In July I took off for Iowa all by myself for the first time in years, making the rounds with relatives and ending with a visit at my mother-in-law’s. This was a special treat to have Elaine all to myself. Usually there are lots of others around – at least my husband, but this time it was just us.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.

Mason City, IA

We were out and about and I must have mentioned our visit to Taliesin West, when Elaine told me about The Park Inn Hotel. We made the trip to Mason City that afternoon rather than wait, since Ragbrai was headed this way the next morning. This was a spur of the moment find and it was gorgeous! We took a self-guided tour and snapped a few pictures.

“The Historic Park Inn Hotel, together with City National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, were designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1910. The design greatly influenced architecture in Europe and is as striking today as it ever was.

The Park Inn Hotel is [one of] the last Wright designed hotel[s] in the world, and a complete renovation, including restoration of the distinctive brick and terra-cotta façade as well as art glass windows has restored the Prairie School building to a functional hotel.”     – READ MORE

A Great Influence

City National Bank

Historic Park Inn Hotel

This is a sketch of Wright’s 1910 three-part design of the City National Bank, The Park Inn Hotel and law offices.

Great Find!

More than one hundred years after its original completion in 1910, following a nearly $20 million restoration, it is GORGEOUS and has begun filling its world-class landmark role as The Historic Park Inn Hotel, with 27 rooms, a restaurant and a conference and events center. Great find Elaine!

Happy trails,
Barb