Have You Played Dubuque’s Very Own Board Game?

I went to a drugstore in Dubuque a couple weeks ago to get my annual flu shot. On the way out, something caught my eye. I remembered seeing it before, but must've been in a rush because I didn't stop to investigate. This time, I'm glad I had some extra minutes on my hands.

It was a board game called Dubuque-Opoly, an obvious reworking, so to speak, of the popular board game Monopoly; this one just so happens to pay homage to the Iowa city.

I'm glad I took several pictures of the box because this is one of the rare times where the ever-reliable Google fails me in terms of finding more information on Dubuque-Opoly. If the information on the website BoardGameGeek.com is accurate, this was a game created nearly 20 years ago with proceeds designed to benefit the Dubuque Sertoma Club. Again, I can't confirm nor deny that information.

What I can confirm is the game was definitely curated by someone/people with deep knowledge of Dubuque's landmarks. In typical Monopoly fashion, the object of the game is to purchase properties and build houses (and eventually hotels) on them in order to gain capital, and eventually, build your own monopoly on the area.

The people behind this game really doubled-down on Dubuque history, including everything from the Millwork District to the Shot Tower Inn, the Fenelon Elevator, the Dubuque County Fair, and more:

While it's impossible to include everything, we jammed all the Dubuque we could into this box. It's full of outdoor adventure, family attractions, rich history, and of course... Mines of Spain - a little something for everyone! Looking for a fun way to experience The Masterpiece on the Mississippi?

Game pieces include a High Five, a Big Smile, a Heart, The Dog, Pretzel, and Gym Shoe. "Contingency" cards include such circumstances as "You ate to many Gremlins from Betty Jane Candies / Lose 1 turn to recover!"

Take a peek at your local Walgreen's in Dubuque and see if you can find Dubuque-Opoly if you haven't played it!