HOTEL GRINNELL, ASCEND HOTEL COLLECTION, Grinnell

Hotel Grinnell, Ascend Hotel Collection - A boutique hotel in a transformed historic junior high school with craft cocktails and downtown accessibility

Housed in a century-old structure that previously served as a junior high school, city hall, and church, Hotel Grinnell offers 45 rooms featuring hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and academic-themed details like chalkboards and "Hall Pass" room keys. This 4-star Grinnell hotel includes a 300-seat ballroom, 450-seat auditorium, fitness center with treadmill, rower, bike, elliptical, and free weights, plus complimentary bicycles for guest use. Rooms come equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, Blu-ray players, and private bathrooms with showers, hairdryers, and organic toiletries. The Periodic Table, the hotel's lounge and patio, serves craft beers from local breweries like Big Grove, Exile, and Toppling Goliath, alongside signature cocktails such as the "Prom Queen" and "Lab Partner." Located in downtown Grinnell, Hotel Grinnell, Ascend Hotel Collection sits across from Central Park, within walking distance of the city's best restaurants, shops, art galleries, and a 9-hole golf course.

Pros

Provides $10 per room to spend at local breakfast establishments

Pet-friendly accommodations available for $30 per pet, per stay

Features outdoor patio with gas fire pits, lounge seating, and overhead string lighting

Offers Chromecast in guest rooms

On-site shuffleboard, skee-ball, and giant Scrabble available in the lounge

Cons

Located 62 miles from Des Moines International Airport

No on-site swimming pool facilities