Top Perry Venues

• Spaces for 160 Guests

Hotel Pattee opened in 1913 in Perry, Iowa, built by brothers Harry and William Pattee to honor their father D.J. Pattee at a cost of over $150,000. From its earliest days, the hotel served as a social hub for central Iowa, hosting grand banquets and Saturday night dances in a building recognized at the time as the finest hotel in the region. After decades of ownership changes and renovations, the hotel was restored to reflect its original character while celebrating Iowa's cultural heritage. Each of its 40 guest rooms is individually decorated to honor the traditions and immigrant communities that shaped the area. Public spaces include the Howard F. Ahmanson Lobby — a restored 1913 interior featuring Persian rugs, terra cotta tile, replica chandeliers, and an original marble staircase — alongside the Willis Library, a wood-paneled reading room with a fireplace and Arts and Crafts furnishings. For private events, the Spring Valley Ballroom anchors the venue's gathering spaces, its east wall dominated by a mural of Perry's history painted by Iowa artist Doug Shelton. The outdoor Soumas Court offers a courtyard setting among brick architecture, greenery, and art installations, well suited to ceremonies and celebrations. The Pattee Café, with its three dining areas styled after the railroad era, adds a distinctive backdrop for smaller private gatherings.

• Spaces for 200 Guests

Forest Park Museum sits on a 17-acre complex on the southeast edge of Perry, Iowa, operated by the Dallas County Conservation Board. The facility brings together three museum halls — Hastie Hall, Baldwin Hall, and the Wagner Gallery — alongside a collection of preserved historic structures including an 1867 one-room schoolhouse, an 1863 pioneer log cabin, and an 1880s scale house. The grounds include a 5-acre arboretum with more than 100 native tree and shrub species and 12 acres of re-established prairie and wildflowers, offering a distinctive natural setting for outdoor gatherings. The park is open daily, with museum hours extending through evenings and weekends from May through October. Special events are hosted through the Dallas County Conservation Board's application process, which considers community benefit and resource availability. The facility's combination of historic architecture, curated collections, and open natural landscapes makes it a one-of-a-kind setting for events rooted in Iowa's history and landscape.

• Spaces for 120 Guests
• 1 Outdoor
• 1 Park

Sportsman's Lodge is a county-operated event facility nestled within Sportsman Park, a 40-acre woodland preserve of oak and hickory timber adjacent to the North Raccoon River near Dawson, Iowa. The lodge accommodates up to 120 guests and is suited for wedding receptions, family and class reunions, bridal and baby showers, retreats, and meetings. The facility includes 15 eight-foot tables, air conditioning, heat, electricity, full restrooms with shower facilities, a full-size refrigerator, and built-in serving counters. Guests also have access to nearby playground areas and the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The lodge is available for rent year-round, weather permitting, with reservations managed through the Dallas County Conservation Board.

• Spaces for 200 Guests

Voas Nature Area is a 705-acre public nature area and education center operated by Dallas County Conservation, located near Minburn, Iowa. The property encompasses oak and hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, and wetland complex, with over five miles of mowed trails suited to hiking and cross-country skiing in all seasons. The grounds include a seasonal observation deck and picnic tables, making the area available for permitted special events through the Dallas County Conservation Board. The on-site Voas Nature Area Museum — open by appointment — houses a collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and stone tools that trace the natural and cultural history of Iowa, from prehistoric habitats to the Henry Voas family farm that first settled the land in 1863. Event use of the property requires a permit; the Conservation Board office coordinates reservations and can provide pricing details.