Polk City

Soak up the Americana vibes in picturesque Polk City! This vibrant, fast-growing community with small town charm offers everything from boats and brews to froyo and festivals. Greater Des Moines has something for everyone and is filled with communities worth shouting about!

Food and Drink  

Polk City may be a mere .03% of the population of Des Moines, but that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of quality places to eat, drink, and be merry. Start your morning with a cup of joe from Rising Sun Café, a charming spot in the middle of the town square offering breakfast, lunch, custom cookies, and ice cream. You can never have too many breakfast options in a small town, and Duck Donuts offers something different for sweet breakfast lovers. Their donuts are anything but ordinary with options like maple bacon, S’mores, and raspberry fluff (vanilla icing, raspberry drizzle, and marshmallow drizzle). New on the scene is Arcadia, a farm to table restaurant with seasonal menu items like creamy bacon carbonara and chimichurri tacos. Cue the foodie FOMO. If you like your food (and drinks) paired with ample sunshine and lakeside views, Buoy’s Waterfront Bar and Grill will float your boat. Located on the Saylorville Lake Marina, this floating dock bar and grill serves up sunny day favorites like breakfast burritos and BLTs along with your favorite island drink in a plastic cup. Enjoy the ride – whether that’s life or literally your bike ride, by making a pit stop at Fender’s Brewing, which started out in a garage and now offers 14 taps with beers brewed on-site. Then pop over next door to grab dinner at Papa’s Pizzeria, whose thin crust creations are not only a local fave, but also bring in pizza lovers from all over the region. Mama Mia!

Arts and Culture  

Established in 1993, the Big Creek Historical Society is an appointment-only museum located in the historic City Hall, displaying artifacts and history. More historical pieces throughout Polk City include the hold vault that was built in 1880 in the Polk City Cemetery, a resting place for Civil War veterans and the founders of Polk City. When you visit the town square you’ll find a school bell, taken from a schoolhouse built in 1893 with school board member names and “Knowledge is better than Gold” inscribed on it. If you have kids with an artistic bent, try out Kids Create, a children’s art studio offering classes and workshops to bring out your kid’s inner Picasso.

Parks and Outdoors  

Fresh air is in abundance in Polk City, where you’re never far from a trail, park, or water adventure. Head north for big fun at Big Creek State Park. Hope you brought your swimming trunks, because here you’ll find Big Creek Lake, which is home to the largest beach in the state. The park also offers boating, fishing, and a disc golf course that winds through prairies along the lake. Cyclists can kick it into high gear at the start of the 26-mile paved Neal Smith Trail that goes from Big Creek Lake through Polk City, winding south around Saylorville Lake all the way down to Des Moines. You’ll want to make a pit stop at Saylorville Lake Marina for some boat drinks at Buoy’s Waterfront Bar and Grill. Or anchor down for the whole day and rent a pontoon to explore Saylorville Lake. The 26,000-acre lake is one of Iowa’s largest lakes and provides plenty of space to throw a tube or water skis on the back of the boat and see who’s the best aquatic acrobat. Just west in Granger you’ll find one of central Iowa’s favorite outdoor playgrounds, Jester Park. Highlights include a nature center, horseback riding, both regular and miniature golf, and even elk and bison herds. Home on the range, indeed!

Festivals and Events  

Don’t underestimate the good times happening in Polk City! Every July the city hosts their Four Seasons Festival. It’s the flagship celebration featuring activities like bike night, 5K run, parade, Bill Riley talent search, car show, food, kid’s activities, and live music. It’s impossible not to be romantic about fall in Iowa, as evidenced by the annual Polk City Fall Fest. The festival features all the fall things – pumpkin painting, face painting, inflatables, train rides, fall treats, and more. Every Thursday on the Polk City Square (the last remaining Square in Polk County, which also doubles as a city park) local vendors set up for the Polk City Farmers Market. From May – September, there’s live music and local produce, baked goods, and arts for sale. And if you want to get into the holiday spirit, make sure to soak up the Hallmark movie vibes at the annual Light Up Polk City the first Friday in December, with sleigh rides, reindeer, fire pits, and even the big guy himself, Santa!

Attractions and Things to Do  

Explore Polk City’s town square, which conjures up a nostalgia and Rockwellesque imagery; from the historic bandstand with American flag bunting down to the 1800s schoolhouse charm of Big Creek Historical Museum. Grab a bite at La Familia Mexican Restaurant, a brew at Polk City Pub, and save room for some of the best ice cream around at The Creamery. Their frozen delights will solve all your problems in one fell scoop with a choice of hard-pack ice cream, soft serve, and frozen yogurt.  And although it’s not on the square, we’d be remiss not to mention what could lure you to Polk City in the first place: Tournament Club of Iowa.  The only Arnold Palmer-designed course in Iowa is also one of the most beautiful. The course spans nearly 500 acres, with water features at more than half of the holes and greens lined with bluegrass. Located on the property is Qube Hotel, offering up views of the golf course and close to both Saylorville and Big Creek Lake.  So, take a drive – it’s worth it!

Des Best of Polk City

Saylorville Lake, Big Creek Lake – Best Water Activities
Fenders Brewing – Best Breweries 
The Creamery – Best Ice Cream