Fontanelle
Fontanelle blends rich history with small-town charm. Enjoy a relaxing picnic in the park beneath the town’s historic bandstand while the kids explore the playground, or head to Delmer Miller Park on the west side of town after browsing local retail shops and businesses.
Founded in 1851 as Summerset, the town was later renamed by the Iowa Legislature in honor of Chief Logan Fontenelle of the Omaha Tribe, recognized for his leadership in treaty negotiations. Fontanelle also holds a significant place in county history as the original Adair County seat before it was moved to Greenfield—one of the more intriguing chapters in the county’s early development.
The public square features a vibrant sesquicentennial mural by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, honoring the town’s railroad heritage, along with a marker identifying the site of Fontanelle’s first log cabin—reminders of the community’s deep historical roots.
