Riceville, Iowa, is a community of roughly 900 and a dual county town, partly located in Mitchell County and partly in Howard County. The town’s northeast Iowa location is strongly centered around the area’s rural economy. The many Amish and Mennonite families that reside in the area add to the area’s rural charm.
Riceville offers a lot for people to see and do. Riceville’s public library is home to five of the Brown Opera House stage curtains, which are full size vaudeville curtains painted as scenery and as advertisements. Several thousand dollars were put to use to restore the curtains in 1980 after their use in the early 1900s. Now they are a very popular area attraction.
More fun is waiting at nearby Lake Hendricks, an ideal place for many activities such as camping, swimming, fishing, and even just relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors. In close proximity are recreational trails, an added feature of the area. Visitors have access to stay at one of the more than 200 campsites, playground equipment and picnic shelters that are all overseen by a full-time park attendant.
The 18-mile Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail connects Iowa and Minnesota and also runs through Riceville, winding through the Lake Hendricks Park. Anyone traveling the trail will find the beauty of wildflowers, prairie grasses and a butterfly garden. Also along the way, you’ll observe a number of Amish settlements.
Riceville is also a well-established community for its residents. The K-12 school system, businesses in a variety of different industries, recreational opportunities, and health care services all help make Riceville a great town in which to live.
Riceville’s 9-hole course has been around for more than 40 years and is taken advantage of by many. Each year the Wapsi Day Festival takes place and is packed with entertaining activities and performances.
