We went here for our mini honeymoon. It's very nice and out of the way. Clean and well taken care…read moreof. The owner is helpful and courteous (although a bit chatty) and the grounds are lovely. We really enjoyed the gazebo and pond, but were a little put off by the $35/day extra charge to use the kitchen. We were very disappointed when we found out the hot tub wasn't working which I mentioned to the owner multiple times. When I asked about a discount, the owner told me "No, I can't. That is out of my hands." I don't whose hands a decision like that should be in if not the owners. The bed and breakfast served it purpose as a place to relax after our wedding but is not someplace we would go to again.

Incredible establishment with so many amenities!…read more My family has loved Great Escape for bowling parties, social outings and just fun for the kids in the arcade. Recently we enrolled in the learn to bowl class with Darla, who is an amazing teacher. Where else in the Central Iowa can you get professional help from a hall of fame bowler. The food is hands down the best I have had in a very long time. It was a perfect array of foods. From delicious wings, to incredible pizza, to the gourmet burgers. There is something for everyone on Great Escapes food menu. My personal favorite is the jalapeño popper burger. WOW! 5 stars is not enough for a diamond in the rough!! You can truly tell the owners take pride in their establishment. Always re-investing in their business. Run! Don't walk, to the best family entertainment center in Iowa!!

A Remarkable Birthday Experience - Truly Unforgettable!…read more We celebrated our twins' 6th birthday party at this bowling alley back in October 2024, and even months later, the experience still stands out as one of the most memorable events we've had as a family. Life got in the way of writing this sooner, but the level of care and professionalism we received from the staff deserves to be recognized, no matter how much time has passed. From the moment we started planning, the staff was beyond accommodating and attentive. Communication was seamless leading up to the big day, and they made every effort to ensure things ran smoothly from start to finish. On the day of the party, they assigned our group a dedicated support person who went above and beyond--keeping drinks filled, food warm, and everyone smiling. It felt like every detail, big or small, mattered to them. What really touched us most was the way they made our twins and their friends feel special, especially in the arcade area. Their kindness, patience, and energy created an unforgettable atmosphere for the kids, and left a lasting impression on every adult in the room. It's rare these days to find a team that takes pride in genuine customer service the way this crew did. They didn't just host a party--they created an experience, and it's why we will continue to celebrate our family birthdays here. Customer service is free, but this team gave it with heart, effort, and professionalism that went above and beyond expectations. Thank you for making our twins' birthday so special--we can't wait to come back!

I was here for a conference this past weekend and the facilities were all very well maintained and…read morefull stocked throughout the weekend. The building itself was very new and beautifully decorated. I didn't get a chance to explore the rest of the building/casino/racetrack but I will definitely be back soon for pleasure and not business!

Spent a few days out in Iowa and 90% of it was spent at Prairie Meadows (the other 10% at the…read moreairport or traveling to and from). Was able to stay a few nights, walk around the entire conference area, ate at the cafe, passed through the casino area, and back to the horse track area for a private party throughout my stay here. CONFERENCE MEETING ROOMS - Spacious and clean, but a little dated compared to the modern lobby area, however it added it's own charm in a certain way. Really liked how open the hallways and rooms were and the multiple entrances and exits. CAFE - Checked in late and was fortunate enough to grab a bite here before it closed for the evening. Ordered a Cajun Chicken Alfredo Pasta with a side of Chicken Noodle Soup and it was big enough to last me two days! Maybe this is me coming from CA, but damn food is cheap in Iowa!! A little on the salty side here but not bad at all! Would definitely order again. CASINO AREA - I am not much of a gambler by any means, but on my short walk passing through to get to the horse tracks, it smelled just like any Vegas Casino (smoke) and sounded just as animated with the slots lighting up on every pull. I would definitely have spent some time here if I had some gambling blood in me. HORSE TRACKS - Ever since I heard about the Del Mar Fairgrounds shooting an injured racehorse right on the tracks on opening day, I haven't been able to look at the sport the same way. In any case, this venue did offer a nice outdoor tented area and trailer directly in front of the tracks, complete with a bar and hor dourves for private parties. My colleague and I both agreed that this was a nice little getaway spot and on the way out, caught a few races and was amused with the clever names the announcer was riffling off. The ENTIRE facility was FREEZING the whole time I was there. We all joked around how we could save the venue thousands of dollars by just turning it up a couple notches. I think my thermostat read 60 when I got to my room. BRRRR!!!!!! One final thing.... the reason why I can't give the 5 stars, was because for whatever reason, those in my group who checked in before and after me all ended up with suites (amongst a group of ~90), while I just ended up with a standard room. RUDE. The room I ended up having was still spacious and the bed was absolutely comfortable, but it was annoying hearing everyone at the event comment on how all the rooms there were suites. NO. NO THEY ARE NOT.....

