Top Adel Venues

• Spaces for 400 Guests

Country Lane Lodge is a Wedding and Event venue located in Adel, Iowa. Secluded on 40 acres of land yet close to town. Entering the property is nothing short of magical as you take a journey down our lane surrounded by trees and photo opportunities. We like to describe our space as "casual elegance". Large chandeliers, a stone fireplace, barn doors, live edge wood bar top, natural light and woodworking crafted by the Amish. Some may consider us a "barn" but we refer to ourselves as a "lodge". We don't mind what you call us but we do hope you call us your wedding venue!

• Spaces for 8-1,000 Guests
• 1 Restaurant
• 1 Bar
• 5 Total Spaces

Located in West Des Moines, Smash Park Des Moines offers an energetic setting for corporate events, team-building outings, birthdays, holiday parties, wedding celebrations, and private gatherings. The venue combines flexible indoor and outdoor event spaces with interactive entertainment including pickleball, axe throwing, duckpin bowling, karaoke, arcade games, cornhole, and other yard games. Private options range from the Paddle Club and Game Zones to outdoor Canopies and The Hideaway, allowing groups to choose a setting that fits their size and style. Scratch-made catering, customizable beverage options, and dedicated event support complete the experience, creating a playful and memorable destination for events in West Des Moines.

• Spaces for 60-90 Guests

Your Private Bar is only open for private and special events. Whether you’re hosting a Corporate Off-site Event or a 50th Birthday Party, you can tailor our event space to your needs for a unique guest experience. You can rent our space with or without bar service. You can choose between a cash bar, open bar, or a hosted bar with a custom drink menu. We also offer catering and entertainment activities upon request. Just let us know your needs, and we’ll work to provide exactly what you want!

• Spaces for 75-100 Guests
• 1 Outdoor
• 1 Meeting Space
• 2 Total Spaces

The Brenton Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum and public garden set on a scenic Iowa landscape in Dallas Center, about 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. Dedicated to trees and shrubs, the grounds feature more than 2,200 specimens representing 486 species, arranged across informal plantings, water features, and walking trails. The arboretum holds Level 2 accreditation from the Morton Register of Arboreta and is recognized for its collections of Kentucky coffeetree, elm, crabapple, and conifers. For private events, the arboretum offers two distinct indoor rental spaces alongside a set of outdoor locations — accommodating gatherings from intimate elopements to celebrations of up to 300 guests. The Pavilion, an open-air timber structure atop a breezy hill, provides panoramic views of the landscape and a limestone fireplace. The Vista Room and Terrace, situated adjacent to the arboretum offices, is a climate-controlled, ADA-accessible space with sweeping views of the grounds, audiovisual equipment, and WiFi. Both spaces can be rented individually or combined. The arboretum hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate meetings, family reunions, and other private celebrations, with a dedicated rental coordinator available to guide event planning.

• Spaces for 55-335 Guests
• 7 Museums
• 4 Outdoor Spaces
• 7 Total Spaces

Living History Farms is a 500-acre open-air history museum in Urbandale, Iowa, that chronicles 300 years of Midwestern rural heritage — and one of the most distinctive private event settings in the Des Moines area. The property encompasses a recreated 1876 frontier town, two National Historic Register structures, and a range of indoor and outdoor spaces available for weddings, receptions, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of all kinds. Eight distinct rental venues are spread across the grounds. The Flynn Barn, built in 1871, offers exposed timber beams and an oak floor for receptions of up to 280 guests. The Church of the Land, a nondenominational chapel in the historic Walnut Hill town, seats 130 for weddings and memorials. The Learning Center provides a barn-inspired Great Hall with skylights and exposed beams for up to 330 guests, while the Murray Conference Center features a high domed ceiling and pond views for smaller meetings and gatherings. Outdoor options include the Gazebo, the porch and front lawn of the 1870 Flynn Mansion, the MidAmerican Energy Foundation Pavilion, and a sprawling front lawn suited for festivals and large-scale events. Events are staffed by a dedicated on-site team, and preferred caterers are available. The events team can be reached at rentals@lhf.org or by calling (515) 278-5286.

• Spaces for 350 Guests
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Event Space

Events Center West is an affordable event venue in West Des Moines, Iowa, positioned as the area's tucked-away alternative for weddings, receptions, corporate gatherings, and holiday parties. The main event space spans approximately 7,000 square feet and seats up to 350 guests across four tiered levels, each designed to give every attendee an unobstructed view of the stage and dance floor. The room includes a permanent dance floor, a private bar, an in-house sound system, and a state-of-the-art digital projector. Outside caterers are welcome, and complimentary parking is available on site.

• Spaces for 175-180 Guests
• 1 Event Space
• 1 Venue with Activities

Raccoon Ridge Music Hall is a rustic event center set on 40 acres of timberland near Nations Bridge Park in southern Guthrie County, Iowa. The hall is a steel building with a cathedral-style roof and was designed with acoustics in mind, making it a natural fit for weddings, music events, theatrical productions, family reunions, and birthday celebrations. Inside, the space accommodates up to 175 guests and features a stage with a professional sound system, a full kitchen, multimedia tools, and flexible seating — long pews line the outer edges and can be rearranged to suit the event. Outside, the property offers volleyball and cornhole areas, a fire ring, hiking trails, campsites, and access to a nearby 3D archery course, along with river bluff scenery and prairie views.

