Life-Size Kaleidoscopes Recognized at 2025 Iowa Tourism Conference
The Iowa Tourism Conference was held in Altoona on March 12-13, 2025. Travel Iowa started off the conference by providing an update on the state of Iowa tourism, alongside their plans for 2025. This portion of the conference was concluded by recognizing the top eight towns or communities that show exceptional efforts to improve and market Iowa tourism.
One of the inaugural “You Rock” Geode Awards was presented to Pocahontas County for their efforts with the Kaleidoscope Project. Parker Aden and MaryJo Litwiller from the Pocahontas Economic Development Visioning Committee accepted the award. “We want to give a big thanks to all the partners who have dedicated their time and resources to this project,” stated Litwiller. “The Kaleidoscope Project continues to be recognized nationally and the visioning committee looks forward to the last five scopes to be completed in the Summer of 2025.”
The final five scopes will be installed in Varina, Palmer, Gilmore City, Havelock, and Plover. They should arrive just in time too for the quasi-centennial celebrations in Varina and Palmer, happening in June and August respectively.
Read during the presentation of the award by Stephanie Neppl from Travel Iowa: “We talk a lot about placemaking when it comes to tourism and leveraging the uniqueness of your community. Pocahontas County has taken this and created a brand new initiative, installing life-size interactive kaleidoscopes across the county. The idea was created by the Inspire PoCo Leadership Group in 2023 and with funding from a Rural Enrichment Grant, came to life. The project is inspired by the late Leonard Olson’s Kaleidoscope Factory, which was in Pocahontas. With multiple kaleidoscopes already installed and more planned – Pocahontas County has created a brand new tourism attraction and reason to visit.”
Those who want to learn more about the kaleidoscopes can do so here. If you want to pick up your own small, personal kaleidoscope to take home, consider a visit to the Kaleidoscope Factory.
