Things To Do In Sheffield Iowa | Small Town USA

Sheffield, Iowa is a town of 1100 people, 30 minutes south of both Clear Lake and Mason City.  It’s the location of the main manufacturing facility and the global head quarters for the Sukup Manufacturing Co. (A company which makes grain bins and dryers).  Thanks to this factory, the Casey’s General Store in Sheffield is the 3rd highest preforming Casey’s in the whole of Iowa!

Disclosure AD: My stay in Sheffield was hosted, however opinions are always my own.

Things To Do In Sheffield Iowa

• 🛍️Reborn In A Barn
• 🎃Enchanted Acres
• 🚶🏻‍♀️Path of Progress
• 🏊🏻‍♀️Sheffield Aquatic Center
• ☕️Block 10 at City Hall
• 🍔West Fork Wharf
• ⛳️Ridge Stone Golf Club
• 🛏️Country Heritage B&B

Reborn In A Barn

Another business in town is ‘Reborn In A Barn‘. It only opens for 3 days a month between May and November. It sells 2nd hand goods and antiques, up-cycled items and products made from scratch. There’s even a private workshop on-site, hidden at the back!  

I was given access to the barns during my visit. I couldn’t believe how much stuff there was on display! The barn is huge and dates back to 1949. Judy purchased the barn back in 2009. It took 5 years of love to restore it and turn it into what you can see and experience today!

Enchanted Acres

Enchanted Acres pumpkin patch is open during September and October. It offers various events for both adults and children as well as all the usual pumpkin patch ‘attractions’!

Some of my highlights from 2018 include: the homemade jellies (which I ate with my British scone mix!) and goat yoga. The goat yoga session I attended pulled in a huge crowd of adults! I also really loved the idea of the ‘toast your own s’mores’ fire-pit/swinging bench area!

Related reading: Pumpkin Patches in Iowa (North East)

Path of Progress

The Sheffield ‘Path of Progress’ is a walking/cycling trail that’s just over 3.5 miles long. Part of it is paved and the rest is gravel. It runs along what used to be an old train line between Sheffield and Chapin.  

There are benches along the first part of the route and a nice bridge over the Bailey Creek river (which was built and donated by Sukup). The route goes past lots of corn fields, a couple of ponds and a brickyard.

Sheffield Aquatic Center

During the summer season Sheffield Aquatic Center outdoor pool costs just $3(!!!) for a day pass! This is a brilliant price. If you live in or near Sheffield, you can buy annual passes as well as family passes, which give you unlimited swims for the season.

If it had have been hot during my visit (and the pool had actually filled with water…) I would have definitely stopped by for a swim! They even have a time that’s reserved just for adult swim.

There are a few other small parks in the town with gazebos and play equipment. One has a free public toilets which was open, clean AND had toilet roll (major kudos!).

Block 10 at City Hall

There aren’t many places to choose from in Sheffield but all the places I went served up great food! I had both lunch and breakfast at ‘Block 10 at 1921 City Hall‘. It doubles up as a coffee shop and a bakery too! The french toast for breakfast was lovely and I’m craving their flavoured cappuccinos! I chose coconut syrup in mine and now regular coffee is just plain boring!

Block 10 at 1921 City Hall is open Tuesday until Friday from 8am-2pm.  I was given a tour of the building and I was shocked, it looks small from the front but it’s massive inside with 2 large function rooms on top of the 2 smaller rooms with the cafe seating. There’s even an old fashioned jail cell in the men’s toilets! The function rooms are also rented out for events such as weddings.

West Fork Wharf

The West Fork Wharf serves up great dinners.  I asked the owner what he’d recommend off the menu, he suggested the steaks or burgers. Even the locals were ‘bigging up’ the burgers! I have to admit, they made a good choice!

Ridge Stone Golf Club

On the edge of town is the Ridge Stone Golf Club. This 9 hole course welcomes all types of golfers, including children!

What makes this course cool, is that it was ‘built’ on the site of the old Sheffield Brick and Tile Company (est. 1908). Ruins of the old brick kilns are still visible on hole 4 and acts as a playable hazard. The course also features lots of cute little bridges, my favourite being the mini iron style ‘James Bridge’!

The Brickyard Bistro in the clubhouse serves lunch and dinner. I stopped by for lunch and had a grilled chicken salad which was lovely!

I was talking to the clubhouse owner, as I was intrigued to find out what happens to golf courses in Iowa when the snow moves in for months at a time. They are hoping to keep the clubhouse open, in some sort of capacity, throughout the winter. I think it’s brilliant as the restaurant has amazing views that would look great in the snow or no snow!

The clubhouse can also be rented as a meeting/wedding venue which can hold up to 325 people.

Country Heritage B&B – Hampton Iowa

I didn’t actually stay in Sheffield, I stayed at the Country Heritage B&B in the nearby town of Hampton. It operates more as a whole house rental property now (available on Airbnb) rather than a traditional B&B…and it’s awesome!  

It has 7 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms and can sleep up to 15 people. The room I stayed in had a private balcony, a bath and shower and the toilet had a cushioned toilet seat (AMAZING!!!).  There’s an outdoor grill and gazebo, 2 friendly goats and a silo! The B&B is surrounded by fields and I was treated to a great sunset on the night of my stay!

I was talking to the owner of the Country Heritage B&B who is lovely! She was telling me about how the property is popular with families that rent the whole house for annual gatherings etc. It just so happens to be central for people travelling from various places. My extended family once hired a whole hotel for a wedding. We had SO much fun all being together so I can see why this is a popular option!

Last Updated on February 28, 2024