated to the property. Fully operational the windmill is used as an educational tool to show the process of optaining water using the power of wind energy.

Saw Mill is a great attraction to the park. A shed was built over the saw mill in the Fall of 2005. Many of our buildings at our park were built from our own timber and cut on this very saw mill. See the saw mill in action at many of our events.

Corn Crib was donated to the park in the Summer of 2002.

The Track was built in 2000 for truck, tractor and horse pulls.

Waterfall garden In 2002, a waterfall pond and flower garden were added in memory of Selma Kohls.

Outback Park and shelter were created for primitive camping in 2003. The tower of farm equipment was added in 2004.

Farm Pond provides recreational and fishing area for members and visitors. Catfish, bluegill and bass are all residents of this pond. This excellent feature was added in the Fall of 2004.

Grand Meadow Rural School is the latest addition to the park. It provides heated restrooms and showers all year long. The upstairs will be used as a meeting and museum area. There are also tow RV hook-ups for camping.

The camping area has been enlarged and improved. We have 60 RV campsites with electrical hookups. Besides RV camping and primitive camping, we are offering equestrian camping with approximately 10 miles of trails.