Iowa Speedway – Area Bucket List
Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, is a track designed by former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, ensuring that it’s top of the line and ideal for drivers. In addition to watching races, visitors to the Iowa Speedway can bring the whole family to the Crash Course activity center. There, kids can enjoy oversized games, miniature golf, pedal bikes, airbrush tattoos, and caricatures.
While the Iowa Speedway is a fun destination, more activities await you in the surrounding area. Newton has experiences for everyone to enjoy, no matter their age. The best part is that these attractions are all less than 15 minutes from Iowa Speedway.
Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
An escape from the hustle and bustle of the Iowa Speedway can be found eight minutes away at the Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. This six-acre gem features various plants, flowers, and 185 trees of 150 different species. Guests can take a serene stroll along the paths, enjoy the diverse plant life, and admire water features like the koi fish pond.
In addition to plant life, the Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is home to a community art and nature center. The botanical gardens in part, due to the tireless volunteers that spend lots of time maintaining it. The lush plant life adds beauty to the Iowa area and introduces visitors to species that don’t grow naturally in the state.
Jasper County Historical Museum
Visitors to Iowa Speedway can learn more about the surrounding area by visiting Jasper County Historical Museum. The exhibits there take guests on a journey through Jasper County’s past. Exhibits include reconstructions of a Victorian room, a rural school, a general store, barbershop, and a post office.
Other exhibits, such as the agricultural exhibit, contain interesting artifacts like a vintage potato digger, seed cleaners, horse-drawn buggies, antique tools, and a steam tractor. The Jasper County Historical Museum is a nice museum you can easily stop by while visiting Iowa Speedway.
Newton Kart Klub
Do you enjoy your time on the racetrack? Stop by Newton Kart Klub, only 11 minutes from Iowa Speedway. Newton Kart Klub offers a safe, family-friendly experience where guests can burn some rubber in go-karts.
Hop in and be part of the action by racing against other drivers. Kids have the opportunity to win trophies just like the professionals. Even if you’re not karting yourself, it’s a great place to stop by for some affordable, family-friendly fun.
Maytag Dairy Farms
Maytag is a household name, thanks to the Maytag washing machine. But there is much more to the Maytag family than just appliances. 13 minutes from Iowa Speedway is Maytag Dairy Farms, a family-owned farm that creates some of the best cheese in the area.
The farm has been family-run for four generations, spanning 80 years. Every single wheel of Maytag cheese is produced at the farm, aged in their caves, and wrapped by hand. Visitors can stop by to sample delicious cheeses and take a walking tour of their farm and packaging department. Guests will see a display of old milking equipment, and guides share the history of the farm.
At the end of the tour, everyone gets to sample Maytag’s award-winning cheese. You may very well end up with some to go! Many past patrons recommend the blue cheese. Maytag Dairy Farms is certainly worth a stop when in the Newton area.
Valle Drive-In
Drive-in movie theaters are a beloved American tradition. They’re a wonderful way to spend a summer night, and visitors to Iowa Speedway have the opportunity to visit one.
13 minutes from the venue is Valle Drive-In, a family-favorite destination. Previous visitors have commended Valle Drive-In for their friendly staff and great selection of movies. At $8 per person, admission is impressively affordable, and you’re able to bring your own snacks. Nowhere else can you have a movie night out with your family for that price!
Valle Drive-In fills up quickly, as it’s a popular destination for everyone in the area. With this in mind, head over early and grab a good spot. Valle Drive-In is a fantastic value for a night out in Newton.
Capitol II Theatre
In downtown Newton is Capitol II Theatre, which was built in 1927 by Fred Maytag, the founder of the Maytag Washing Machine Company. He built the theater inside the Hotel Maytag Building, and people have been visiting ever since.
When it was first built, Capitol II Theatre was one of the largest theaters in Iowa and contained almost 1,000 seats. Crowds filled the venue to watch silent films, while full-sized orchestras played live music to accompany every show. In the mid-1930s, Capitol II Theatre installed air conditioning, and people flocked to it. It was one of the only movie theaters to have air conditioning at that time.
Over the years, Capitol II Theatre has been owned by multiple theater chains before the Bleeker family purchased it in 2012. The most unique part about the new owners is their pet pig, Joy. Joy is a regular at the theater, relaxing inside or and greeting visitors outside. She even has her own “dressing room” with a window to the outside, so visitors can stop by and see her. All in all, Capitol II Theatre is a great place to visit, whether you’re watching a movie or just strolling by to see the movie theater pig.
Centre for Arts & Artists
Explore your creative side at Centre for Arts & Artists, a creative space is less than 15 minutes from Iowa Speedway. This unique artspace is located inside of a former lumberyard and was completely transformed thanks to the work of tireless volunteers.
At the Centre for Arts & Artists, you can view multiple art displays, get your hands dirty in the clay room, drink wine as you paint, or encourage your kid to express themselves. During the summer, children’s art classes are only $5. It’s a great addition to the Newton community and worth a visit for any Iowa Speedway visitor interested in art.