Attractions in Knoxville, Iowa
Lake Red Rock / Elk Rock State Park
Lake Red Rock, located some six miles north of Knoxville, is the largest lake in the State of Iowa. Lake Red Rock has a number of public boat ramps, miles of paved bicycle and pedestrian trails, public beaches, camping, park grounds, and wildlife and natural habitats. The lake is an excellent recreation and tourist area serving Knoxville and the greater Marion County area.
Knoxville Raceway / Sprint Car National Championships
Knoxville is the home of the Knoxville Raceway, which has earned a solid reputation as the fastest half-mile dirt racetrack in the nation.
The Knoxville Raceway hosts the Sprint Car National Championships, held here each August. The Sprint Car Nationals attract over 150 of the best cars, teams, and drivers in the world, including racing fans from every state in the nation, and several foreign countries.
Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden
The Bessie Spaur Butterfly Garden was created to honor Bessie Spaur, a longtime Knoxville resident and an avid gardener. This unique natural setting combined with community-maintained garden plots provides food for both butterflies and wildlife. The 10-acre garden draws various types of butterflies and other interesting insects. A beautiful gazebo marks the edge of the garden. No admission fee required.Birthplace of the Iowa Flag
A memorial to Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, creator of the Iowa Flag, is located in the Marion County Courtyard. The original design for the Iowa Flag is on display in the rotunda of the Marion County Courthouse.In 1917, the daughters of the American Revolution created a project to design a flag for Iowa soldiers in World War I. On March 29, 1921, the Iowa General Assembly adopted Dixie Cornell Gebhardt's design. The colors of the flag are borrowed from the flag of France who at one time owned the land that would become Iowa. The National bird, the bald eagle, carries a banner with our state motto, "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain." A small stone also marks the home Ms. Gebhardt lived in when she created the flag located just one block south of the courthouse at 214 E Marion Street. Visit inside the courthouse to see additional flag memorabilia and a photo of Ms. Gebhardt.