From high caliber stars to acoustic jams in local bars, pioneer days to the computer age, games of chance or a community street dance, it's no wonder Council Bluffs has been named the Iowa Tourism Community in 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2001.

In fact, tourism is a leading industry for Council Bluffs, a historic river city that has made its mark throughout history as "Iowa's Leading Edge."

"Your concert connection," Council Bluffs is the entertainment 'hot spot' of the metro area, especially when it comes to attracting headline, national recording stars.

The community's three casino resorts, Bluffs Run Casino, Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino and Ameristar Casino Hotel, attract more than 10 million visitors annually, placing Council Bluffs among the top 20 gaming resort destinations in the nation.

In fact, Ameristar is the only riverboat facility in the country to receive the American Automobile Association's Four Diamond Rating and one of only four businesses in Iowa to receive the honor.

Though the casino industry has become the area's most recent attraction, Council Bluffs' natural beauty and history remain a major part of its allure. The southern anchor of the National Loess Hills Scenic Byway, the city's outskirts are home to some of the last and best remnants of Iowa prairie. In fact, the Loess Hills were rated among the 10 best scenic byways in the nation by Scenic America.

The Council Bluffs area is also steeped in the history of the Great American West. The Western Historic Trails Center offers visitors a chance to connect with pioneers at what was and remains the 'Crossroads of America.'

The city was a major stop along the Mormon, Oregon and California trails as well as the Lewis & Clark Expedition. In November of 1863, Council Bluffs was also designated eastern terminus of our nation's first transcontinental railroad and boasts the General Dodge House, one of Iowa's premier historical mansions.

Just off of I-29/I-80, Council Bluffs marks the halfway point between Denver and Chicago and the Dakotas and Branson, Mo., - making it a welcoming respite for travelers. And, welcoming people is just second nature to Council Bluffs residents.

Which could explain why etiquette maven Marjabelle Young Stewart, a Washington, D.C., socialite who grew up in Council Bluffs, consistently ranks our city high on her list of 'Courtesy Capitals of the World.'

Next Topic

Previous Topic