Oelwein is a family-friendly city about 35 miles from Cedar Falls
Nearly 6,000 people live in the small city of Oelwein. “We are a friendly community,” says Deb Howard, executive director of the Oelwein Chamber & Area Development. “I know everybody says that, but we take care of our people and like to offer amenities and events so that they feel like they live in a place that is quality living for their children and themselves.” Locals spend their time at one of the many parks in the city and look forward to the annual holiday celebrations. Many businesses are locally owned, and most big-box stores are in Cedar Falls , about 35 miles away.
Local eateries include Leo’s Italian Restaurant and Hacienda Del Rio
There is a mix of chains and locally owned eateries. One of the most visited family businesses is Leo’s Italian Restaurant downtown, which has been passed down for three generations. “It’s been a staple in our community, and people come from miles away to eat at Leo’s,” Howard says. It’s attached to Leo’s Generations Lounge, a full-service bar that often has live music. “Hacienda Del Rio is fabulous for Mexican,” says Mayor Brett DeVore. PJ’s Bar & Grill serves pub food inside Viper Lanes, the city’s bowling alley. Grocery options include Fareway and Dollar Fresh Market. Locals can find fresh produce, jams and baked goods at the Oelwein Farmers Market every Friday morning and Wednesday evening from May to mid-October at Depot Park. Walmart is 17 miles away.
Homes from the early 1900s include Tudor Revivals and Foursquares
Towering oak trees shade the grassy lawns of Oelwein. Sidewalks line many of the wide residential streets, with ample room for street parking. Most properties also have detached garages. “We have a pretty good mix of homes from the early 1900s,” DeVore says. These include bungalows, Tudor Revivals and American Foursquares. Midcentury ranch-style houses are also common. Depending on size and condition, prices generally range from $40,000 to $290,000. Investment properties have sold for as little as $10,000.
Oelwein park amenities include a lake, playgrounds and athletic fields
At 69 acres, City Park is the largest of several parks in Oelwein. Most of this space is taken up by Lake Oelwein, which allows kayaking, fishing, boating and paddleboarding. Other amenities include a dog park, playground and the Saur-King Jet Plaza, which is dedicated to two World War II Air Force veterans. Most of the city’s athletic fields are at Wings Park. “That’s where all the Little League teams play,” Howard says. It is next to the Oelwein Family Aquatic Center, an outdoor pool with lap swim, a water play structure and a diving board. The city’s library is about half a mile away and has programs like the kid-friendly Pages & Play Club and a book club that changes its themes every month. Hickory Grove is a public nine-hole course in the southern part of Oelwein.
Oelwein schools partner with Northeast Iowa Community College
Students may attend Oelwein Community Schools. Wings Park Elementary School receives a C from Niche, while Oelwein Middle School has a C-minus. Oelwein High School earns a C-plus and offers concurrent enrollment through Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC). NICC’s Oelwein Center also has the High School Equivalency Diploma and professional development courses.
Olde Tyme Christmas is the most anticipated annual event
The largest annual celebration is Oelwein Olde Tyme Christmas. “That event draws anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 people, depending on the weather,” Howard says. The festivities include fireworks, cookie decorating and visiting Santa. Residents look forward to the crowning of the Grinch, a donation-based competition that raises funds for the Community Kitchen Cupboard, and the night ends with the lighted parade. Other events include the Party in the Park summer series at Depot Park, which has live music and door prizes on the second Thursday of the month from June to September, and the Friday Night Downtown Park’n. This vintage car show is on the third Friday of the month during the summer.
Expanding pedestrian paths connect Oelwein parks
The city is pedestrian-friendly, with a walking and bike trail connecting Red Gate Park to Levin Park and one from Wings Park Elementary to Platts Park. “They are working on expanding to connect the trails around the city,” Howard says. Residents also rely on cars to get around, with U.S. Route 150 and U.S. Route 3 going through Oelwein. MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center is in the area. People fly out of Waterloo Regional Airport, which is about 35 miles away and offers daily flights to O’Hare International Airport. DeVore says that many people will travel the 65 miles to Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids because it has more nonstop destinations than Waterloo.
According to First Street, Oelwein has a major risk from flooding because of the impacts to roads, hospitals and other community infrastructure.
