Plan Your... Group Tour

Arrive at the John Deere Tractor Assembly and see how the large green tractors are manufactured. It’s the only location in North America that manufactures these tractors! The narrated trolley ride takes you through the complete process until the tractor rolls off the assembly line. Afterwards, shop in the gift shop “Deere Crossing.” Free tours are offered Monday – Friday at 8:00am, 10:00am, and 1:00pm.

Travel a short distance to the world famous Galleria De Paco “Sistine Chapel Ceiling” Restaurant for lunch. The artist Paco Rosic created this breathtaking masterpiece using 5,200 cans of Krylon spray paint as he lay on scaffolding for 4 months. Visitors from all over the world come to dine under this masterpiece. Homemade breads, savory soups, and scrumptious desserts make this experience a dining delight!

A few blocks away is the Grout Museum District where you can “Touch, See, and Feel” the history. The "Engine of the Heartland" exhibit reviews the history of industry in our area. Waterloo was home to at least 10 automobile manufacturing companies in the early 1900's, automobiles which included the Dart and the Maytag. You have the opportunity to view the evolution of Waterloo from a small county-seat town into a Midwest industrial center. Machines of transportation and power are featured, along with agri-production, food processing, farm implement manufacturing, and printing. Step back in time with a visit to Waterloo’s oldest Victorian mansion, the Rensselaer Russell House, filled with belongings of three generations of the Russell Family. The brand new 30,000 square foot Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors all veterans from Civil War to present day with its mix of oral veteran histories, vintage military films, and interactive exhibits. Named after Waterloo’s WWII heroes the Five Sullivan Brothers, this experience puts you inside of a fighter plane and tank to atop the bow of a reconstructed USS Juneau that is viewable and extended from the first floor to the museums second level. Other exhibits include the interior of a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter, the front of a Korean war-era jet fighter, WWII Pacific theater plus generations of memories from Civil War to present day.

Check-in to one of Waterloo’s fine group friendly hotels

Take a short drive to enjoy a delicious, gourmet 3-course dinner by award winning Chef Lidija Golub at the new ArtHouse Café located inside the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Then a few steps down the hallway is the Hope Martin Theatre home of the Waterloo Community Playhouse. Since 1916, this theatrical company is one of the oldest and largest in Iowa. They present the best in classics, modern comedies, drama, musicals, and mysteries. Performances are scheduled every six weeks. They always have a summer musical in July and a holiday production in December. Sit back, relax. It’s Showtime! After the production, test your luck at one of Iowa’s newest casino’s the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo.

DAY 2

Rise and shine after a great night’s sleep and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast at your hotel.

Take a behind the scenes tour of Petersen & Tietz Florist and Greenhouses. Since 1934, this third generation business specializes in mums, poinsettias and orchids that they wholesale all over the U.S. Different topics include horticultural therapy with the aspects of scrubbing the air like in the NASA Space Station, decorating your home with plants, to owner Heidi offering her helpful hints like she does each Saturday morning on our local TV Channel for the “Weekend Gardner.”

Enter a world of discovery at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. This 21,000 square foot facility chronicles the sport of wrestling back some 5,000 years. Gable won three state wrestling championships at Waterloo West High School, two NCAA titles at Iowa State University, and an Olympic championship as a competitor. As a coach he won 15 NCAA titles in 21 seasons at the University of Iowa. The museum holds more than 350 books including one that was published in 1727, thousands of artifacts, dozens or display cases, a video room, Dan's Olympic uniform, collegiate wrestling history from 1986 to present, and an actual wrestling ring. The museum stresses the value and impact of Gable's life and many accomplishments, providing inspiration and motivation to younger generations of athletes. Gift shop on site.

Have a delightful catered luncheon at the historic Snowden House built in 1881 and the home of the Waterloo Women’s Club.

Just a two blocks away, tour of up to seven 100-year old churches all located within a two-block area in Historic Church Row Neighborhood. A behind the scenes tour on these prominent Waterloo churches and how with faith they have survived through the years all located within blocks of the downtown area. Religions represented are Greek Orthodox, First Baptist, Presbyterian, First Congregational, United Methodist, American Lutheran, and the Catholic Church. Each church has their own prominence in architecture from over millions of dollars in stained glass windows to the largest pipe organ this side of the Mississippi when it was installed. Tour a couple of them then have a refreshing afternoon break in one of them.

Artistry at its best! The Waterloo Center for the Arts presents a full program of exhibitions & works from its permanent collection as well as changing temporary exhibits of works by regional and international artists. Permanent collections include paintings by Grant Wood, Marvin Cone, and Thomas Hart Benton. They have the largest public collection of Haitian art in the United States featuring colorful paintings, powerful metal sculpture, and glittering beaded and sequined banners. Exhibits extend outside the walls of the WCA into the surrounding tranquil sculpture gardens along the scenic Riverwalk and waterfall fountain near the main entrance. They offer workshops and classes for your group from drawing, pottery, jewelry making, digital photography, and video editing. The WCA Gift Store sells original fine arts & crafts created by over 160 Midwest artists.

Let’s make butter! Hansen’s Dairy Farm where you can enjoy the hands on experience visiting this 240 acre, 170 head dairy farm. A guided tour takes you through the process of getting milk to your table: milking parlor, feeding facility, cow barns, feed shed, creamery, and farm equipment. Feed a baby calf or hand milk a cow.

Whoa! Take a horse drawn wagon ride (or sleigh ride during the winter months) out along the banks of Black Hawk Creek past a rustic cabin in the woods to a 100-year old barn where you have a great home cooked meal at Heritage Farm. Afterwards, have a sing-a-long with Ruthie on the upright piano. There several building full of farm implements and old wagons you can view along with the native farm animals walking around the grounds.