Menu of Venues — Unique Iowa Spots that Theme Your Event

Ever been in a creative drought? You know how it is — those times when you just cannot seem to come up with a theme for your event that’s unique and memorable. Why not let your venue do the work for you? Pick a place that’s out of the ordinary and watch as out-of-the-box inspiration washes over you.

Create a Masterpiece

Nothing sparks conversation and encourages socializing like art. Whether it’s classic or contemporary, conforming or controversial, sculptures, paintings, films and photos in an art gallery will stir your guests’ imaginations and provide a wonderful canvas upon which you can create your event. In the heart of the Quad Cities lies the Figge Art Museum where you can choose to have your guests wander the luminous glass building that overlooks the Mississippi river; enjoy the dramatic grand lobby; relax in the dining room and bar; or gather in the John Deere Auditorium; all while surrounded by an eclectic collection of art.

Hit the Jackpot

Casino nights are an evergreen hit and never seem to go out of style. Fortunately, with so many wonderful, all-inclusive, multi-functional casino resorts close by, you can host an event that we bet your guests will love.  Check out Wild Rose Casino + Resort with locations in Emmetsburg and Clinton. Wild Rose Casino + Resort Emmetsburg is a 16,300 square foot casino with the latest in slots, table games, entertainment and concerts. Its modern hotel offers 70 luxury rooms and suites, plus two restaurants, a bar, a coffee shop and a business center, which all adds up to a sure thing. Wild Rose Casino + Resort Clinton is one of Iowa’s first riverboat casinos converted to a land-based destination gaming resort with table games, card games and more than 550 slots. Featuring 60 gorgeous rooms, fine dining, a grand ballroom and fitness center, odds are good your guests will have a great time.

Stop by the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf and Quad Cities Waterfront Convention to cash in on the action. The Casino features Vegas-style gaming, nearby marina, fine dining and a 500-room hotel which connects to the Convention Center. Offering 24,000 square feet of meeting space, business center and cutting edge technology, you’ll soon see why Isle is where the action is.

Find them Fascinating

Meetings, lectures and even social events become uber fascinating when folks are surrounded by history. Invite your guests to explore captivating interactive outdoor exhibits, at Living History Farms, a 500-acre outdoor museum that shows how over the course of 300 years, Iowans transformed the fertile Midwest prairies into the most productive farmland in the world. Featuring multiple venues on site, including the elegant Flynn Mansion, the great hall and celebration room in the Visitor Center, the William G. Murray Conference Center, the Walnut Hill Picnic Shelter, the Church of the Land and the Flynn Barn.

Go Freestylin’

A day on the slopes followed by an evening in the lodge can be invigorating as well as team building. Seven Oaks Recreation boasts year-round outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, canoeing, kayaking, river tubing, paintball, mountain biking and more. The Lodge at Seven Oaks with its vaulted ceilings and knotty pine interior is the perfect place to relax with a beer, a glass of wine and a deliciously catered meal after a full day of activity.

Head cross country to Mount Crescent where you’ll find skiing, snowboarding, zibob sledding, snow tubing and snowshoeing along with a cozy lodge, hearty winter fare in the café and bar, ski rental and private and group ski and snowboard lessons.

Give a Stunning Performance

Your group can be center stage at one of many dramatic theater venues. The Iowa State Center Event + Conference Services at Iowa State University offers the Scheman Building with its 450-seat auditorium, 25 flexible conference rooms, 8000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, 2600 square feet of covered outdoor space and full-service catering.

Also critically acclaimed, the Science Center of Iowa + Blank IMAX Dome Theater with its six-story dome shaped screen, 12,000-watt digital surround sound system and a 216-seat theater, as well as multiple additional spaces including classrooms, atrium and garden terrace.

Now that you’ve been inspired by this yummy menu of venues, we challenge you to try to choose just one.