Things get a little medieval when you drive into western Iowa. The town of Ida Grove, Pop. 2,100, is a land of castles. Yes, castles. You’ll see these castles all over town, the brainchild of a local businessman in the 1970s who was a big fan of the medieval structures. There’s a castle hanger out at the airport, a castle at the entrance to town, and a castle that serves as a newspaper office. Ida Grove has embraced the quirky claim to fame – it calls itself “Castletown USA.”

The castles are largely privately owned, but there’s one you can get into – as long as you don’t mind wearing a pair of roller skates. Read on to see why the Skate Palace offers a decidedly royal skating experience.

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The Skate Palace is located about an hour east of Sioux City. The rink is open seasonally – check its Facebook Page for the latest information. Learn more about the unique castles of Ida Grove here.

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