Osage offers an amenity-packed small-town setting
In Osage, towering maple trees hug virtually every block. It’s a scene so common it earned this northern Iowa community the nickname “The City of Maples.” The atmosphere is the backdrop to an area known for its warmth. Besides its jam-packed dining scene, abundant outdoor recreation and well-regarded schools, longtime resident and local Realtor Kevin Kolbet says Osage’s friendliness is one of its highlights. “When I came here, I was young, and very well-received in the community,” says Kolbet, who’s the owner of Kolbet Realtors and has sold Osage real estate for roughly 50 years. “If you immerse yourself in the community and volunteerism — and church, school, the chamber of commerce and so forth — you get to know a lot of people quickly."
Classic homes rule, but development is encouraged
Many homes under Osage’s maple trees are at least 50 years old, and some date back to the late 1800s. This gives the area an established feel, full of bungalows, gable-front and ranch-style homes. “We have a really good mix of styles,” Kolbet says. “And the older homes have been well kept.” Osage and the wider Mitchell County area also have an eye on the future. The Mitchell County Economic Development Commission incentivizes growth with a program that awards thousands for replacing derelict properties. “We have an initiative that a buyer or a builder can purchase that property, and if they agree to rebuild a new structure on it within two years, the county will pay up to $10,000 toward the removal and clean-up of the site to ready it for new construction,” Kolbet says. Properties in Osage often sell for $70,000 to $380,000, based on condition and size.
Main Street bustles with businesses
Kolbet considers Osage, with a population of 3,600, atypical for its size in terms of the amenities available here. The dining scene is one representation of that. Many of Osage’s restaurants are located along Main Street, including the popular Teluwut Grille House & Pub, a burger hot spot. BecMar Diner and Lucy’s Lunch Box are known for their breakfasts, and Limestone Brewers offers beer and pizza with a side of competition. “In the back, they have ax-throwing and golf simulators,” Kolbet says. “So that’s a popular attraction for folks to do, too, especially in inclement weather or in the wintertime.” The 75-year-old Watts Theater is another Main Street entertainment draw. “That has state-of-the-art sound and gets first-run movies here, and has great concessions at a very affordable price,” Kolbet says.
Watts is a few doors down from Dungey's Furniture & Floors, a family-owned, Iowa-based business. Kountry Kupboard is across from Dungey’s, a market selling snacks, kitchen items, toys and more. There’s also Randy's Neighborhood Market just north of Main Street for more grocery selection.
Osage’s central thoroughfare doubles as a community gathering spot
Fourth of July is a major event in Osage, highlighted by a parade along Main Street. “Everyone here loves a parade,” Kolbet says. “We have probably one of the best Fourth of July parades in the region.” Independence Day activities also feature a community barbecue hosted by the Mitchell County Farm Bureau and fireworks at Interstate Park, just outside Osage. December’s Magic on Main includes a lighted parade, carriage rides and a tree lighting. The Mitchell County Fair takes over Osage’s Mitchell County Fairgrounds in late July and early August.
Area schools expose students to various types of technology
The Osage Community School District gets a B rating from Niche. Lincoln Elementary, which is B-rated, allows students to participate in a filmed weekly newscast. Osage Middle also has a B and offers a Lego League robotics team. Osage High, rated a B-minus, has its own robotics team that competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition.
Biking and hunting are popular pastimes
The Osage area is flush with natural landscapes, thanks partly to the Mitchell County Conservation Board. The organization oversees more than 3,000 acres of green space in this region, including several wildlife areas and over a dozen trails. Paths like the 8-mile Cedar River Greenbelt Trail, just west of Osage, are open to hiking, cycling and horseback riding. Many of the conservation board’s wildlife areas allow hunting. “We have some of the finest white-tailed deer hunting around,” Kolbet says. Osage’s City Park has an expansive playground, tennis and basketball courts, and is home to the Cedar River Complex. Cedar River houses a community wellness center, an aquatic center and a fine arts center with a 600-seat auditorium.
Rustic roads are windows to the rest of the region
One-lane highways U.S. Route 218 and Indiana state Road 9 are two of the primary avenues for commutes out of town. Travelers can take Route 218 to Monument and 640th avenues, and then Interstate 90, to reach the Rochester International Airport. Located just over 50 miles away, across the Minnesota border, the airport has direct flights to Minneapolis and Chicago. Locals don’t have to leave Osage to access the Mitchell County Regional Health Center, a facility with an emergency department.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
