Cass County: Nature, Trails and History

Cass County brings together a range of visitor interests: the artificial lake at Lake Anita State Park, nature-focused trails and historic sites. Fishing and boating are available at the lake; museums, railroad structures and other historic sites offer different points of interest. You can plan your stay around the landscape, activities and regional history.

Lake, Fishing Piers and Boat Ramps

At the center of the 1,062-acre Lake Anita State Park is a 171-acre artificial lake. Activities on the water include fishing and boating. There are two boat ramps for anglers with boats, and fishing piers along the shore. This describes different fishing options: from shore or by boat. The piers and ramps show how activities at the lake differ, without requiring you to follow a particular itinerary.

Forest, River and Trails

The Troublesome Creek Wildlife Area covers 40 acres of dense forest, with Troublesome Creek flowing through it. The T-Bone Trail runs through farmland and forest in the Nishnabotna River Valley and ends at Dunbar Road, five miles northeast of Atlantic. A wooded area and a trail through a mix of farmland and forest therefore offer distinct landscape experiences.

At the northern edge of Cold Springs Park, a quiet, 1.5-mile forest trail leads to the East Nishnabotna River and a distinctive limestone outcrop. Access to the river varies with water conditions. If you plan to visit the river, take this into account before your visit.

Museums and Historic Buildings

The Cass County Historical Museum is located in the former Griswold National Bank building. The building was completed in 1885 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The museum displays artifacts from all the named places in Cass County: Anita, Atlantic, Cumberland, Griswold, Lewis, Marne and Massena. The history of a particular bank building is presented alongside collection items representing different places in the county.

The Rock Island Railroad Depot in Atlantic was built in 1898 in the Renaissance style for the Rock Island Railroad Line. It was fully restored in 2002 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Telegraph Building Murals are also part of Atlantic’s cultural landscape: they include a two-story mural by Jenna Brownlee and the mural “It’s Good to be Here” by Bree Daggett.

Another artistically designed site is the boulder in East Park. The 15,000-pound stone was painted by Iowa artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen. It depicts the Hitchcock House, Maj. Belle Reynolds, and Cass County’s 23rd Regiment, Iowa Volunteers, Company 1, Calvary Unit.

Historic Sites and Visit Planning

The Reverend George B. Hitchcock House is associated with the abolitionist reform movement and the network that became known as the Underground Railroad. Free parking is available at the house in front of the Granary Gift Shop. Guided tours are scheduled from May 1 through September 15 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Confirm before traveling whether a tour is available on your planned date.

Cold Springs State Park is a historic site on the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail. The Nishnabotna Ferry House in Cold Springs has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2001. Along with the Hitchcock House and the former railroad depot, these offer different historical connections: the reform movement, the pioneer trail, the railroad and the history of a regional museum building.

Discover more destinations: Clarke County, Linn, Lee County, Adair County, Mahaska County, Osceola County, Buena Vista County.

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