Ames
Around Ames
Photo: Jim Roberts · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Iowa · 129k people
Ames
Home of the Cyclones, where cornfields meet campus life.
CardinalGold
Welcome to Ames, home of the Cyclones! Whether you're here for the university, the small-town charm, or the great outdoors, you'll find a friendly community. Enjoy a tenderloin, catch a game, and explore the trails.
Clubs for Ames
No clubs for Ames yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Ames. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Ames. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Iowa State University campus Historic central campus with iconic campanile and green spaces
- Jack Trice Stadium Home of Cyclones football, named after a legendary player
- Reiman Gardens 17-acre public garden on ISU campus
- Ada Hayden Heritage Park 445-acre lake and prairie park with trails
- Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad Heritage railroad with vintage train rides
- Ledges State Park Sandstone cliffs and trails along the Des Moines River
- Outdoors Bike the High Trestle Trail
- Outdoors Hike at Ledges State Park
- With kids Visit Reiman Gardens
- With kids Go to Ada Hayden Heritage Park
- Evenings Welch Avenue bars
- Evenings Maintenance Shop
- Locals love Coffee shops
- Locals love Farmers markets
Through the year
- Iowa State Cyclones football games Fall Fall Saturdays at Jack Trice Stadium
- Iowa State Cyclones basketball games Winter Winter games at Hilton Coliseum
- Ames Main Street Farmers Market Summer Local produce, crafts, and food vendors
- Octagon Arts Festival Summer Community arts celebration in downtown Ames
- Boone County Fair Summer County fair with livestock, rides, and food
Ames has hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Spring brings thunderstorms and tornado watches, while fall is crisp and pleasant. Best: Late spring and early fall are ideal for being outside.
Talk like a local
- “Campustown”
- The area around Iowa State University
- “Cy”
- Short for Cyclone, the ISU mascot
- “Hilton”
- Hilton Coliseum, the basketball arena
- “Jack Trice”
- Jack Trice Stadium, the football field
Getaways
- Des Moines City attractions, museums, and dining
- Marshalltown Small-town charm and local history
- Fort Dodge Historic sites and riverfront
- Pella Unique architecture and bakeries
Local flavour
Teams
- Iowa State Cyclones NCAA Division I (Big 12)
Also rooting for Iowa Hawkeyes, Minnesota Vikings
Eat and drink
- Breaded pork tenderloin sandwich A classic Iowa sandwich with a thin, pounded, breaded pork cutlet.
- Iowa sweet corn Fresh corn on the cob, a summer staple.
- Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich Ground beef seasoned and served on a bun, a regional chain from Iowa.
- Casey's pizza Gas-station chain known for made-to-order pizza, popular across Iowa.
Where people go
- Iowa State University campus The heart of Ames, with the iconic Campanile and historic buildings.
- Cornfields and farmland The surrounding landscape is dominated by corn and soybean fields.
- Small-town main streets Downtown areas in Ames, Boone, Nevada, and Story City with local shops and diners.
- Jack Trice Stadium Home of Iowa State Cyclones football, known for tailgating.
Heritage and traditions
Ames is proud of its Cyclone spirit, its friendly small-town feel, and its deep roots in agriculture and education, anchored by Iowa State University.
This time of year in Ames
- Fall: Cyclone football tailgating Fall Crowds gather in Cyclone Alley for grilling, games, and school spirit.
- ISU Homecoming Fall (October) A week of alumni events, a parade, and the Cyclones' home football game.
Say it like a local: “Ope” — Expression of surprise or polite apology when bumping into someone
Festivals
- Pufferbilly Days Summer (usually June) Boone's railroad heritage festival with parades, steam engines, and live music.
- Story City Scandinavian Days Summer (usually July) Celebrates Scandinavian heritage with food, music, and crafts in Story City.
- ISU Homecoming Fall (October) A week of alumni events, a parade, and the Cyclones' home football game.
Landmarks with a story
- Story County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Nevada, Iowa, built in 1899, a landmark of local government.
- Boone County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Boone, Iowa, dating from 1911, with a classic domed design.
- The Farm House Museum The oldest building on the ISU campus, a farmhouse from the 1860s that now serves as a museum.
Food traditions
- Cyclone game-day tailgating Grilling burgers, brats, and pork tenderloins before football games at Jack Trice Stadium.
- Scandinavian lefse and krumkake Norwegian flatbread and rolled cookies, often found at Story City's Scandinavian Days.
Music and arts
- The Maintenance Shop (M-Shop) A student-run music venue at ISU that has hosted famous acts like Nirvana and Bob Dylan.
- Cyclone Marching Band Known for its high-energy performances and 'Cyclone Power' traditions.
A little history
- 1858 Iowa State University founded as Iowa Agricultural College
- 1937–1942 Atanasoff-Berry Computer, the first electronic digital computer, developed at ISU
- 1923 Jack Trice, an African American football player, dies from injuries sustained in a game; later honored with the stadium name
- 1864 Ames founded as a railroad town along the Chicago & North Western line
- 1947 Ames Laboratory established as a U.S. Department of Energy research lab
Rivalries
- Iowa State vs Iowa Hawkeyes (Cy-Hawk) Annual football and basketball matchups
- Iowa State vs Kansas State (Farmageddon) Football rivalry between land-grant schools
- Game day Cyclone Alley tailgating
- Game day Hilton Magic
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing at Ada Hayden Heritage Park
- Outdoors Birdwatching at Ledges State Park
- With kids Ride the Story City Carousel
- With kids Visit the Ames Public Library
People in Ames speak with a standard Midwestern accent, often using 'pop' for soda and 'you bet' as an affirmative. You'll hear 'ope' as an expression of surprise or apology.
Only here
- The Campanile at ISU plays songs on weekdays and at special events.
- The High Trestle Trail bridge has a blue-light tunnel that lights up at night.
- Cyclone Alley is the tailgating area at Jack Trice Stadium, packed on game days.
- The Story City Carousel is a historic carousel still operating in Story City.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'Cyclone' and 'Hilton Magic' to fit in with locals.
- Prepare for cold winters and hot, humid summers; dress in layers.
- Try a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich—it's bigger than the bun.
- Use a bike to get around; Ames is very bike-friendly with trails.
- ISU events cause traffic and parking changes, so plan ahead on game days.
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Part of Des Moines area
Nearby
Every areaDes MoinesIowaWhere the heartland meets the fairWebster CityIowaWhere the cornfields meet the horizon.MarshalltownIowaWhere the heart of Iowa beats with small-town warmth.Iowa FallsIowaWhere the Iowa River runs through the heartlandSac CityIowaWhere the corn meets the lakeFort DodgeIowaWhere the prairie meets the riverPellaIowaLocal rooms for Pella.CarrollIowaWhere the cornfields meet the sky.
Ames, IA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.