Location: Mason City
Top Things to do in Mason City
The 8 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Mason City, Iowa (IA)
Mason City is a city in and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties. It is commonly referred to as the "River City", as the city grew up centered on the Winnebago River.
Restaurants in Mason City
1. Stockman House Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 199 reviews
This is the only Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style House open to the public in Iowa. Private tours are offered on a daily basis by reservation. Check our website for more detailed information.
Reviewed By tank1050 - Wescosville, United States
Once again we found another gem of a Frank Lloyd Wright home as well as a neat museum next door. The home is located in a neighborhood of similarly well designed homes, some by Wright's pupils. While you wait for your tour to start, take a look at the exhibits in the visitor center . The scale models and renderings and information is great. Bob, our guide, gave us a great tour. he was very friendly and full of information on the house and its details. This Prairie style house was built in 1912. It was well restored and is great to tour. We have loved all of the Wright designed buildings we have toured around the country and this one didn't disappoint us. We didn't have time to do the hotel in town but I wish we could have. Tour was $10 per person with on site parking. Note; no pictures inside house.
2. Historic Park Inn Hotel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By 734liciap
Every person we encountered from guests to staff were friendly. Very clean! This is the ONLY Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel still in existence in the entire world. That alone is worth the stay! But also the people of Mason City cared enough to restore this hotel and preserve this historic site! I love that we spent our money on something so special. The rooms are unique—small, very quaint, all restored to the period. Bed was comfy. No room has a king bed, and now I understand why. The queen we slept in filled the room. Our son slept on the pullout couch in the small living room area. I tried the couch bed out and it was not comfortable at all. But what couch bed is? The restaurant attached was delicious and super good service. I can’t brag this place up enough. If you value art, history, or local small business, you won’t want to miss this!
3. Meredith Willson Boyhood Home
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Willson, composer of "The Music Man," grew up in this Mason City house.
Reviewed By fergiedad - Port Townsend, United States
The Meredith Wilson Boyhood Home forms many of the impressions from which the Music Man emerges. This is included in The Museum admission and is a must see.
4. Music Man Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
5. Charles H. MacNider Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
The Charles H. MacNider Museum is a non-profit, municipally owned institution conceived in 1964 and opened by 1966 in Mason City, Iowa. Everything the Museum does is educational or aesthetic in nature centering around working with objects of art. The museum exhibits and interprets a permanent collection of American art; temporary exhibitions of art; provides art classes for all ages; offers enriching arts programs; and maintains an art library.
Reviewed By LoriH611 - Springfield, United States
Thoroughly enjoyed our visit here during a couple days exploring the Mason City/Clear Lake area. The museum has a very nice variety of collections displayed in a thoughtful and yet not too serious manner. Highlight for us was the extensive marionette collection, most donated by famous puppeteer Bill Baird, who was from Mason City. As a huge Sound of Music fan I was absolutely thrilled to see some of the marionettes from the movie’s famous lonely goatherd puppet show!
6. Mason City Visitor Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Our friendly personnel are here to provide you with the most accurate visitor information available. Travel Specialists are available Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm. 24-hour access to brochures and community information. Mason City souvenirs also available.
7. Kinney Pioneer Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Experience life on the Iowa frontier through the vintage exhibits and living history. Visit a pioneer village with a one-room schoolhouse, log cabin, old jail, blacksmith shop. Home to the only remaining Colby car - manufactured in Mason City. Demonstrations of pioneer crafts and trades during special event days. Call ahead for schedule. Open May-Sept, Tues-Sun 1pm-5pm.
8. Fat Hill Brewing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Fat Hill Brewing, a 7-barrel craft brewery, opened downtown Mason City in December 2016. Its brewing facility and taproom in the long-vacant historic building at 17 N. Federal Avenue features sixteen taps, space for 140 patrons, and a variety of live music and special events. Fat Hill Brewing got its name after we realized Cerro Gordo means Fat Hill in English. We wanted a name that would have a special meaning to locals but also be appealing to visitors and we think we found the perfect one. The taproom sells pints, flights, crowlers, growlers, and kegs on request. Please see Tap Room page on our website for info about holding your next private event with us.
Reviewed By jennifer0ls0n - Garner, United States
We had a great educational opportunity to tour the brewery and learn more about the ingredients and process of how Fat Hill makes their brew. It was a great experience and we had great feedback from the attendees on the visit. It was a great atmosphere, there were families playing games and enjoying their food they brought in. There was great live music that afternoon which was great as well. There was also a family celebrating a gift exchange tasting some brews and listening to music. This was a great location easy parking and Fat Hill Brewery employees love what they do along with the owners! Thank you Fat Hill Brewery! They don't have food on site, they do let you bring in your own and you can have food delivered.
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