Uncover the appeal of the Historic Park Inn Resort in Mason Metropolis, Iowa, a must-visit for structure lovers and vacationers alike.
Since my teenagers, I’ve been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and leaped to go to Mason Metropolis, Iowa. This small metropolis is residence to the famend architect’s ultimate remaining lodge. Initially constructed in the course of the early 1900s, the Historic Park Inn Resort mirrored Wright’s Prairie type of structure. Throughout the early 2000s, locals spent $20 million renovating and restoring the enduring property.
These efforts created a springboard for residents to embrace Wright’s affect on buildings all through Mason Metropolis. Greater than a decade in the past, Conde Nast named this Iowa vacation spot among the many World’s 14 Finest Cities for Structure Lovers. The lodge additionally seems on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations. Stoney Creek Hospitality now manages this one-of-a-kind property in partnership with Wright on the Park, a not-for-profit group working to protect and promote Frank Lloyd Wright’s native legacy.
The Historic Park Inn Resort exudes Prairie-style structure from the second it comes into view. Picture by Lisa Waterman Grey
Architectural Magnificence on the Historic Park Inn Resort
I might see signature Prairie-style traits from the second the lodge’s pale brick exterior got here into view. The constructing’s large roof overhangs complemented multi-colored repetitive designs painted throughout the higher façade. Ornamental brickwork under the higher home windows mirrored Frank Lloyd Wright’s deep affinity for Asian artwork and design.
Past the spacious lodge foyer, company can take pleasure in warm-tone couches and pure wooden tables. I beloved the ceramic lamps with multi-panel glass shades illuminating this welcoming area. Quite a few Wright-inspired wall sconces additionally lit the room. Skinny wooden strips set in rectangular patterns embellished the partitions. And a woven rug with an intricate sample topped the tile flooring.
Native owners donated a few of Wright’s authentic artwork glass in the course of the lodge’s renovation. It had migrated to their home someday in the course of the constructing’s early historical past. At present, this attractive set up decorates an expansive ceiling. A protracted financial institution of Prairie-style home windows illuminated eating tables and surrounding upholstered chairs within the compact higher public area.
Throughout my go to, heat and pure tones infused this public area with Prairie Type particulars. Picture by Lisa Waterman Grey
Prairie-Type Halls and Rooms
Slender hallways with pure wooden doorways and stairways led to 27 guestrooms. A geometrical carpet sample additionally echoed Frank Lloyd Wright’s design aesthetic. Once I visited, my lodging included a small sitting space, a light-flooded bed room, and a retro-feel bathtub with loads of vintage-looking tiles.
I beloved the darkish wooden all through this area. My headboard featured mounted twin round orbs that supplied heat lamplight. Traditional Wright-style window casings flanked a lot of 1 wall. Earth tones and neutral-colored furnishings abounded atop wall-to-wall carpeting.
Fashionable luxurious meets historic design in each room of the lodge. Picture courtesy of the Historic Park Inn Resort
Eat, Drink, and Savor
Visitors who ebook a keep on the Historic Park Inn Resort obtain unique offers for eating and ingesting institutions contained in the Historic Park Inn.
At street-level Leadlight restaurant, Wright-inspired lighting fixtures and stained glass window accents complemented our snug leather-based chairs and recent, upscale dishes. We watched cooks within the open kitchen as they ready Firecracker Shrimp with bowtie pasta and hearty grilled Iowa pork chops, to call a couple of. Lastly, Leadlight’s Dessert Trio plate was a luscious mixture of the restaurant’s Tiramisu, crème Brulé, and turtle cheesecake.
We additionally sampled artisanal cocktails in a cozy downstairs bar area that serves regional brews and wine. A blast from the previous, the Historic Outdated Long-established cocktail mixed bourbon, rye, angostura bitters, demerara sugar, and orange. The sunshine and refreshing Bicicletta included white wine with Campari and membership soda. My Paloma was a balanced mixture of tequila, recent lime and grapefruit juices, agave, and soda water. It mirrored a Mexican cocktail first served over 70 years in the past.
Our desk additionally shared a number of savory flatbread choices, a rooster Parmesan sandwich, and a decadent, gorgonzola-topped Bacon Bleu Burger.
The comfortable and welcoming lower-level bar gives craft cocktails and extra. Picture courtesy of the Historic Park Inn Resort
Past the Historic Park Inn Resort
In case you’re a giant fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs, try further native examples of his architectural genius. A number of Prairie-style initiatives stay all through the Rock Crest/Rock Glen residential Historic District. This space stays residence to the world’s most intensive assortment of Prairie-style structure in a pure setting. Take a guided tour by means of the 12-acre space. Or obtain the Mason Metropolis Historic Architectural Tour map and set your individual tempo.
Tour the placing Stockman Home (excursions final roughly one hour), the place you will note extra broad Prairie-style overhangs and loads of ornamental wooden accents throughout the house’s facade. Listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations since 1991, this 1908 home-turned-museum is the quintessential Prairie-style construction. Personal, public, or group excursions present lovely glimpses of a house setting that displays Frank Lloyd Wright’s designs—from loads of pure wooden, leather-based chairs, and glass lampshades to built-in bookshelves.
Admirers of Frank Lloyd Wright’s structure can also benefit from the adjoining Robert E. McCoy Architectural Interpretive Heart. Try a number of wood scale fashions with detachable roofs for a birds-eye view of native Wright constructing interiors. Then, peruse memento coasters, key chains, cozy blankets, artwork glass, and even handcrafted furnishings within the reward store.
Mannequin buildings on the Stockman Home and Robert E. McCoy Architectural Interpretive Heart present a hen’s eye view of native Prairie-style buildings. Picture courtesy of Lisa Waterman Grey
Extra Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings
If you need to see further Frank Lloyd Wright properties past Mason Metropolis, listed below are some ideas:
Through the years, I’ve visited the architect’s iconic Fallingwater residence in Pennsylvania. It seamlessly merges with the encompassing panorama amid dense woods. I’ve additionally explored Frank Lloyd Wright’s sprawling and legendary Taliesen West in Scottsdale, AZ, with an area artist.
Extra Frank Lloyd Wright buildings embody Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona. Picture by Lisa Waterman Grey
Within the Midwest, quite a few Wright-designed buildings lie alongside Wisconsin’s 200-mile Frank Lloyd Wright Path. They embody his 800-acre Taliesen (Welsh for ‘shining forehead’) property. Along with serving as a household residence, many structure college students have realized their craft on this property since 1932. I’ve additionally explored attractive Cedar Rock—a 1945 Wright residence in northern Iowa, and the sprawling Allen Home in Wichita, Kansas. Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, is residence to Wright’s placing white Neighborhood Christian Church.
Associated Articles on Different Historic Inns
Visiting Historic Park Inn Resort in Mason Metropolis, Iowa
Visiting the Historic Park Inn Resort in Mason Metropolis, Iowa, was a dream come true for me as a lifelong Frank Lloyd Wright fanatic. This charming gem showcases Wright’s signature Prairie type and tells the story of a bygone period when structure was each purposeful and suave. Every nook of the lodge whispers secrets and techniques of its wealthy historical past, inviting you to immerse your self on the planet of certainly one of America’s biggest architects. For fellow vacationers and structure lovers, this website is a must-see. In case you’re impressed to discover extra of Wright’s masterpieces or uncover different architectural treasures nationwide, learn extra on Wander With Surprise about our favourite architectural gems. Your subsequent journey awaits!
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