Ashton: Local History and Recreation

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ashton, you can choose the town based on specific reasons to visit. The DeBoer Grocery Museum and the partially preserved train station offer a focus on local history; the local parks offer different opportunities for fishing, swimming, and sports. The Ashton Town & Country Days, held every year in August, are another draw. Ashton is between Sibley and Sheldon. This makes it possible to distinguish between a stay focused on local history, outdoor recreation, and a trip for a set event date.

Local History: Museum, House, and Train Station

The DeBoer Grocery Museum in Ashton preserves equipment and keepsakes from the early 20th century. It also houses artifacts from DeBoer's Grocery Store, Knutsen's Clothing Store, Hoffman's Shoe Repair, and St. Joseph's Grade School and High School. The names span grocery retail and clothing to shoe repair and primary and secondary education. The collection thus points to different aspects of local life, from businesses to educational institutions.

The museum also includes a three-room house from 1882, fully furnished with period furnishings. It adds a historic living space to the collection. The old Ashton train station is partially preserved. Together, the museum collection, house, and train station represent different connections to the town: preserved items from several institutions, a furnished house, and a partially preserved train station.

Recreation in the Parks

Wayside Park offers two different ways to enjoy the water: the park has a fishing lake and a pier for fishing, as well as access to a gravel pit lake for swimming. Fishing from the lake and pier and swimming in the gravel pit lake are separate options within the same park. Wayside Park is also home to the Osceola County Freedom Rock, on the east side of Ashton. The regional Osceola County Freedom Rock project was created to honor and thank veterans.

Ashton City Park is on the west side of town. It has a basketball court, a baseball field, playground equipment, and public restrooms. Roadside Park offers direct access to fishing areas and the dam. In terms of activities, City Park offers basketball, baseball, and playground equipment; Wayside Park offers fishing and swimming; and Roadside Park offers fishing areas and the dam.

Events Throughout the Year

The Ashton Town & Country Days take place every year in August. Ashton T&C also plans activities for children throughout the year, including Halloween, Christmas, and Easter celebrations. The timing differs in a specific way: the Town & Country Days have an annual August date, while the other activities are tied to several holidays throughout the year.

Discover more destinations: Sibley

For the broader travel overview: Osceola County.