Hotel Winneshiek — Hotel in Decorah

We have stayed at the hotel dozens of times over dozens of years and we love it. I am only offering these thoughts because I want the hotel to thrive.

I know absolutely nothing about the economics of running a small hotel in a small town so maybe what I am about to say is unrealistic.  HOWEVER, I stay at the hotel less frequently now and, unless things change, that trend is likely to continue.

We absolutely loved the Tap Room and having the opportunity to mingle with other guests and locals in the cozy upscale bar which the Tap Room was. At least on Friday and Saturday nights, it was generally very busy.  Moving the bar out front inside the restaurant detracts from the experience of both your bar patrons and your restaurant patrons. It doesn't work.  At all.

We loved the separate restaurant.  Again, it may not be economical, but we'd sure love to have a somewhat upscale restaurant separate from the bar in regular operation, including breakfast. We regularly had both supper and breakfast there when it was available and it greatly enhanced our stay as hotel. The current breakfast bar in the old Tap Room is better suited to a Motel 6. Not exactly the classy arrangement one might expect at a nice hotel.

By eliminating the Tap Room and the restaurant, your amenities are no better than a nice Air BnB.  We are now more likely to stay at an Air BnB, eat at LaRana or Twin Springs and mix with the locals at one of the local bars or breweries.

My third concern is the lack of activity at the Opera House.  We loved various events (ranging from musical acts to Oneota Film Festival to drag queens...you name it).  The Opera House should be the heart of Decorah, attracting people to your hotel, your restaurant and even to your bar before and after shows.  In recent years, it seems to be empty...like a haunted attic at grandma's house.  So beautiful. So much potential.  So lifeless.

Without a nice restaurant, an active Opera house, and separate bar, the Hotel Winn is a nice but lifeless shell.  Someone with some passion, some energy, and some vision could return it to glory, but if nothing changes, I fear it may revert to the cheap rooming house which it was before it was so nicely restored.

I can't tell you how to economically run your hotel, but I can tell you that our experience as guests has diminished in direct proportion to the deterioration of activities at your hotel. I hope someone can return the hotel into something unique and special by utilizing the Opera house, the restaurant, and the Tap Room.  I can get a nice...

One does not simply stay at Hotel Winneshiek; one resides—as one might in a well-appointed manor, curated for those whose tastes lean toward the cultivated and the quietly extravagant. Nestled in the heart of Decorah, Iowa, this historic gem offers a rarefied experience that evokes the golden age of travel, when elegance was expected and mediocrity was not tolerated.

Upon arrival, I was greeted not by a front desk, but by a tableau of architectural splendor: stained glass transoms, ornate woodwork, and a lobby that whispers of Edwardian soirées and whispered confidences over brandy. The staff, mercifully devoid of the cloying cheerfulness so common in lesser establishments, conducted themselves with the kind of discreet attentiveness one associates with private clubs in Mayfair.

My suite—an Executive King, naturally—was a triumph of taste. High ceilings, period furnishings, and a bath that could accommodate a small orchestra should one wish to soak to the strains of Schubert. The linens were of a thread count that suggested a disdain for anything below four figures, and the Wi-Fi, while present, was so unobtrusive it felt like a guilty pleasure.

Breakfast was a revelation. The continental offerings were not the usual sad parade of shrink-wrapped pastries, but rather a curated selection of local delicacies that spoke to the chef’s understanding of terroir. The coffee—robust, complex, and served in Styrofoam—was clearly brewed for those who read Proust before noon.

The location, mere steps from Vesterheim Museum and Dunning’s Spring Park, allows one to indulge in cultural pursuits without the vulgarity of excessive exertion. And should one require a moment of repose, the lobby’s fireplace offers the perfect setting for quiet reflection or a spirited debate on the merits of neoclassical design.

In sum, Hotel Winneshiek is not for the masses. It is for those of us who still believe that travel should be an experience, not a transaction. A place where one is not merely accommodated,...

This was our first time staying at Winneshiek. It is an older hotel which is part of the charm. Everything has been beautifully restored over the years. They have an opera house upstairs that takes your imagination away. The old drop cloth is on display which still has all of the hand sewn stitches for repairs in it. I was really mesmerized with how beautiful this hotel is. They have a gorgeous stained glass sun roof that you can view from the center of multiple floors. I am not sure why this hotel has received bad reviews. Our room was very clean. Our bed was extremely comfortable. There is a light switch you have to turn on so you have power to your television so if your tv is not turning on this is why. The shower was nice and very hot plus they have heated lamps in the bathrooms. They also give you a bath mat to put down in the tub which by the way is very slick and recommend using the mat. I really liked their samples of shampoo, conditioner and body soap. Great clean smell and very moisturizing. Most hotels don’t have great samples but kudos to whoever is in charge of ordering them at this hotel. Breakfast was mostly cold options. They have a large choice of breakfast bars, cereals, yogurt and some fruit. They also provide microwaveable breakfast sandwiches. Breakfast was our only let down staying here but by all means it was not awful. Our favorite part of our stay was how pet friendly this hotel is. Yes you need to register all your dogs with the front desk. Pet fees are a bit high at 35.00 per night but we travel with our three dogs ranging from 35 to 55 pounds. Lots of places will charge per pet per night with a limit of two dogs. Our dogs are very well trained, clean and go everywhere with us. It was a relief that the Winneshiek did not mind our three furr babies being present. We will absolutely be staying at this hotel again if we are in Decorah. Thanks you to the hotel staff for such a friendly and relaxing...