Urban Exploration: Des Moines Edition

[Farnsworth]

I ran across a posting in the DSM subreddit about Merle Hay Mall, and it got me thinking of the old (and epic) Ames Urban Exploration thread.

I've also seen some weird things along bike trails I've always wondered if there was more information on.

Where are some good places in Des Moines to explore, or history that might not be known to most residents?


Merle Hay Mall's Underground Secret:

Merle Hay Mall's underground secret

Several dolls were placed in part of the underground area, and they keep changing location.

www.axios.com

Des Moines Streetcar Line:

History buffs work to create monument to Des Moines' streetcars with Waveland Trolley Loop park

The park will preserve the site near Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines where the trolley looped back east after dropping off golfers.

www.desmoinesregister.com

Night in Des Moines : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Night views of commercial and public buildings in Des Moines, Iowa.

archive.org

EDIT: Pro-Tip: Use Incognito to open the Rag links.

 

[Farnsworth]

From the vault: Where did Merle Hay Mall's naked angel on tricycle sculpture land?

UpDown, a sculpture by California artist Mark Jacobsen, dominated the west wing of Merle Hay Mall for more than two decades.

www.desmoinesregister.com

 

[cysdaone]

I remember the downstairs to Merle Hay Mall. It was cool to see pictures of it. What's crazy is that Merle Hay now seems to be doing a lot better than Valley West. Merle Hay is adding more entertainment like Game Day arcade, the bowling alley and Flix. Merle Hay seems to be active and it feels like a lot more people go there now compared to Valley West. There are tons of empty stores at Valley West, which was the opposite a few years ago.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

I remember the downstairs to Merle Hay Mall. It was cool to see pictures of it. What's crazy is that Merle Hay now seems to be doing a lot better than Valley West. Merle Hay is adding more entertainment like Game Day arcade, the bowling alley and Flix. Merle Hay seems to be active and it feels like a lot more people go there now compared to Valley West. There are tons of empty stores at Valley West, which was the opposite a few years ago.

Once Von Maur leaves Valley West might as well be bulldozed and turned into Top Golf.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Des Moines Streetcar Line:

History buffs work to create monument to Des Moines' streetcars with Waveland Trolley Loop park

The park will preserve the site near Waveland Golf Course in Des Moines where the trolley looped back east after dropping off golfers.

www.desmoinesregister.com

The project that is in the middle of construction on Ingersoll right now had trolley tracks underneath the road. Pretty cool, but a pain in the arse to get out.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Once Von Maur leaves Valley West might as well be bulldozed and turned into Top Golf.

I think there are already plans for that site but not a Top Golf.

 

[khardbored]

I remember as a kid going to the basement bowling alley at Merle Hay and playing "Rampage" in their tiny arcade.

 

[cayin]

I remember as a kid going to the basement bowling alley at Merle Hay and playing "Rampage" in their tiny arcade.

I remember that bowling ally too. Late 70s for me.

 

[deadeyededric]

The metro is in desperate need of a real outdoor music venue. They can't build a 15k seat amphitheater out in Waukee or something?

 

[JP4CY]

The metro is in desperate need of a real outdoor music venue. They can't build a 15k seat amphitheater out in Waukee or something?

I think their answer is the new stage in floodville/Waterworks

 

[NoCreativity]

The metro is in desperate need of a real outdoor music venue. They can't build a 15k seat amphitheater out in Waukee or something?

We don't need an amphitheater. We have Brenton Skating Sauna now for all the summer outdoor shows.

 

[NoCreativity]

The metro is in desperate need of a real outdoor music venue. They can't build a 15k seat amphitheater out in Waukee or something?

There was actually talk of building a large amphitheater in Pleasant Hill off Unversity about 10 years ago. Their plans must have fell through though because I haven't heard of anything since.

 

[NorthCyd]

From the vault: Where did Merle Hay Mall's naked angel on tricycle sculpture land?

UpDown, a sculpture by California artist Mark Jacobsen, dominated the west wing of Merle Hay Mall for more than two decades.

www.desmoinesregister.com

I always thought that statue was interesting when I was a kid, and I didn't even realize you could see his junk for years. Then one day I was like "Woh!".

 

[Farnsworth]

Come on, someone has to have some cool places or stories to check out in DSM.

 

[Humanjukebox]

Historical Photos - Beaverdale Neighborhood Association

www.beaverdale.org

Here's some from my old neighborhood in Beaverdale. One of the old photos shows the trolley on the boulevard of Urbandale Avenue, and those tracks were still there in the 70's when we would walk to school. Also shows how the business district on Beaver and Urbandale Avenues has changed over the years.

 

[baller21]

The metro is in desperate need of a real outdoor music venue. They can't build a 15k seat amphitheater out in Waukee or something?

They approved a new entertainment district two years ago in Waukee but Covid obviously pushed that back.

New 40-acre entertainment district approved in Waukee hopes to entertain all ages

The Quarter "plans to bring an entertainment venue that will host at least 75 nights of events a year, multiple hotels and an office park

amp.desmoinesregister.com

Live Nation also signed on for a new 3000 seat venue.

Live Nation, the largest concert promoter in the US, to open venue in Waukee's KeeTown Loop

The massive KeeTown Loop will have a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, owned by Live Nation. It will be Live Nation's first Iowa location.

amp.desmoinesregister.com

 

[deadeyededric]

They approved a new entertainment district two years ago in Waukee but Covid obviously pushed that back.

New 40-acre entertainment district approved in Waukee hopes to entertain all ages

The Quarter "plans to bring an entertainment venue that will host at least 75 nights of events a year, multiple hotels and an office park

amp.desmoinesregister.com

Live Nation also signed on for a new 3000 seat venue.

Live Nation, the largest concert promoter in the US, to open venue in Waukee's KeeTown Loop

The massive KeeTown Loop will have a 3,000-seat entertainment venue, owned by Live Nation. It will be Live Nation's first Iowa location.

amp.desmoinesregister.com

I'd like to see something simple like the Sandstone in KC. Not sure what it's called now.

 

[JHUNSY]

Have you ever heard about the coal mines around the Des Moines area? It might sound weird but there were coaling operations around the state through its early years and well into the 20th century.

There was actually a good size tree in someone’s front yard that fell into one on the south side a few years ago.

You can find a map of them here:

State of Iowa - Iowa Coal Mines

programs.iowadnr.gov

 

[Saul_T]

The Ames Urban Exploring thread was stuff legends were made of.

 

[NoCreativity]

I'd like to see something simple like the Sandstone in KC. Not sure what it's called now.
View attachment 91528

It's called "Providence Amphitheater" now.
I have some family that lives right by there and drove past it the other day.