We decided to treat ourselves to a night at the Hotel Pattee during the
Raccoon River Valley "North Loop" Grand Opening weekend on June 1st
2013.
We've stayed at the Hotel Pattee several times over the years. Most of which have been during the BRR Ride in February.
On
BRR we are usually out on the town partying it up until wee hours of
the morning, so we really had not gotten a chance to appreciate the
space and amenities the hotel has to offer until recently.
We stayed in the "George & Agnes Soumas" room. George was a
World War II hero and three-time mayor of Perry, George Soumas was known
to everyone. To honor him and his wife, Agnes, the suite is decorated
in country Greek style, the heritage they shared. Wood burning
fireplace. Willis Avenue view. King bed. Spa tub. Separate shower. Room
300.
Of course we had breakfast at David’s Milwaukee Diner and enjoyed some great Bloody Mary's.
The art garden to the East of the hotel has a great feel to is. the Art sculpture arches act as the entry ways on both sides to a beautiful relaxing setting area.
Check out some of our photos below. I wish we would have taken more, higher quality photos as ours do not do justice.
You owe it to yourself to a stay at the Hotel Pattee. This is a true Iowa GEM!
About Hotel Pattee
The hotel is AMAZING! Over 6 million dollars of artwork adorn the walls
of hotel. The woodwork and attention to detail are second to none.
Welcome to the Hotel Pattee! the boutique hotel captures the culture
and experiences of the local area into its 40 individually decorated and themed guest rooms
and the public spaces.
Each of our 40 individually themed-rooms and suites is well
accessorized for your comfort. Your experience will feature over-sized
beds, wireless internet access, spacious bathrooms, oversized bath
towels and plush robes. Spa tubs and wood-burning fireplaces are
available in selected rooms.
There is even a RAGBRAI-themed room!
Known as one of the finest boutique hotels in the world, the
Hotel Pattee stands as the idyllic retreat location. Whether it's for a
couple desiring a romantic weekend getaway, a meeting planner seeking
the ideal setting for a board retreat or a soon-to-be bride looking for
the perfect reception site, the Pattee promises to make your event one
you'll never forget.
The historic Hotel Pattee invites guests to relax in a setting that
celebrates the sights and sounds, the people and memories of small town
America. A unique reminder of the millions of people who came from all
over the world to build our town, our state, and our country, the Pattee
is one of the few hotels where every room and suite tells its own
story. The 40 unique rooms
preserve history, celebrate ethnicity, honor craftsmanship, and pay
tribute to the noteworthy sons and daughters of Iowa and the Midwest.
During your stay, take advantage of our fitness center, complete
with sauna, steam room and self-cleaning hot tub (providing purified
water for your hot tub experience). Families and groups can also enjoy
the Arthur “Oley” Olson bowling alley. Situated on the lower level and
featuring two full-functioning lanes with automated scoring, the bowling
alley was built to replicate the original alley when the hotel was
first built.
Spend some time at Soumas Court which is a sculpture garden transformed from an old building site. The focal point of the garden is its decorative artwork arches created from
scrap metal by artist Albert Paley. The arches were carefully
transported and each arch weighed
approximately 16,000 tons. The bronze statue is George Soumas is a World War II hero and three-time mayor of Perry.
More than 130 pieces of original art by more
than 30 artists are on display, honoring noteworthy native sons and
daughters of Iowa.
Some great photos of the rooms by Hotels.com: http://www.hotels.com/ho207760/hotel-pattee-perry-united-states/
Bicycle-Friendly
Perry is no stranger to bicycles.
Perry has been hosting the BRR Ride from Perry to Rippey for over 36
years. Touted as the "Original Winter Ride", the 24 mile loop brings in
cyclists from all over the United States to spend the weekend in Perry,
Iowa in February!
Perry had official bicycle lanes before Des Moines and has been
restoring items along the planned trail-head for years including a depot
and caboose turned into a business to sell snow cones and other treats.
