They owned a 23.5-hectare site adjacent to the interstate right of way and near the first exit going south into Iowa on I-35.įinancial contributions among the three partners for the rest area/welcome center totaled $2.5 million. is an organization made up of area business and community leaders from Worth and Winnebago counties in north central Iowa. As a result, Iowa DOT received proposals from three organizations, each offering their own financing ideas.Īfter lengthy negotiations, Iowa DOT signed a formal partnership agreement with The I-35/105 Welcome Center Inc. To find that right match, Iowa DOT advertised for potential partners and held an informational meeting. From conceptualization to the grand-opening ceremony held in June, nearly eight years had passed.įinding a "good match" between the needs and wants of the state and a private sector organization can be a challenge. Securing a private partner would prove to be a more difficult task.Įstablishing a public-private partnership can take considerable time. Establishing a partnership between the two state agencies was fairly easy to accomplish. Sharing a facility with IDED also meant the availability of financial assistance to build the combined site.
A combination rest area and welcome center just south of the Minnesota border was a natural. In particular, they were looking for sites at Iowa's gateway areas. While Iowa DOT was attempting to implement its rest area plan, the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) was looking for sites to build additional welcome centers in the state. Involvement by the private sector was one option that could provide a source of capital, saving taxpayer money and expediting construction of the new sites. To carry out the plan, Iowa DOT began exploring various alternative funding sources. To address these needs, Iowa DOT developed a 10-year plan to replace or establish 10 rest areas. Cost of construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of rest area facilities were also of concern. Many sites that were built during the height of the interstate-building era were approaching the end of their useful lives.īesides the problems of age, the spacing of sites and capacities of those facilities were not keeping pace with increased traffic volumes. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) was aware that the physical condition and appearance of some of its rest areas were deteriorating. The story behind this unique barn raising began nearly eight years ago.
The facility is truly a blend of Iowa's rich agricultural history and its booming technology industry. Most visitors are amazed by the contrast between the center's appearance, with the high-beam ceiling and loft of a traditional barn, and the high-tech accommodations, such as an Internet kiosk and road-weather information system.
On the first day alone, more than 6,000 visitors stopped by to take a peak inside this unusual structure. Perhaps one of the most uniquely designed rest areas in the country, Iowa's new welcome center and rest area opened in June to an estimated 635,000 visitors a year. It's the new Top of Iowa Welcome Center and Rest Area. However, this barn is no ordinary block and wood structure. Traveling along Interstate 35 in north central Iowa, just south of the Minnesota border, you might think the bright red barn and checked silo are just another part of the Iowa landscape.
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