Top 7 Budget-friendly Things to do in Mason City, Iowa (IA)

January 19, 2022 Marianna Hollaway

Mason City is a city in and the county seat of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 28,079 in the 2010 census, a decline from 29,172 in the 2000 census. The Mason City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Cerro Gordo and Worth counties. It is commonly referred to as the "River City", as the city grew up centered on the Winnebago River.
Restaurants in Mason City

1. Stockman House Museum

530 1st St NE, Mason City, IA 50401-3534 +1 641-423-1923 [email protected] http://www.stockmanhouse.org
Excellent
84%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 199 reviews

Stockman House Museum

This is the only Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Style House open to the public in Iowa. Private tours are offered on a daily basis by reservation. Check our website for more detailed information.

Reviewed By tank1050 - Wescosville, United States

Once again we found another gem of a Frank Lloyd Wright home as well as a neat museum next door. The home is located in a neighborhood of similarly well designed homes, some by Wright's pupils. While you wait for your tour to start, take a look at the exhibits in the visitor center . The scale models and renderings and information is great. Bob, our guide, gave us a great tour. he was very friendly and full of information on the house and its details. This Prairie style house was built in 1912. It was well restored and is great to tour. We have loved all of the Wright designed buildings we have toured around the country and this one didn't disappoint us. We didn't have time to do the hotel in town but I wish we could have. Tour was $10 per person with on site parking. Note; no pictures inside house.

2. Lime Creek Nature Center

3501 Lime Creek Rd, Mason City, IA 50401-9256 +1 641-423-5309 http://www.limecreeknature.org
Excellent
77%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 39 reviews

Lime Creek Nature Center

3. Meredith Willson Boyhood Home

Mason City Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mason City, IA 50401 +1 800-423-5724 http://www.facebook.com/The-Music-Man-Square-246474285429643
Excellent
58%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 67 reviews

Meredith Willson Boyhood Home

Willson, composer of "The Music Man," grew up in this Mason City house.

Reviewed By fergiedad - Port Townsend, United States

The Meredith Wilson Boyhood Home forms many of the impressions from which the Music Man emerges. This is included in The Museum admission and is a must see.

4. Music Man Square

308 S Pennsylvania Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3913 +1 641-424-2852 [email protected] http://www.themusicmansquare.org/
Excellent
58%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 164 reviews

Music Man Square

5. Charles H. MacNider Art Museum

303 2nd St SE, Mason City, IA 50401-3925 +1 641-421-3666 [email protected] http://www.macniderart.org/
Excellent
64%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 98 reviews

Charles H. MacNider Art Museum

The Charles H. MacNider Museum is a non-profit, municipally owned institution conceived in 1964 and opened by 1966 in Mason City, Iowa. Everything the Museum does is educational or aesthetic in nature centering around working with objects of art. The museum exhibits and interprets a permanent collection of American art; temporary exhibitions of art; provides art classes for all ages; offers enriching arts programs; and maintains an art library.

Reviewed By LoriH611 - Springfield, United States

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit here during a couple days exploring the Mason City/Clear Lake area. The museum has a very nice variety of collections displayed in a thoughtful and yet not too serious manner. Highlight for us was the extensive marionette collection, most donated by famous puppeteer Bill Baird, who was from Mason City. As a huge Sound of Music fan I was absolutely thrilled to see some of the marionettes from the movie’s famous lonely goatherd puppet show!

6. Rock Crest - Rock Glen Historical District

17 S Federal Ave Off U.S. Route 18, Along Willow Creek, Mason City, IA 50401-3727 [email protected]
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 21 reviews

Rock Crest - Rock Glen Historical District

Wright on the Park is the nonprofit organization that restored, owns and maintains Frank Lloyd Wright's Historic Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank in Mason City, Iowa. The hotel is the last designed by Wright left in existance. As part of their mission Wright on the Park conducts docent led tours of the historic hotel and the neighboring Rock Crest - Rock Glen Historical District.

7. Fat Hill Brewing

17 N Federal Ave, Mason City, IA 50401-3250 +1 641-423-0737 [email protected] http://www.fathillbrewing.com/
Excellent
79%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 29 reviews

Fat Hill Brewing

Fat Hill Brewing, a 7-barrel craft brewery, opened downtown Mason City in December 2016. Its brewing facility and taproom in the long-vacant historic building at 17 N. Federal Avenue features sixteen taps, space for 140 patrons, and a variety of live music and special events. Fat Hill Brewing got its name after we realized Cerro Gordo means Fat Hill in English. We wanted a name that would have a special meaning to locals but also be appealing to visitors and we think we found the perfect one. The taproom sells pints, flights, crowlers, growlers, and kegs on request. Please see Tap Room page on our website for info about holding your next private event with us.

Reviewed By jennifer0ls0n - Garner, United States

We had a great educational opportunity to tour the brewery and learn more about the ingredients and process of how Fat Hill makes their brew. It was a great experience and we had great feedback from the attendees on the visit. It was a great atmosphere, there were families playing games and enjoying their food they brought in. There was great live music that afternoon which was great as well. There was also a family celebrating a gift exchange tasting some brews and listening to music. This was a great location easy parking and Fat Hill Brewery employees love what they do along with the owners! Thank you Fat Hill Brewery! They don't have food on site, they do let you bring in your own and you can have food delivered.

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