Frank Lloyd Wright Iowa Hotel Reopens

Entrance

 Wow! I kept saying as I walked thru Frank LLoyd Wright's Hotel. I finally got to see the newly renovated Historic Park Inn Hotel in Mason City, Iowa. Every space from the Lobby to the Ladies Parlor is exciting to see brought back to life from near hopeless physical decline. The 1910 structure took $20 million to renovate and is the last remaining Wright designed and built hotel in the world.

Bank Building now Conference area

As much as possible of the original materials were retained including the tile floor, some hotel room doors, stair railings, art glass windows and panels. Other pieces were reconstructed to bring back the original look and feel of the hotel.  The 27 hotel rooms had to be enlarged from the original forty three 10x10' rooms with shared bathrooms Wright designed.

I took particular note of the art work they chose to hang which was by contemporary Arts & Crafts Press artists, the fabric, rugs and furniture. The color palette was warm earth tones throughout the public areas.  The former bank is a conference room with chairs set up for large gatherings.  The usual Wright staging of making you walk thru narrow, short hallways into a large bright airy space takes your breath away.

The lounge area with its skylight is another Wow moment.  It has 25 original art glass panels designed by Wright.  The receptionist Carla told us how some were discovered in the renovation hidden between the ceiling and roof and more were discovered in a house in town and donated back to the hotel.

I took dozens more photos of other rooms not shown here.  They didn't show any of the guest rooms to view but show one on the hotel's website.  Looks wonderful.

Grand Opening poster September 2011

The restaurant is not yet open but I hope to make a trip back to visit when it is.  If you go there, be sure to also visit the Stockman house Wright designed, too.

Click here for more information on the Historic Park Inn Hotel.

Exterior detail

Lobby

Lounge

Conference area

Sample of prints, lamps furniture and pottery

Ladies Lounge with balcony overlooking a park.

Rug detail

Lounge view from balconyhttp://wrightonthepark.org/

 View of Lobby looking towards front windows

Restaurant to open in Spring