East Peru, Iowa: Home of the Original Delicious Apple Tree

The Original Delicious Apple Tree, and most other apple trees in Iowa, died in a freak storm in 1940. But a new tree rose from the stump of the old one, and a weathered wooden sign in town acknowledges its presence.

Address:: Emerson St., East Peru, IA
Directions:: I-35 exit 47. Drive west through several sharp turns, for 9.5 miles, going through the hamlet of Truro. When you reach East Peru you will be on County Rd G68/Emerson St., and the sign will be on the right, at the corner of Odell Ave. The actual apple tree is just north of town and has its own engraved rock monument, dedicated in 1937. Ask anyone in town; they'll know where it is.

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Eat Peru apple sign.

Home of the Original Delicious Apple Tree

I drove around East Peru, looking for a stone mentioned in a visitor tip, but besides the wooden sign -- and some hound dogs chasing me -- I found nothing.

However, in nearby Winterset, IA, there is a stone monument for the delicious apple.

[Jen Danzinger, 05/29/2011]

The Original Delicious Apple Tree, and most other apple trees in Iowa, died in a freak storm in 1940. A weathered wooden sign in East Peru acknowledges the Delicious Apple claim. The tipster may have been referring to the permanent carved boulder monument in Winterset though...