GRAB A SEAT

• The Bowlus Fine Arts Center is Iola’s crown jewel and the region’s premier performing arts institution. Its 700+ seat auditorium brings entertainment other communities our size could only dream of.
• Restaurants: Great barbecue. Grass-fed local steaks. Mexican. Chinese. Pizza, pasta and the neighborhood spots to grab a delicious burger, a pick-me-up latte, or freshly baked bagels. You won’t go hungry (or thirsty) here.
• Sterling Six Cinema
• Rest easy: Experience the Lofts, Super 8, America’s Inn, Be The Light Suite and more offer tons of places to stay.
• Home to America’s largest town square, downtown Iola offers a wide variety of attractions, including restaurants, shopping and a local museum, all centrally located.

RAISE THE BAR

• Allen Community College: Allen Community College provides a thriving campus for over 2,000 students. With a variety of Associates degrees, career and technical certificates and online learning, there’s something for everyone.
• Thanks to a bond issue that passed in April 2019, our USD 257 has built a brand-new K-5 elementary school. The state-of-the-art building brings a world of benefits for our educators, students and their families.
• Iola High School Science and Tech Center. The bond issue also included a brand-new 9-12 science and tech center, along with a new cafeteria.
• USD 257’s innovative Regional Rural Technical Center offers wind energy, health occupations, welding and construction technology programs to high school juniors and seniors.

GET OUTSIDE

• Lehigh Portland Trails: Take advantage of over 13 miles of gravel-surfaced and natural-surface trails. Free and open to the public, it’s the perfect place to bike, hike, run, explore and picnic.
• Prairie Spirit Trails: Iola is a hub on this 52-mile-long path weaving through forest, prairie and small towns. The trail stretches from Ottawa to Humboldt, our neighbor community to the south.
• Humboldt Speedway: Located between Iola and Humboldt, it’s the place to be on Friday night. Features USRA races.

STAY HEALTHY

• Iola is home to Allen County Regional Hospital. Built in 2013, the 25-bed critical access hospital is leased to the St. Luke’s Health System. Certified as a Level-IV Trauma Center.
• G&W Foods: Local grocery stores are pillars of our community. We have a brand-new one built in 2018, that brings healthy foods and local produce to our community.
• Thrive Allen County: A local non-profit that provides key leadership on economic development, public health initiatives and community engagement—among a host of other issues—Iola Industries, along with the City of Iola and Allen County, has worked with Thrive Allen County to coordinate providing what businesses need to flourish.

IN THE KNOW

• Since 1867, The Iola Register has told the story of Allen County. Publishing five days a week and with a robust website, this locally owned newspaper connects our community and provides a wonderful way to stay informed about all things Iola.
• The Iola Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism provides the support businesses need.

LEND A HAND

Iola is home to a thriving civic society. Our community is fortunate to have a wide variety of clubs, volunteer organizations and non-profits that help make Iola what it is. There’s something for everyone! Here’s a short list to help you get plugged into Iola’s wider community.

• Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF)
• Allen County GROW
• Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA of 31st District)
• Elks Lodge #569
• Iola Masonic Lodge #38
• Kiwanis Club of Iola
• Rotary Club of Iola
• Scout Troop #55 of Iola, Kansas
• Your Community Foundation