Creston, IA (CRN)
Overview
Creston is located on a high stretch of land that lies between the basins of the Mississippi River and the Missouri River. The town was established in 1868 by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) as a division point.
Address:
116 West Adams Street, Creston, IA 50801.
Annual statistics for fiscal year 2024:
- Ticket revenue: $231,357
- Station ridership: 2,433 passengers
Ownership & Operational Roles
| Item | Owner / Responsible Party |
|---|---|
| Facility (station building) | City of Creston |
| Parking lot | City of Creston |
| Platform | Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) |
| Track | BNSF |
Routes Served & Contact Information
- Route: California Zephyr (Amtrak Deals)
- Regional Contact: Marty Sandoval ● Email: governmentaffairschi@amtrak.com
- For fares and schedules:
- City website: Creston Iowa Government
Station Building & Waiting Room
- In August 2019, Amtrak moved its passenger waiting room into the historic CB&Q depot in downtown Creston, moving away from its former space in the BNSF office building located a few hundred feet east.
- In preparation for this move, an improvement project worth about $1.3 million was conducted. It included:
- Modifying entryways for accessibility
- Installing new fixtures/hardware in restrooms
- Rearranging seating
- Adding new signage
- Creating a passenger loading zone and designated parking spaces
- The waiting room is in the original part of the depot (west end). It features:
- Dark red terrazzo floors
- Oak coffered ceiling supported by classical columns
- Walls of glazed buff brick and green tile wainscot, which reflect natural light from large arched windows
- Oak trim around the windows and doorways
- Displays of model trains and historical information about the town’s railroad history
History & Architecture
- Creston was chosen by CB&Q in 1868 as a division point and named for its location on a “crest” of land between two river basins.
- By the late 1800s, Creston had become a major railroad hub, with over 50 trains passing through daily.
- The depot building opened in 1899 at a cost of $75,000.
- Architectural features:
- Three-story structure
- Exterior of buff brick with stone trim at base and belt courses
- A steeply pitched roof with large dormers finished with coping
- Ground floor had large round-arch windows and doorways; originally included a waiting room, ticket office, lunch counter and baggage room
- Historic canopy: At one time a canopy wrapped around the southern and western sides of the depot to protect passengers from the weather, but it was later removed.
- Because Creston was a division point, the building also contained offices on upper floors for the division superintendent, dispatcher, road master, physician and other railroad staff. It sat next to the busy Creston yards, which had one of the largest roundhouses in the CB&Q system.
- Later history:
- In the 1970s the railroad moved out of the building. The City of Creston purchased the property.
- Residents elected to support preservation via a bond vote.
- In 1974 the depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Today, the first floor houses an art gallery, senior center and exhibits; the second floor is used by the city government.
Local Community & Attractions
- Creston is the county seat of Union County, Iowa and serves as a regional commercial and government hub.
- The area is known for its lakes which support fishing (walleye, largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill), boating, water sports, and camping along the shoreline.
- The Union County Historical Village, located on the west end of town in McKinley Park, features more than a dozen buildings that recreate a rural 1800s community: schoolhouse, general store, printing shop, log cabin, church, blacksmith shop, depot and museum.
- Event highlight: The Creston/Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days is held every fall. Over forty hot-air balloons participate in races, while visitors enjoy a parade, live music, food vendors, and a craft & flea market.
Station Features
Station Building (with waiting room)
- ATM: Not available
- Elevator: Not available
- Payphones: Not available
- Quik-Trak kiosks: Not available
- Restrooms: Not available (note this may refer to staffed station restroom service)
- Unaccompanied child travel: Not allowed
- Vending machines: Not available
- WiFi: Not available
- Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure
Baggage
- Amtrak Express shipping: Not available
- Checked baggage service: Not available
- Checked baggage storage: Not available
- Bike boxes: Not available
- Baggage carts: Not available
- Ski bags: Not available
- Bag storage: Not available
- Shipping boxes: Not available
- Baggage assistance: Not available
Parking
- Same-day parking: Available; fees may apply
- Overnight parking: Available; fees may apply
Accessibility
- Payphones: Not available
- Accessible platform: Yes
- Accessible restrooms: Yes
- Accessible ticket office: No
- Accessible waiting room: Yes
- Accessible water fountain: Yes
- Same-day accessible parking: Available; fees may apply
- Overnight accessible parking: Available; fees may apply
- No high platform: Yes (meaning the platform is not high level)
- Wheelchair: No (self-propelled wheelchair required)
- Wheelchair lift: Yes
Hours
| Service | Hours |
|---|---|
| Station waiting room | Not listed |
| Ticket office | Not available |
| Passenger assistance | Not available |
| Checked baggage service | Not available |
| Parking hours | Not listed |
| Quik-Trak kiosk hours | Not available |
| Lounge hours | Not available |
| Amtrak Express hours | Not available |
