About this event
The plan is to drive from BMW Des Moines and end in the Old Market in Omaha NE. We will meet at BMW DSM at 830 with the signing of waivers and drivers meeting at 845 and be wheels up at 9am. From there we will travel along scenic highways and bi-ways to a small little shop on the pork tenderloin trail (https://www.iowapork.org/tenderloin-trail/) called the Dairy Sweet located in Dunlap, Ia. They have been on the tenderloin trail for the last couple of years and won Iowa's best pork tenderloin in 2005. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the only thing they are good at is making tenderloins though. They have delicious fresh ground burgers, chicken, and ice cream for anyone to enjoy.
After enjoying some delicious Iowa comfort food we will continue on our route winding through the Loess Hills to our afternoon pit stop located just west on Highway 30 from Missouri Valley called DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge. This location is a national wildlife refuge and the home to an ox bow lake that was created when the Army Corps of Engineers moved the main channel of the Missouri River further to the west in 1960. It is also the location where the steam ship the Bertrand sank in 1865. Their visitors center has over 250,000 artifacts from the sunken steamer. The park is also a stop over for migrating ducks and geese but include many other forms of birds and mammals to see.
Once done at the park it is a quick interstate jaunt down to the Old Market for people check into their hotel rooms and we will then meet later in the evening to hand out trophies for the winners and not winners seeing who was the most observant along their journey and enjoy another delicious meal. The prizes are still being worked on, but I can tell you 1st place will receive 100% of their entry fee back, 2nd place will receive 75% of their entry fee back, and 3rd place will receive 50% of their entry fee back. Yes there is an entry fee it is $0.
There are several hotel options that people can choose from.
Hyatt Place Old Market 540 S 12th Omaha 402-513-5500
Embassy Suites 555 S 10th Omaha 402-346-9000
Overland Hotel 1218 Howard St. Omaha 402-496-0022
Hotel Deco 1504 Harney St. Omaha 402-991-4981
Magnolia Hotel Omaha 1615 Howard St. Omaha 402-341-2500
Sundays options are to meet and take a trip to the world famous The Henry Doorly Zoo or shopping around in the Old Market.