Did you know that one of Iowa’s top tourist destinations is hiding a tragic secret? Lake Red Rock – located in the heart of the state and popular for hiking, boating, swimming and fishing – was only able to be created alongside the destruction of six thriving Iowa towns. Read more about this sad and true bit of Iowa history below.

Most Iowans know about Lake Red Rock - it's the largest lake in the state, and a popular summer destination.
Wikimedia Commons
The lake was created as a flood control project in the 1960s, to save local towns and downriver destinations from terrible flooding that had become a public hazard.
Wikimedia Commons
Unfortunately, to create the perfect dam and reservoir, six different towns had to be flooded, and destroyed. The lake takes its name from the largest town, Red Rock.
Marion County
Red Rock itself was a bustling city, with general stores, a church, and a 100 year old school house.
Marion County

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You can see from this photo that Red Rock was an ordinary Iowa town until the flood project took off.
Marion County
Nearby Dunreath was a popular little town with a schoolhouse that closed in 1955
Marion County
The town of Fifield was smaller, but still home to a general store that brought locals together for town gossip and essential food and supplies.
Marion County
Today, visitors to Lake Red Rock can climb to the top of the Cordova Observation Tower, named after one of the lost towns.
Flickr / slappytheseal
From up here, you'll have a sweeping panoramic view of the largest lake in Iowa, and you can reflect on the six lost towns beneath the surface.
Flickr / slappytheseal

Did you know about the towns below Lake Red Rock? If you’re a fan of Iowa history, read more about the strange occurrences in the Hawkeye State here: 7 Horrifying Iowa Stories You Didn’t Learn About In History Class.

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