Big Muddy’s Building Resurrection Project
We plan to resurrect the historic “Freight House” building, which housed the iconic Big Muddy’s Bar and Grill for decades, into a multipurpose visitor destination featuring a restaurant, interpretive center, and connection to the Mississippi River.
Background
Dating back to 1898 as the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Freight House, the building known locally as “Big Muddy’s” is an iconic structure and “anchor point” of Burlington’s north riverfront.
Unfortunately, the building has sat vacant for several years after repeated floods drove out the long-standing Big Muddy’s Bar & Grill.
The Dream
Restore an iconic building into a hub for 100,000 annual visitors
The Big Muddy’s building will become more than a building. It will be a living classroom, a culinary destination, and a community hub that embodies Aldo Leopold’s Land Ethic — the belief that we are not apart from the land but a part of it.
Aquariums with native Mississippi River species and ecological interpretive displays and exhibits.
Historic interpretation features highlighting Burlington’s unique place in the modern conservation movement as birthplace of Aldo Leopold, the “Father of wildlife management.”
A restaurant with outdoor seating featuring incredible views of the Great River and locally sourced ingredients, honoring the “land ethic” philosophy popularized by Leopold.
Courtesy boat docks, dinner cruises, on-river and river-focused events.
Impact
With the building’s prominent location on the riverfront and adjacency to Highway 34 and the Great River Bridge, it is well suited to serve as a “gateway” to Burlington as well as a standalone attraction.
The facility will boost tourism and the local economy while telling our story as a community and as the birthplace of Aldo Leopold, interpreting the ecology of the river and region, and connecting people - locals and visitors both - to the Great River which is itself an international attraction.
Feasibility
A comprehensive feasibility study, completed in 2025 in partnership with the Greater Burlington Partnership and a leading design firm, confirmed that Big Muddy’s can be successfully restored as a mixed-use interpretive and dining destination.
Flood-proofing
The proposed approach includes the installation of a perimeter flood protection wall with demountable flood barriers at entry points.
Phasing
With Phase 1 complete, we are moving into vision development, the phase that turns dreams into plans, and plans into grant funding.
Phase 2: Vision Development
Site & Facility
Interpretive elements
Business/operations
Renderings
Phase 3: Fundraising
Phase 4: Final designs + Construction
Join the Resurrection
Early investment from local philanthropists will unlock millions in matching funds, multiplying each dollar’s impact and ensuring this project is the “next domino” to fall in the continued development of Burlington’s riverfront.