Looking for Frank Lloyd Wright’s only remaining hotel? You’ll find it halfway between Des Moines and Minneapolis in Mason City, Iowa.
A little more than a century after the iconic architect designed it, the Historic Park Inn has undergone an US$18.5 million, 18-month restoration to its 1910 appearance. After soft opening in August, the restored version of the hotel held its grand opening September 5.
The property is owned by a nonprofit group called Wright on the Park and being managed by Stoney Creek Hospitality Corp., which is headquartered in Mason City. The nonprofit secured funding, tax credits and private donations from Wright enthusiasts and a few local businesses to complete the project.
When the hotel was built, the guestrooms were only about 8 ft by 10 ft (2.4 m by 3 m), with public restrooms for ladies and gentlemen in the halls. To get a bath, guests had to have an upgraded room, which included an in-room pedestal sink and a clawfoot tub shared between two rooms. One of the original clawfoot tubs was restored and now occupies the historic suite; the adjoining room is now a sitting room.
There is controversy as to the original number of rooms, with accounts ranging from 47 to the 60s. With the renovations, the hotel now has 27 rooms, and Noto says they start at US$100 and go as high as US$250, which he notes is less than what nearby branded hotels charge.
The demolition phase of the restoration uncovered a few surprises, such as original spindles for the stairways that had been covered in layers of sheetrock, 100-year-old tile flooring and artifacts such as matchbooks from the period.
The hotel and the Prairie School homes that sprung up around it are a draw for architecture enthusiasts.
“It’s just typical Frank Lloyd Wright for 1910,” said Mike Welton, editor and publisher of Architects + Artisans about hotel’s design. “It’s got the iron grills on the windows. The brickwork is very unusual. The stained glass windows are just typical Frank Lloyd Wright.”
