Outdoor Recreation in Appanoose County
Adventure Awaits
Recreation opportunities are abundant in Appanoose County! The beauty of Appanoose County will leave you speechless. The talent will astound. Our local landmarks, museums and attractions will delight. Don’t miss all that our area has to offer.
Come out and play today!
Appanoose Country Club
The Appanoose Country Club is a beautiful 9-hole course located north of Centerville, 1998 Country Club Dr. You can contact them by phone at 641-856-2222.
Appanoose County Fair
The Appanoose County Fair is held at the fairgrounds on the north west side of Centerville on the third week in July. Exhibits, daily entertainment including music, rodeo, and more! For more information, check www.appanoosecountyfair.com for more information.
Children’s Art Festival & Missoula Children’s Theater
Children’s Art Festival & Missoula Children’s Theater. Check their Facebook page for more information.
Cinema 4 Theaters
Cinema 4 Theaters is a modern 4-plex theater located in the Lake Centerville Mall. Call 641-856-3601 for current movie information.
Farmer’s Market On The Square
The Centerville Farmers Market on the Square is a growing regional center of local food, handmade products, and community connection; it is held Thursday afternoons (approx. late May thru late September) on the south side of the Centerville square. Contact PACT for more info, or visit their Facebook page.
Friday Night Live
Friday Night Live is the Pancake Day kickoff event, held this year on September 24, 2021. Free evening concert on the Historic Centerville Square. Beverages available.
Ghost Town Tours
May – September. Hosted by the Historic Preservation Corporation. Check the events calendar or call 641-895-0176 for more information.
Holiday Events
Santa arrives at the Santa House located on the Historic Centerville Square the day after Thanksgiving during the Christmas lighting of the square. Visit Santa the day after Thanksgiving from 1-3 p.m. or every Saturday in December leading up to Christmas. Enjoy the Tour of Homes, our Holiday Sampler, carriage rides, live windows and more! Check PACT Facebook page or our events calendar for more information around the holidays!
Municipal Band Concerts
Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. Beginning the last week in May until the week of July 4th. Historic Courthouse Square District. 60-minute concert featuring local musicians and a weekly theme. Ice Cream Social provided by various non-profit groups.
Pancake Day
Pancake Day is held the last Saturday in September on the Historic Centerville Square. One of the state’s largest parades with hundreds of entries. Including marching bands, floats, and other unique entries. Food vendors, kid’s activities, local acts, live music, and FREE pancakes. Free admission.
For more information on Pancake Day, visit our Pancake Day page.
Planes, Train, and Automobiles
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is held on the first Saturday in August. Various locations around Centerville. Check the events calendar for more information.
Rathbun Lake Area YMCA
The Rathbun Lake Area YMCA has an indoor pool, exercise and weight lifting equipment, and offers a curriculum of classes, special events, and other programs for area youth and adults. For more information, call 641-437-1977.
Second Saturdays
Participating businesses offer specials and fun shopping experiences on the second Saturday of every month. Check PACT Facebook page for information on the fun shopping events going on in the area!
Southern Iowa Junk Journey
The Southern Iowa Junk Jaunt is held twice a year, in June and October. Find dates and maps on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/southerniowajunkjaunt/.
Camp Appanoose
Camp Appanoose provides camping experiences for children and families. Camp facilities are located at the west end of Lake Rathbun. Summer camps as well as year round activities combine to offer a wide range of opportunities such as horseback riding and more. For more information, go to www.campappanoose.org or call 641-649-2491.
Centerville Bike Night
Centerville Bike Night – Historic Centerville Square. Music, food and beverages. Every 4th Friday of the Summer (May – August). Check https://www.facebook.com/centervillebikenight for more information.
Centerville Municipal Pool
The Centerville Municipal Pool, located in the heart of Centerville at the Morgan Cline City Park, is open daily during summer months from 1-7 p.m. Concessions on site. Daily and season passes available.
Lelah Bradley Park
The Lelah Bradley Park, located in the southwest part of Centerville, offers fishing, boating, hiking trails, hunting, camping picnicking, walking trails and nature study. Hours of operation is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, call 641-856-8528.
Morgan Cline City Park
Morgan Cline City Park is located south of Hwy 2 in the heart of Centerville. The following and wooded hills are the perfect place for a family picnic or a leisurely stroll. The park is also home to the City Poll, frisbee golf, shelter houses, and a children’s playground. Shelter houses are available to reserve March 1st – Sept. 1st. To reserve a shelter, call City Hall at 641-437-4339.
For more information visit https://www.centerville-ia.org/parks-pool.
Papo’s Pumpkin Patch
Papo’s Pumpkin Patch Opening September 15th 2023! This new patch will be home to a pumpkin patch, corn maze, activities, farm zoo, farm store and more! Operating Friday-Sunday 10am-6pm September 15th-October 29th. Tickets $15/person and children 3 & under enter for free.
Learn more here: https://www.papospumpkinpatch.com/
Rathbun Fish Hatchery
Rathbun Fish Hatchery is Iowa’s Largest warm water fish hatchery. The aquarium with native Iowa fish is open to the public. An elevated walkway throughout the facility allows viewing of the hatchery’s operation. Located at 15053 Hatchery Pl. on the south side of Rathbun Lake just eight miles north of Centerville. For more information, call 641-647-2406.
Rathbun Lake
One of Iowa’s largest and most beautiful lakes with 11,000 acres of water and 21,000 acres of public land offering swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, trails, eight parks and one marina. Located eight miles north of Centerville. For more information about Rathbun Lake call 641-647-2464.
Sharon Bluffs State Park
Sharon Bluffs Park is located three miles east of Centerville (1/2 miles south of Hwy 2) and offers a picnic area, wooded trails and a Nature Center on the banks of the Chariton River.
For more information, please visit https://www.traveliowa.com/destination/sharon-bluffs-state-park/13089/.
Sharon Bluffs Nature Center
Available to walk through as an individual or plan group trips or field trips with programs from The Naturalists.