At the Iowa State Fair last year, Iowa Public Television Iowa PBS teased a “Road Trip Iowa” series coming in 2024. Well, it’s here! Sadly, I was not asked to be a consultant.
The press release has one very important sentence, emphasis added: “Season 1 consists of ten 30-minute episodes featuring the businesses, towns and landscapes along the byways of Iowa. Viewers will venture to the Mines of Spain in Dubuque, the Banner Lakes at Summerset State Park, the Salt and Pepper Shaker Gallery in Traer and other destinations around the state.”
Traer is not along any of Iowa’s 14 official scenic byways. It is, however, reasonably close to the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway, which goes from US 30 north of Montour southeast to the Amanas.
According to Advance magazine, the first episode debuts tonight and it will be the Western Skies Scenic Byway (Stuart to Missouri Valley). That will be followed by two-parters on the Jefferson Highway and Great River Road. I believe the Lincoln Highway will be in the second season.
The press release also says: “Iowa PBS will host three trivia nights to celebrate the launch of the new series. These competitive and entertaining events will take place on April 29 in Iowa Falls, May 1 in Clinton and May 10 in Harlan.”
Trivia? About Iowa’s scenic byways? Hmmmm…..