The Historic Park Inn Hotel, together with City National Bank, were designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1910. The design greatly influenced architecture in Europe and is as striking today as it ever was. The Park Inn Hotel is the last Wright designed hotel in the world, and a complete renovation, including restoration of the distinctive brick and terra-cotta façade as well as art glass windows will restore the Prairie School building to a functional hotel.
NAME CHANGE FOR HOTEL PROJECT
The Wright on the Park Board of Directors has approved changing the name of the Park Inn Hotel to The Historic Park Inn Hotel. The change was done in order to avoid confusion with other trademarks and copyright issues.
IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS HISTORIC PARK INN HOTEL PROJECT
Paul Yeager, a producer and host of Iowa Public Television's Iowa Journal interviews Martha Huntington, architect with Bergland + Cram, outside of the Historic Park Inn Hotel in downtown Mason City. IPTV plans to air the documentary film The Last Wright in early August and a crew was in Mason City for update interviews to run in conjunction with the film.
SAVING THE WORLD'S LAST FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOTEL
Southern Minnesota Magazine's Summer 2009 issue features Frank Lloyd Wright and Wright on the Park's efforts to rehabilitate the last remaining hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Click on NEWS in the top left corner for the link to a great article.
THE LAST WRIGHT, LAST CHANCE EVENT A GREAT SUCCESS
Quite a crowd came out on Saturday, June 6, 2009 to view the documentary film The Last Wright, at the MacNider Art Museum. The film, directed by Lucille Cara and produced by Carra and Garry McGee, highlights Frank Lloyd Wright and his design of the Historic Park Inn Hotel/City National Bank building and includes considerable Mason City history. Archivist Terry Harrison introduced the film, and historian Art Fischbeck was recognized for his work and contribution to the film.
Waiting for the film to start.
Sunday, June 7, 2009 saw close to 200 people come for the last chance to tour the Historic Park Inn Hotel before construction begins this summer.
Enjoying the mezzanine balcony.
VISION IOWA AWARD CONTRACT SIGNED AND REQUIRED FUNDING NEEDED FOR THE MATCH COMPLETED
The Vision Iowa contract was finalized by the Vision Iowa Board of Directors and the Mason City City Council in December 2008. Of the $9 million award, $8.2 million is designated for the restoration of the Historic Park Inn Hotel & City National Bank Building, a project of Wright on the Park, Inc.
The Vision Iowa program was established in 2000 within the Iowa Department of Economic Development to expand and support the cultural, recreational and educational opportunities in the state of Iowa.
In order to receive the Vision Iowa dollars, matching funds had to be raised by June 2009. The sub-recipients of the Vision Iowa award, formed Vision Mason City, to accomplish the fund raising activity in order to meet the matching funds challenge.
On April 14, 2009, Alaina Santizo, Vision Iowa Program Manager, confirmed that the matching funds raised by Vision Mason City had been validated.
The sub-recipients of the Vision IA award (Wright on the Park, River City Society for Historic preservation 'Interpretive Center' and the Mason City Public Library) are now able to move forward with their construction projects.
WEBSITE UPDATED
With funds provided by a Small Operating Support grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Wright on the Park has been able to bring their website function in-house. Check the side bar for updates on the progress of renovation and a look at the events calendar. Over the next few months we'll be adding new features and updating our photo gallery.
