TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Hotel Pattee, Perry, Iowa – A Destination Unto Itself

hotel-pattee- good front shot Sometimes we want to go to a resort and spend some time whether it is in the mountains or seaside or desert and other times we want to go to a destination just to enjoy that particular destination. Earlier this year we stayed at the HOTEL PATTEE in Perry, Iowa which is more or less in the middle of Iowa. Perry is actually located about 35 miles northwest of Des Moines and has a population of about 7,000. The very historical HOTEL PATTEE was built in 1913 and the interior is from the Arts and Crafts movement of that era and it is still the same. The lobby and all the rest of the interior of the hotel brings you back when grandeur was what it was all about. pattee hotel jaySince the beginning of the HOTEL PATTEE the hotel has gone thru a few owners. Jay and Denise Hartz from St. Louis purchased the hotel in 2013 and have done a truly remarkable job. They really enjoy the hotel business and are extremely professional. They live in the town and are there everyday to see that everything is done properly. hotel pattee lobbyThey offer 22 Classic Rooms, all with different themes like the Gustav Stickley Room, Needlework Room, Irish Room, Quilting Room, Russian Room, Southeast Asian Room, Welsh Room, Williams Morris Room, Woodworking Room, Bohemian Room, Marching Band Room, plus a large variety of other ‘themed’ rooms. pattee suite12 Premier Rooms, all with different themes like Perry, Iowa natives and former residents, VT Snick Hamlin, (Creator of the popular comic strip, ‘Alley Oop), Bill Bell, (who was in the John Philip Sousa band and later the Principal Tubist for the New York Philharmonic), Barry Kemp (Television writer and produce known for Newhart, Taxi and Coach) and other motifs like Swedish, Mexican, King’s Daughter, Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, American Indian, Amana Colonies and 1913 Farm House Room. 6 Full and Junior Suites (including the Louis Armstrong Suite, D.J. Pattee Suite, Earl & Virginia Green Suite, Travelers Suite, David Ahmanson Suite for Kids and the George and Agnes Soumas Suite.) pattee trainThey have a wonderful restaurant, called David’s Milwaukee Diner. It was named for David Jackson Pattee, the gentleman in whose honor the hotel was built, and for the Milwaukee Railroad which for over 100 years was the the main employer in Perry. The Diner takes 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. The Challenger and Hiawatha Rooms, also named for Milwaukee trains are designed in the Arts and Crafts style frequently found in depot hotel restaurants and railroad hotel dining rooms. Their Inter-Urban Lounge, named for the electric trains that shuttled travelers back and forth between Perry and Des Moines through the early part of the 20th Century. The 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 drinks while enjoying the nostalgia. They have live music on weekends. In addition they have a wonderful outdoor patio that is within the hotel grounds. They offer a large variety of places for weddings, anniversaries and all types of private parties. This is one of the most LGBT friendly hotels in the country. They offer many amenities including over 130 pieces of original art by more than 30 artists which are on display honoring noteworthy native sons and daughters of Iowa. Your experience will feature oversized beds, wireless Internet access, spacious bathrooms, oversized bath towels and plush robes. Spa and wood-burning fireplaces are available in selected rooms. During your stay, take advantage of their fitness center with sauna, steamroom and hot tub. And believe it or not, they have a bowling alley on the lower lever of the hotel. It has two full-functioning lanes with automated scoring. EVERY member of their staff is extremely professional and friendly. The owners certainly have taught them well. Our favorite staff member, for his ultra professionalism was Josh Riviera, Front Desk Manager. But all of the staff was perfect both in the hotel as well as in the restaurant. Thank you to the owners, Jay and Denise Hartz for returning the historical HOTEL PATTEE to its original grandeur. You and your staff are to be commended for a wonderful job on making the hotel a 5 star stay for your guests. Whether staying just for a couple of days or a week or more, we guarantee that you will be in for a very special experience. In all of our travels from coast to coast, this is the most unusual and interesting hotel we have visited. Check out their website at: www.hotelpattee.com Most hotel websites do not give a lot of details however their website tells you everything about the hotel including photos of all the rooms so before you check in, you can choose exactly which ‘themed’ room you want. They are located at 1112 Willis Avenue in downtown Perry. The phone number is 515-465-3511. The HOTEL PATTEE truly is a destination unto itself! Don and RayAlways remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

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Hotel Pattee – Gay Friendly Hotel in Perry, Iowa

Hotel Pattee Periodically we’ll feature one of our properties here to let our readers know about some great gay friendly places to stay.

Welcome to the Historic Hotel Pattee located in Perry Iowa, just North of Des Moines. The hotel was built in 1903 and renovated with over $14 Million Dollars. As an Arts and Crafts designed property, it is a “Destination unto Itself” as it boasts a full service restaurant, Frank Lloyd Wright themed Lounge, a two lane bowling alley, library, self-service and full service Spa, and more!

See the Hotel Pattee Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals in Iowa

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