Discover the boutique Hotel Greenfield, a short 15-minute detour off of I-80, and experience a different side of Iowa. This quiet, small town packs some big attractions — Iowa Aviation Museum, Freedom Rock, Schildberg Car Museum, and Bridges of Madison County, to name a few. Greenfield was another stop on my re-discover Iowa road trip, yet another surprise at how amazing is my home state and its hotels.
After supporting my granddaughter’s softball tournament in Omaha, I loaded the car to begin my 5-day Iowa road trip, first stop Greenfield, about 90-minute drive. The mostly western Iowa Interstate-80 was a drive down memory lane as this was the part of the state that I lived in until I was a teen. But I had not yet ventured off the interstate to this small town nor stayed at Hotel Greenfield.
I exited on #86 and had a bit of deja vu with the two-lane winding country roads, corn fields, and cow pastures. Since this was late March, the usual plush farmland of the plains was only just beginning to bud.
Arrival at Hotel Greenfield, Iowa
Just 15 minutes off the beaten path, I entered the city limits of Greenfield, first settled in 1854. Beautiful, quiet and typical Iowa with homes sporting Victorian wrap around porches, forever stamped in history as part of the Greenfield Public Square Historic District. A right turn off the main street and a short few blocks later, and and I had arrived at my hotel.
Dating back to 1920, Hotel Greenfield is a three-story brick building designed by local architect William Gordon and listed on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the town’s historic district.
Plenty of complimentary street parking is available, and since this was off-season, I was one of few guests. Step up a few steps and enter the beautiful pillared doorway, and step into a museum-like lobby, with leather seating, statues, artwork and photos detailing the history of the hotel and the area.
Check-in was effortless as it usually is with small boutique hotels, and I was directed to take the stairs to the right of the check-in desk.
Accommodations
Hotel Greenfield offers 20 rooms, all with refrigerators and microwaves, flat-screen TVs and free WiFi (strong signal in my room). My room was surprisingly large, for a historic hotel, and included a separate bath and an open storage closet for my suitcase and to hang clothes.
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Amenities
Continental breakfast is included (but I was not impressed with cold cereal and granola bars, perhaps this was due to only two guests in the hotel during my stay?).
In addition to the sprawling lobby, to the far right is a lounging area, while through the door just to the right of the reception desk is a casual full-service lounge. There is an outdoor patio, but it was not open during my rainy March visit. Other amenities include laundry facilities and 24-hour front desk. Affordable meeting space is also offered at Hotel Greenfield, seating up to 75 and located on the first floor.
Affordable meeting space is also offered at Hotel Greenfield, seating up to 75 and located on the first floor.
Next door is a hotel restaurant (in the annexed historic building, details below), which unfortunately was not open during my Sunday evening stay. Greenfield has a few options for dining, but they are nearby including where I dined at the Los Altos Mexican Restaurant (okay not fantastic food but great service) a few minutes away.
Location of Hotel Greenfield
Just 40 minutes away, many tourists use Hotel Greenfield as a home base to explore the Bridges of Madison County and Winterset, John Wayne’s Birthplace. Other worthwhile tourist attractions in or near Greenfield include Freedom Rock (pictured below), Warren Cultural Center, Iowa Aviation Museum, Schielberg Car Museum (across the street), and the historic town square (at the end of the street).
History of Hotel Greenfield
The architecture of Hotel Greenfield is symbolic of many Iowa structures: symmetrical facade, round arched windows, classical entrance, all designed around the lines of brick in Classical Revival (commercial) style. I personally love these types of buildings. As with many historic buildings, in the 70s it started to become run down, and not until 2010 was it purchased and then renovated by ADCO Enterprises. At that time, the owners also added the adjacent Adair County Democrat-Adair County Free Press Building. That annexation is home to the restaurant, lounge, two hotel suites, laundry and housekeeping facilities.
Room Rates start at $125. Compare rates at Hotels.com or Expedia.
Disclaimer: Travel Iowa provided accommodations for my review; opinions expressed are my own. Photo credit: Diana Rowe / TravelingInHeels.com