I fell in love with Hotel Grinnell before I even had a chance to visit. Just knowing its history…read moreand how it was an old school building having been converted to a hotel, was enough to have me interested and intrigued! They have done a great job of converting this facility to a hotel. A lot of the original school was able to be restored, such as their flooring and the auditorium. The original scoreboard is even set up on the wall in the bar. And speaking of the bar, it previously held the locker rooms. There are 43 rooms, the rooms used to be classrooms. Queen and double bed rooms are available as well as sweets, including one two level penthouse suite. The penthouse suite is gorgeous with its own dressing room that can also serve as a salon and makeup area. It would be great for a wedding party! Additionally, there are two Bunk Rooms that will sleep up to 10 people in each. The rooms are modern and trendy, and many of them have the original school windows that are a large offer a lot of light in the room. In lieu of do not disturb door hangers, there are ties to hang outside the door. There is Keurig machines in each room, as well as cups, K-Cups, sugar, and creamer. There is artwork in every room and throughout the hotel, and there is not a single duplicate. There is different art in each room! The Periodic Table is on site, they serve food and drinks. The hotel also offers a light complimentary breakfast here in the mornings during the week. In the restaurant / bar are games, work areas, a giant Scrabble board on the wall, and a computer station. There is even outdoor seating and fire pits, the outdoor area is very large. Game such as corn hole are also available. There is also a fitness room available on the 2nd story. Free bikes are available to rent for all guests. They are located on the first floor, all you have to do is check a bike out with the front desk. It's a nice way to get around! There are no phones in the rooms, and instead the front desk will text you upon check-in and you can text them whenever you have questions or need something. Someone is always available this way. I can't say enough about how much I enjoyed staying here!

Super amazing boutique hotel! Lucky enough to stay here. This is an old middle school. The rooms…read moreare old classrooms. They have bikes you can use to ride around the cute downtown. They turned to gym into a ballroom. The restaurant is called Periodic table. This is where they have a complimentary breakfast. They have a giant scrabble board, skee ball. The rooms were adorable and comfortable. The showers had a great rainfall shower head. The staff was amazing!!! I would go out of my to stay here when heading done I-80.

I was in Newton for a celebration of life/family reunion from out of state and stayed here for 5…read morenights with my mom. I can't say nothing bad about it. It was as advertised. Breakfast was suitable, used it every day, coffee was good and every was clean. Rooms on one side of the building even have a nice view. Rooms were spacious. Staff was friendly. I have other family there and I would stay there again.

What a great place. The room is spacious, clean and comfortable. Nice touches. The breakfast…read moreoffered is nice and the room where it is, over looks a wild life pond with lots of windows. Priced very well. Also quiet here

Nice local area community center, we held my daughter-in-laws bridal shower there. Lots of added…read moreammenities.

Smokin G's is an excellent catering service to work with. Every month they serve over 50…read moreindividuals at my organization. They are friendly, prompt, and SO FAIR with their prices. Their brisket and cheesy potatoes are famous, but I would suggest trying out their other options, too! They have a phenomenal grilled pork chop and their almond green beans are excellent. If I lived in Marshalltown, I would recommend them to everyone there, unfortunately I only travel their for work but every time I do, I am more than satisfied with their service and the quality of the meals they serve. This catering business is truly a business I feel good supporting.

Z Marie's is Home Cooked Meals To Go! She posts her menu on her facebook page, sometimes for the…read moremonth, sometimes week to week. Typically meals are on Mondays and Wednesdays. I am a newbie, so I am just learning all about what she does. There are different size options you may order from her menu, single size, medium size and family size. I got started on a freezer meal sale she had and I was instantly hooked. I bought a bacon cheeseburger meatloaf for my husband that he ate on all week (and loved!), some breakfast scrambles and individual servings of cheesy chicken broccoli quinoa. I instantly grabbed January's menu and was salivating at all the options. My husband likes more hamburger items, so we ordered a medium sized tator tot casserole. We requested our pick up time and when I got it, it was hot and ready to go with a family sized side salad. Again, a favorite of my husband's. I have also had her frosted sugar cookies at other events and they are tasty too. Not too sweet and oh so good! This is a unique and great service/business for our community. Hot, home cooked meals to go. Perfect for busy families, older folks, single folks, really, anyone. You don't have to get dressed up to go out and you can have a great tasting meal at home without the dishes or mess.