Iowa has its own castles in Ida Grove, influenced by an inventor and entrepreneur

Photo byKrswess, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Ida Grove is located in Ida County, Iowa. According to World Population Review, the population is 1,967. I don't think there's another town around as interesting as this one when it comes to its castle-like buildings.

Ida Grove's castles

The image above represents the entrance welcoming you to Ida Grove. The late Byron Godbersen (1925-2003), founder and owner of Midwest Industries, Inc. in Ida Grove, had a passion for castles. He left an amazing legacy.

Godbersen was raised on a farm near Ida Grove and later became an inventor and entrepreneur. The castle-like buildings around Ida Grove began appearing during the 1970s. They are privately owned. Because there are several, it naturally promotes the community. It's no wonder some call it Castletown.

Godbersen's company, Midwest Industries, manufactures marine and small farm equipment and employs hundreds of people. Godbersen also created Lake LaJune in 1969. Named after his wife, LaJune, it was a place to demonstrate its recreational equipment to customers of Midwest. There's also a half-scale reproduction of the HMS Bounty built by the employees of Midwest in 1970 on the lake.

In 1973-1974, Godbersen built a hangar containing a banquet room with a mosaic tile floor, and waterfalls with running water. Godbersen's private plane used to be in the hangar. Today, it displays his wooden model airplanes made in Ida Grove.

Two-and-a-half stores on Second Street in Ida Grove, Iowa.Photo byJohn Margolies, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

There's a castle-like suspension bridge at the Ida Grove Golf & Country Club, stores that look like castles, and a large castle-like roller skating rink.

Photo byIda Grove Skate Palace, Ida Grove via Facebook.

Byron Lee Godbersen, entrepreneur and inventor, died on May 11, 2003, at age 78. He was survived by his wife, one son, and four daughters. Visit the Find-a-Grave record to read more about this interesting man who heavily influenced the town of Ida Grove.

According to the Los Angeles Times,

The man behind it all earned not only a fortune, but more than 50 patents, designation as Iowa small businessman of the year in 1973, induction into the Iowa Inventors Hall of Fame in 1996, and the National Marine Manufacturers Assn. award for lifetime contributions to the industry in 1999. He also earned the gratitude of millions of grain farmers, boaters, model plane enthusiasts and, despite his unusual taste in architecture, most of his neighbors. (Source.)

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