With
the new Raccoon River Valley Trail "North Loop" Grand Opening that
occurred on June 1st 2013, Perry is now officially connected to the
Longest Paved Loop Trail in the Nation. The new addition creates a 72 mile loop trail and
brings the total miles of the RRVT to 89. It connects 4
counties and 14 communities as well as tying into the Des Moines-metro
trail network.
Bicycle Shop
Next door to
the hotel is the Raccoon River Valley Bicycle Shop operated by Lee
Coons. The Bicycle Shop occupies the space that was originally a
pharmacy back in the day and was the hotel's gift shop when it was
built. The rich woods and marble really make you feel like you are some
place special when you walk in.
Lee has all the accessories you need and can fix anything.
David's Milwaukee Diner
Come aboard David’s Milwaukee Diner for a dining experience that will
be a memorable occasion. Our chefs have created a delicious menu with a
variety of American Cuisine that will be sure to fancy your taste buds.
Named for David Jackson Pattee, the man in whose honor the hotel
was built, and for the Milwaukee Railroad, for more than 100 years the
main employer in Perry, the Diner aims to take you back to the era when
the train was king.
The Arrow Room, named for a Milwaukee passenger train, is a
recreation of an early 20th Century railroad dining car, complete with
coffered ceiling, wood paneling, and murals showing the countryside near
Perry by Bouton artist Dennis Adams. The Challenger and Hiawatha Rooms,
also named for Milwaukee trains are designed in the Arts and Crafts
style frequently found in depot restaurants and rail road hotel dining
rooms. The Challenger Room is topped with murals of Perry's Railroad
past by Iowa artist John Preston remind you of the panorama passengers
viewed from the train that was Queen of the Rails.
Inter-Urban Lounge
Named for the electric train that shuttled travelers back and
forth between Perry and Des Moines throughout the early part of the 20th
Century, this lounge is decorated in the style of the Midwest's
best-known Arts and Crafts designer, Frank Lloyd Wright. Known as
Prairie Style, Wright's designs dot the Midwest. Photos of the
Inter-Urban, Perry's railroad history, and the people who made the town
line the walls. Relax and enjoy a great drink menu daily in the
Inter-Urban Lounge.
Attractions
In addition to the bike trail, there are plenty of local attractions and things to to during your stay in Perry. http://www.hotelpattee.com/local-attractions.aspx
Hotel Pattee 411
The General Manager Connie Nicholson, and she is super-excited
for cyclists to spend their vacations in Iowa along the Raccoon River
Valley Trail.
The Hotel Pattee provides a variety of guest services to enhance your stay. We look forward to hosting you and your party!
1112 Willis Ave.
Perry, Iowa 50220
Phone - 515-465-3511
Email - info@hotelpattee.com
Web:www.hotelpattee.com
Facebook:www.hotelpattee.com/facebook
Twitter:www.hotelpattee.com/twitter
History of the Hotel Pattee
Originally opened in May of 1913, the Hotel Pattee was the vision
of enterprising brothers Harry and William Pattee. Perry was at that
time a thriving agricultural and railroad town 35 miles north of Des
Moines Iowa. Over the years, the hotel reflected the community’s economy
in good times and bad.
By 1993 the hotel had fallen into a state of disrepairs and was
facing extinction when it was purchased by Howard and Roberta Ahmanson.
Roberta Green Ahmanson was a native of Perry Iowa and had a vision of
restoring the hotel to its former beauty that she remembered as a small
child, in an effort to bring life back to the city.
The hotel closed in 1995 for a complete renovation and then
reopened on May 29, 1997 – eighty –four years to the day of its original
grand opening.
The newly renovated hotel incorporated the culture and experiences
of the local area into its 40 individually themed rooms and the public
spaces. Attention to every detail was given in order to provide visitors
to the hotel with a memorable experience.
The history of the hotel and the community along with its culture
is reflected in the styles and artwork found throughout the hotel. We
welcome you to our small piece of Americana nestled into Hometown Iowa.