Sans Souci Island

Sans Souci Island is a river island in the Cedar River near Waterloo featuring woodland areas and natural trails across its terrain. The island combines forested sections with more open spaces where visitors can explore nature in different ways.

The island was originally known as Merwin's Island and served as a timber source for Cedar River bridge construction in the mid-1800s. Later the site developed into a residential area before being evacuated in 2008 due to flooding.

The French name Sans Souci means 'carefree' and reflects the early twentieth-century development when a hotel and Waterloo's first golf course were built here. You can still see traces of that era in how the land is shaped today.

Visitors should know the island has been uninhabited since evacuation in 2008 and access requires careful planning. The best time to explore is during warmer months when the paths and trails are easy to navigate.

White-tailed deer now inhabit this abandoned landscape where stone stairs and structural remnants mark the sites of former homes. These relics from the era of settlement offer a haunting look at past life being slowly reclaimed by nature.

Location: Iowa

GPS coordinates: 42.51583,-92.37028

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:04