• Spaces for 200 Guests

• Spaces for 250 Guests

Timberline Campground operates two family-friendly campgrounds in Iowa — Timberline West in Waukee and Timberline East in Newton — offering year-round outdoor gatherings under the banner of "country camping with city convenience." The Waukee location sits along Interstate 80 on the outskirts of the Des Moines metro, with retail and dining close by; the Newton location features wooded campsites near Iowa Speedway and Adventureland Amusement Park. Both locations are equipped for group stays and celebrations, with amenities including a swimming pool, stocked fishing pond, campfire areas, jump pad, and playground. Timberline hosts themed weekend events throughout the year and welcomes groups looking to book multiple accommodations — from cabins to glamping units — for family reunions, milestone gatherings, and outdoor getaways.

• Spaces for 200 Guests

Voas Nature Area is a 705-acre public nature area and education center operated by Dallas County Conservation, located near Minburn, Iowa. The property encompasses oak and hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, and wetland complex, with over five miles of mowed trails suited to hiking and cross-country skiing in all seasons. The grounds include a seasonal observation deck and picnic tables, making the area available for permitted special events through the Dallas County Conservation Board. The on-site Voas Nature Area Museum — open by appointment — houses a collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and stone tools that trace the natural and cultural history of Iowa, from prehistoric habitats to the Henry Voas family farm that first settled the land in 1863. Event use of the property requires a permit; the Conservation Board office coordinates reservations and can provide pricing details.

• Spaces for 1,200 Guests
• 1 Hotel
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Convention Center

The Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel brings together 22,321 square feet of event space and 285 guest rooms under one roof in West Des Moines, Iowa — a ten-story full-service hotel positioned at the interchange of I-35, I-235, and I-80, fifteen minutes from Des Moines International Airport. At the heart of the property is the five-story Atrium Party Deck, a 2,300-square-foot semi-private gathering space ringed by lush greenery and a signature waterfall. The atrium sets the tone for the rest of the venue: a setting where scale and warmth coexist. For larger celebrations, the Convention Center accommodates up to 1,200 guests, with the full portfolio of 16 function rooms handling events from intimate board-room dinners to grand receptions. Wedding packages include a stage and dance floor, tables and chairs, china and glassware, linens, a champagne toast for the head table, and a dedicated catering sales manager. The hotel's culinary team handles all food and beverage in-house, with plated and buffet dinner programs, hors d'oeuvres, and bar service tiers available. Guest room blocks — courtesy (up to 15 rooms) or guaranteed (16 or more) — give out-of-town guests convenient access to the celebration without leaving the building.

• Spaces for 180 Guests
• 1 Event Space
• 1 Park

The E.J. Giovannetti Community Shelter is an enclosed event facility at Walker Johnston Park in Urbandale, Iowa, opened in September 2013. The approximately 3,000-square-foot building accommodates up to 180 guests and is available for private rentals including celebrations, gatherings, and community events. The shelter's main event room features a modern interior with warm wood accents, a gas fireplace, and large windows overlooking the park. A 60-by-30-foot covered outdoor patio extends the gathering space beyond the interior. The facility includes a commercial kitchen, full heating and air conditioning, and comes furnished with 16 round tables, 8 rectangular tables, and 180 chairs. Built from precast concrete panels, the shelter also serves as a designated tornado safe room — a distinction that reflects the building's durable construction alongside its function as a community gathering space. Reservations are available up to 365 days in advance through the Urbandale Parks and Recreation online booking system.

• Spaces for 200 Guests

Forest Park Museum sits on a 17-acre complex on the southeast edge of Perry, Iowa, operated by the Dallas County Conservation Board. The facility brings together three museum halls — Hastie Hall, Baldwin Hall, and the Wagner Gallery — alongside a collection of preserved historic structures including an 1867 one-room schoolhouse, an 1863 pioneer log cabin, and an 1880s scale house. The grounds include a 5-acre arboretum with more than 100 native tree and shrub species and 12 acres of re-established prairie and wildflowers, offering a distinctive natural setting for outdoor gatherings. The park is open daily, with museum hours extending through evenings and weekends from May through October. Special events are hosted through the Dallas County Conservation Board's application process, which considers community benefit and resource availability. The facility's combination of historic architecture, curated collections, and open natural landscapes makes it a one-of-a-kind setting for events rooted in Iowa's history and landscape.

• Spaces for 55-300 Guests
• 5 Hotels
• 1 Ballroom
• 5 Total Spaces

Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center sits in Johnston, Iowa, just minutes north of downtown Des Moines with easy access to Wells Fargo Arena, the Iowa Events Center, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The property draws on a rustic, northwoods aesthetic — log furniture, natural wood finishes, and warm fireplaces — that lends a distinctive character to gatherings of any size. The conference center offers more than seven dedicated event rooms, anchored by the Northwoods Ballroom, which accommodates up to 300 guests for banquets or 400 in theater configuration. The Pioneer Room handles mid-sized events for up to 120, while smaller breakout spaces — including the Meadows, John Deere Room, and Bear's Den — seat groups from 55 to 80. Outdoor patio areas and fireside seating extend the gathering options beyond the main rooms. Wedding packages include a dance floor, lighted pipe and drape, linens, centerpieces, and a dedicated event coordinator, with on-site accommodations available for overnight guests.