This Romantic Iowa Castle is the Perfect Place to Bring a Date

If you're local to Iowa, then you may have heard of the tower at Eagle Point Park in Clinton. If you haven't, it's worth checking out for its spectacular panoramic views of the Mississippi, as well as the fact that it looks like it could be straight out of a fairytale. It's no wonder that children flock to the tower to play pretend.

Adding to the romance factor is that photographers often use the tower as a backdrop for wedding photos. The Lodge at Eagle Point is a popular wedding venue, so it only makes sense to utilize the tower. I would venture to guess that plenty of prom photos, first dates, and engagements have also taken place there.

There isn't much inside the castle besides a spiral staircase, but the payoff is pretty significant once you get to the top and see the view of the Mississippi. The nearby stone bridges and recirculating waterfall add to the charming setting.

The background story of the tower (and the Lodge) is pretty interesting- Clinton experienced some rough side effects of the Depression in the early 30's, but the park board was lucky enough to receive three million dollars in funds from the Work Progress Administration. The WPA was a government program to help employ people during the Depression, and it most definitely paid off for Eagle Point. With the help of the WPA funds, the Lodge, tower, and trails were created and are clearly still being enjoyed to this day.

If you're interested in checking out the tower, Eagle Point is just a quick thirty mile trip up the river. We highly suggest grabbing a blanket, a picnic lunch, and your significant other, and making an afternoon of it.