Brucemore — Attraction in Cedar Rapids

Me and my dad chose to visit this place for my last day of staying in Cedar Rapids, the mansion and the grounds itself were very beautiful and scenic. We ordered the tickets for a non guided tour before we got there. The staff who scanned our tickets told us that it was fine to walk around the house and that everything checked out. The staff at the front was nice but looked at us a little weird and overall seemed off. My dad and I went to the 3rd floor first and chose to make our way to the bottom floor from there. As we had gotten up there a female staff worker had followed us up and said told us we has snuck away from the rest of them. We explained that we had the no tour guide tickets and she smiled sarcastically and preceded to follow us around while we toured. No matter what floor we were on she followed us and tried to guide us. We even followed all the rules, didn’t touch anything, only went in doors that were open, no flash photography, etc. It was tolerable until we made our way back down to the first floor while in the library, the staff kept giving us glances and seemed to be keeping such an eye on us as if we were trying to steal something. Then right as we left we overheard one of the staff say “they’re finally leaving.” Overall it was not an experience I would like to come back too unless the staff...

We came for an outdoor production of a play in collaboration with our local theater group. While the play had too many F-bombs and unnecessary coarse sexual conversation for our taste, it was a great setting, though not as expansive a place to spread for seating as I expected. I can't speak to anything else as I still haven't seen the house or wandered the grounds, but it is worth a trip for a play production -- if you can find one you like. The surrounding trees make you unaware you're in Cedar Rapids, assistance is well organized with parking (though they could use glow sticks or flashlights at the end) and the sound system and staging is good and well placed. The long drive makes it feel special as well. Exiting didn't take terribly long, surprisingly. We arrived about 45 minutes before show time and the space allowed for seating was already nearly full...packed, even, so bring something to eat, friends to visit with, a book or a game to play and come an hour early if you want to get a good spot. Blankets get the front row, if you can...

My recent visit to Brucemore Mansion. Rude, pushy staff. A incompetent director and a lack of communication between all the staff that causes customers to be misinformed. I will never bring my family back to this place again and I don't recommend it to anyone visiting Cedar Rapids. I called ahead to get tour information and was told all the tours were open and to be there 15 minutes early and there wouldn't be a problem. We were there 15 minutes before the tour was set to start and we were not told where to purchase tickets or that the tour was full until after the tour was about to start. We were literally pushed out the door after the tour guide asked for tickets, seconds before the tour started. At that point the guide rushed us to the door. I barely had a chance to get my coat put back on or get my 8 month old bundled up before we were pushed out the door. The door was quickly shut behind us and locked as if she thought we were gonna sneak back in after she was out of sight. Thoroughly DISGUSTED by the staff and treatment...