MASON CITY, IA - Mason City native Katie Schuessler likes seeing the progress on the Frank Lloyd Wright Hotel. Even though she lives nearby, Katie and her husband plan on making a reservation at the inn.“Absolutely, my husband and I have already talked about it. We’ll pick a night and just the two of us enjoy it."
Folks started making reservations in January but that's when hotel staff thought construction wouldn’t be done until August 15th. Hotel Manager, Tracy Knebel, says now that date is moving up and more spots are available.
"We were taking reservations for August 1st or the first two weeks, with the stipulation we may not be open."
Now they're confident their doors will open the First of August.
"Those who made reservations are pretty confident they're going to stay with us, yes."
But not everyone is glad to have the hotel in business. Our KIMT Facebook page was filled with concerns. Some say the money would be better spent on jobs, or bringing business to downtown. Others are worried they couldn't even afford the cost to stay there.
But Knebel says folks just need to give it a chance.
"It’ll bring a lot more people in. It'll make us more visible in the state, the country, the world. We anticipate people from all over the world."
And for some locals, one of these 27 rooms will be a pleasant stay-cation.
"I'm so incredibly proud of our community that we've pulled this off and this project is almost done."
