"The move will enable us to better serve the visitors," said Glenys Schloemer, President of the VMC board. "This is an ideal location with great visibility, accessibility and within a few miles from the main entrances used by travelers visiting the community. This location will help VMC connect with visitors to provide information regarding all options to experience while in the area.” Schloemer also noted the location decision was based upon traffic research and a thorough analysis of information centers.

The Visitor Information Center serves as a one-stop information, hospitality and ticketing center for the numerous visitors that come to the area. Sue Armour, Director of VMC noted, “At its past location, the Visitor Information Center typically assisted hundreds of travel parties each year. Now that we’re closer to the entrance to the community, which is the most densely-traveled section of the city by visitors, we expect to see several thousands of visitors coming through our doors.”

With this transition, VMC sees a great opportunity to grow the Visitor Information Center in its new location. The new Visitor Information Center will have the following benefits:

• Increased visibility with easy accessibility.
• Within two miles from the main visitor entrances into the community
• Superb signage at the facility and directing visitors to the facility.
• Visitor information in a stimulating environment including enhanced technology with videos.
• Increased area for brochure and travel information.
  
• One stop shop for ticketing and reservations.
• Expanded gift shop and souvenir selection.
  
• Dedicated parking providing visitors’ time to explore travel information, talk with information specialists, pick up a souvenir and more.
• Public restroom facilities.
• Business center with access to wireless internet, printer, etc.
• A positive and memorable first impression of the community and area.

The Visitor Information Center's grand opening is slated to be held in early spring 2012.

Mason City and the Historic Park Inn Hotel were featured nationally on the November 2, 2011 NBC Today Show.   The segment focused on Travel + Leisure Feature Director touting "Fast and Affordable Road Trips”.  Mason City was one of five destinations showcased as the “perfect for a weekend escape”.   The community was selected because of the city’s accessibility / close proximity to the Twin Cities and the affordability of the Historic Park Inn.

Last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright NOW OPEN in Mason City, Iowa

The Historic Park Inn Hotel, the only remaining hotel in the world designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, re-opened on Aug. 8, 2011 in downtown Mason City following an $18.5 million renovation.  The hotel's grand opening was held on September 10, 2011 which was 101 years to the day that the original Park Inn opened.

The 27-room hotel is attracting architecture fans from around the world. Besides restoring the exterior of the building and renovating public areas to their original appearance, guest rooms are equipped with modern conveniences to accommodate business and other pleasure travelers. 

“It’s spectacular,” said Jean Marinos, President of Wright on the Park Inc., which owns the property and has overseen the renovation.  “This is one of the biggest community projects ever completed in Mason City. We invite everyone to come and enjoy this beautiful building.”

The renovated hotel features larger guest rooms and many more amenities than the original. It comprises not just the original Park Inn – so named because it is across from Central Park -- but the adjacent City National Bank building, which was also designed by Wright.  Originally the hotel had 41 hotel rooms, each 10 feet square, with shared bathrooms between guest rooms, or some bathrooms down the hall.   In the restored hotel the original corridor widths have been maintained as have the original outlines of the bathrooms. Twenty-one modern hotel rooms are a part of the restored hotel by combining two original rooms into suites. Six more rooms were designed in the former office space of the bank building.

The facility also features nearly 8,000-square-feet of conference space, including a ballroom, restaurant and bar, as well as many of the original features built in by Wright, including a ladies parlor, gentlemen’s lounge, billiards room and the Skylight Room, which has Wright-designed art-glass windows.

Wright, who is considered the most famous architect in United States history, designed the hotel and adjacent bank as additional revenue sources for law offices he was commissioned to design for two prominent Mason City attorneys. The bank and hotel buildings were designed in the Prairie School style, which is typified by flat roofs, large overhangs and geometric designs.

The original hotel was described at its opening in 1910 as a model in cuisine and comfort. “It is a marvelously well-planned hostelry,” with all but one guest room facing the outside and featuring French windows, mahogany furniture, brass beds with box mattresses, and lavatories with hot and cold water, the Mason City Globe Gazette reported.

The bank fell on hard times during the 1920s farm crisis and, after a bankruptcy sale in 1926, was remodeled into commercial and retail space, drastically altering its original design. The hotel operated under various ownerships until 1972. It was converted into apartments and eventually was completely vacant, ending up on the top-10 list of most endangered historic properties in Iowa.

For many years, community leaders looked for ways and means to restore the architectural gem. It is one of six Wright-designed hotels. Five were built, but the Historic Park Inn Hotel is now the only one standing. In 2005, the nonprofit Wright on the Park Inc. was created and began raising funds. The project received $8.2 million from the Vision Iowa program, and $3.6 million in state tax credits.

Crews worked on the renovation full-time since January of 2010. Project architect Martha Huntington of Bergland + Cram in Mason City had to overcome several unexpected design challenges, such as replacement of foundation on the north and east sides of the bank building. A second floor that was added in the bank building had to be removed, and plumbing and mechanical work was complicated by a lack of space. Henkel Construction Co. was the project manager. The hotel is run by HPI Partners of Mason City. Interior designers with Bergland + Cram and HPI researched the interior of the original hotel and chose wall treatments, room designs and furnishings that reflect the original rooms yet offer as much modern convenience and comfort as possible.

Most of the rooms have either a king- or a queen-size bed. Some have a sleeper sofa as well, and three will be handicapped-accessible. There is also a bridal suite with a whirlpool, and a business suite.

Guided tours are available to the public with special appointments available for motor coach groups. View tour information.

For more information regarding this restoration project visit Visit Mason City's media room featuring video, photo gallery, fact sheet and media release. Also, learn more by reading about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mason City's Prairie School Architecture. Reservations for the Historic Park Inn Hotel can be made by contacting 800-659-2220.

Midwest Living has selected Mason City Iowa as one of the “Best New Midwest Places to Play, Eat and Stay in 2011”. The selection highlighted Mason City’s new Architectural Interpretive Center and restored Historic Park Inn Hotel.

For more information regarding this restoration project visit www.wrightonthepark.org.  Also, learn more by reading about Frank Lloyd Wright and Mason City's Prairie School Architecture.