Don’t Let An Opportunity Pass You By
One of the greatest lessons my mom ever taught me was to take every opportunity you can and never be afraid to meet new people. You never know where a simple conversation might lead. I can honestly say that advice has led to some incredible experiences, and one of those happened just this past weekend.
The story actually began last fall at a college Homecoming football game. I noticed someone well known and decided to introduce my family. We chatted for a while, took a picture together, and when he learned we were from Mason City, he immediately started talking about The Music Man (even singing a few tunes from the musical) and Frank Lloyd Wright. I was taken aback and asked him, “Have you ever been to Mason City?”
His answer surprised me.
“No.”
And I said, “Well then how do you know so much about it??”
And he replied, “I read books, and I love music and architecture.”
As we continued talking, he learned that my husband was running for mayor. John told him that if he was elected and this individual ever found himself in Mason City, he would love to personally show him around our community.
Fast forward to the evening of July 3rd this past weekend. John received an email and this man said he and his wife would be driving through town the next morning. They only had about an hour, but they wanted to see our historic Park Inn Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
So on Saturday morning, we met them downtown, and what a perfect day it was. The weather couldn’t have been better. The Farmers Market was bustling across the street in Central Park, and there was even a steak competition happening downtown. It was one of those mornings that truly showcased the best of our community.
We spent the entire hour exploring the Hotel and sharing stories about the building and our town. Honestly, we wished they could have stayed longer because there are so many more hidden gems, fascinating stories, and beautiful places we would have loved to show them.
As we wrapped up, we invited them to come back so we could give them an even longer tour. We told them how much we love Mason City, and both of them smiled and said, “That’s very obvious.”
None of this would have happened if I hadn’t walked over and introduced myself last fall. Sometimes one simple conversation can open the door to an unexpected opportunity.
Since I’m sharing a photo of the Historic Park Inn, I thought I’d include a few interesting facts about this incredible landmark.
Built in 1910, the Park Inn was originally designed as a mixed-use building that included a hotel, bank, law offices, and other commercial spaces. Today, visitors from around the world come to Mason City to experience its beautiful Prairie School architecture and timeless design. Most remarkably, it is the last remaining hotel in the world designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
The building wasn’t always in such wonderful condition. By 1999, it had fallen into serious disrepair and was named one of Iowa’s Most Endangered Properties. In 2005, a dedicated group of local preservationists formed the Wright on the Park organization and launched an ambitious campaign to save it. After years of hard work and nearly $20 million in restoration efforts, the Historic Park Inn was beautifully restored and reopened in 2011.
It’s more than just a hotel. It’s a symbol of what a community can accomplish when people believe in preserving their history.
Mason City truly is full of remarkable stories, remarkable architecture, and remarkable people. I feel incredibly fortunate to call it home.
* I am not including the name of this individual who visited our town due to respecting his privacy*
