As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Sometimes, you want your hotel to look like all the rest. Sometimes it’s nice to know exactly what to expect from the room, down to the color of the bedding, because all the other rooms in all the other hotels of that same given hotel chain have the exact same decorative style. But sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s much nicer to be surprised by custom styles and period antique furniture, historic architecture, and one-of-a-kind nooks and crannies. Enter Hotel Manning in Keosauqua, Iowa.
Hotel Manning, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1890 by one of Keosauqua’s founding city fathers, Edwin Manning. Its structure is as gorgeous as it is unique; the Steamboat Gothic architecture is reminiscent of riverboats of the 1800s, a style enhanced by the hotel’s location on the banks of the Des Moines River.
The Des Moines River has proven to be a treacherous next-door neighbor, though, flooding the hotel four times since it was built. In 1901, seven feet of water rushed through the hotel, causing untold damage before the water receded.
Today, however, the only evidence of the flooding is a marker out front noting the water depth during the flooding; the hotel itself has been beautifully restored and water levels are better regulated by reservoirs such as Lake Red Rock upstream.
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Inside, the hotel is furnished with period antiques, appearing much as it did over 100 years ago. The original woodwork has been beautifully restored, and the sun streams through the tall windows, filling the rich rooms with light.
Hotel Manning’s guest rooms will delight any lover of old buildings and beautiful views. The historic rooms, located in the hotel proper, all have a private attached bathroom and vary in size from the small-but-beautiful full rooms to the expansive Riverview King Room or the Queen Suite.
In keeping with the period of the hotel, the historic rooms do not have a TV or microwave. However, the modern bathrooms, some equipped with a heated tile floor, are a welcome departure from the original design of the hotel! You’ll also find Wi-Fi available throughout the building.
If you’d prefer more modern accommodations, Hotel Manning has several other options, including the Riverview Inn and several cabins on the premises. These rooms have the advantage of being pet-friendly for a reasonable fee if you’re vacationing with a four-legged friend. Make sure to specify which type of room you’d prefer when booking.
Even if you don’t spend the night, you can experience this beautiful piece of history by dining there. The main floor boasts a large dining room often used for special events. The hotel’s chef also serves dinner there on a regular basis, just call ahead for their schedule.
The hotel also serves as a coffee shop Friday through Monday mornings from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. You can also experience this beautiful venue by visiting The Lounge, equipped with an on-site bar and adjacent river view courtyard, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
A lovely riverwalk runs along the Des Moines just outside the hotel, and you can also find stunning river and forest views in nearby Lacey Keosauqua State Park. For breakfast, walk a block to Misty’s Malt Shop or the Great Day Cafe. However you choose to experience Hotel Manning, you’ll walk away enriched by a visit to this Iowa landmark! To learn more or make a reservation, head to the hotel’s website here. You can also find Hotel Manning on Facebook here.
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