Neighborly vibes nourish the roots of Red Oak
Red Oak was first established as a railroad hub in southwest Iowa, about 50 miles from Council Bluffs and Omaha, Nebraska. Today, agriculture and neighborly vibes nourish the roots of the small city, which is home to about 5,500 residents. “Neighbors still know one another and help each other out,” says Dan Bullington, a broker with Your Real Estate Choice who’s been selling in Red Oak for 23 years. “Years ago, I got a phone call from a truck driver who had pulled over, and I assumed there was somebody in the truck with him because he kept saying ‘I’m okay, I’m fine, I’m all right.’ Then he said to me, ‘That’s the third person who’s stopped to see if I need help.’”
Local favorites and regional chains fill Red Oak’s storefronts
Red Oak’s downtown area surrounds the veterans memorial at Heritage Fountain Square Park. Clothing, furniture and home goods stores fill the brick and stucco buildings. Val’s Sugar Shack and Neighborhood Bakehouse satisfy sweet tooths, and regional chain Buck Snort offers takeout and table service. Casa de Oro Mexican Restaurant is another local hot spot. “You’ve gotta fight to get a seat in that place,” Bullington says. Ace Westlake Hardware, NEW Cooperative and Hy-Vee grocery store can be found near the grain silos on the western side of the city. Farms, fertilizer suppliers and livestock markets are scattered around the outskirts. “There’s a lot of agriculture in the area,” Bullington says. “Whenever you eat something, there’s a good chance it came from the Midwest.”
National and midcentury ranch-style homes on tidy lots
Narrow shaded streets pass by early 20th-century National and Craftsman-style homes in central residential areas. Lot sizes are typically under a quarter-acre, but properties measuring several acres can be found in the southern part of town. Although many homes include driveways and garages, a lot of cars park on the street. Sidewalks keep pedestrians out of traffic, and the terrain is hilly in places. Nationals and midcentury ranch-style homes cost $50,000 to $150,000. Foursquares, Craftsman and raised ranch-style houses sell for $150,000 to $200,000, but most larger two-story homes cost $250,000 to $375,000. Homes in the southwest section of the city are closest to the Red Oak Sewage Treatment Plant.
Red Oak Junior/Senior High School offers a range of extracurriculars
Students may attend Inman Elementary School, which receives a Niche grade of C-minus, from kindergarten through sixth grade. Plans are underway for a $3 million improvement plan to expand the cafeteria and office area for the elementary school; completion is slated for August 2026. Students at the C-plus-rated Red Oak Junior/Senior High School participate in extracurriculars like the National FFA Organization and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). Under the Students' First Act, funding is available for Iowa students who choose to enroll in one of the state's private schools instead of the public district.
Red Oak parks invite swimming, sledding and skating
Chatauqua Park lies in the shadow of the city’s water tower. A wood-and-stone archway welcomes visitors to the green space, which features a large picnic pavilion, a baseball field, a sledding hill and play areas for older and younger kids. The Red Oak Municipal Pool offers outdoor swimming next to the Montgomery County Family YMCA. Skaters hit the ramps near the shaded playground and picnic areas at Legion Park, and Red Oak Sports Complex features soccer and baseball fields. A boat ramp off West Coolbaugh Street offers access to the East Nishnabotna River.
Shuttle service and health care are available in Red Oak
U.S. Route 34 is the city’s major traffic artery, paving the way for the 50-mile drive to Council Bluffs and Eppley Airfield in Omaha. Southwest Iowa Transit Agency (SWITA) provides residents with on-demand weekday shuttle services and student and medical transport. Health care services are available at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital.
Junction Days event honors the city’s railroad past
Junction Days is held on the last full weekend of June every year. “Originally, this was Red Oak Junction, where the train stopped, so that’s our local hoo-ha,” Bullington says. The festivities run from Thursday through Sunday and include a cornhole tournament, a beverage garden, a fun run, duck races, agricultural exhibits, kids’ activities and a parade.
