Perched on a ginger-colored leather sofa in the Skylight Room, I marveled overhead at the room’s 25 art glass panels, now protected against the elements by a dome.
It’s apparent that the Historic Park Inn in Mason City, Iowa, has come full circle. The grand dame, with a one-of-kind three-part design, opened in the fall of 1910.
Then, over the next 50 years, it fell into disrepair and was abandoned. Today, through the preservation efforts of Wright on the Park, the Historic Park Inn sits fully restored as the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright hotel in the world, even better than before.
The release areas are the two spaces before the front desk and the Skylight Room located past the glass doors behind the front desk.
While stained-glass windows often tell a story, Wright’s leaded stained glass featured strips of continuous casement windows and doors.
The original building had 43 ten-by-ten-foot rooms with shared bathrooms. Each room offered a bed, dresser, and sink. Today, the inn offers 27 unique rooms, each with a private bathroom.
Since each room is unique, you’ll also find a variety of bathroom styles. Other bathrooms feature clawfoot bathtubs for those who enjoy old-world charm.
The place to enjoy that morning cup of coffee or a cocktail in the evening. Recessed balconies were another Frank Lloyd Wright design characteristic on display.
The lower level, once known as the Gentlemen’s Lounge and Billiards room, is now the Draftsmen’s Lounge featuring live music and a bar with craft cocktails.