Mason City and Vicinity

• Crossing the border, we entered what is called the Iowa Great Lakes region. Watersports enthusiasts are particularly drawn here by a myriad of natural glacial lakes. The two largest are East and West Lake Okoboji and, to their north, Spirit Lake. With the flat terrain, a bird’s-eye-view is impossible from the ground. However, this Internet photo does clarify just how many lakes there are:
  

  

  We stayed only one night but took the opportunity for a late afternoon hike on a stretch of the Great Lakes Spine Trail. Our Iowa homepage photo was taken on that hike, looking across Minnewashta Lake.
  
  Next day, we timed our arrival in Forest City for a 1 pm tour of the Winnebago factory:
  

  

  

  

  A 20 minute video in the Visitors Center was followed by an extensive tour of Winnebago’s huge facility. Although demand for recreation vehicles is down from a few years back, there are still thousands of local residents employed here.
  
  We greatly enjoyed “Music Man Square” in Mason City, built as a tribute to Meredith Willson and as a storehouse for his mementoes:
  

  

  The Square’s museum has a delightful video with Shirley Jones describing the 9 months of rehearsals before making the “The Music Man.” Willson is best known for writing its story, lyrics and music, which, incredibly, he accomplished over a 7 year period while working full time! A tour of Willson’s boyhood home, right next door, was included with admission:
  

  

  We couldn’t help hamming it up near this statue of the energetic and popular Willson:
  

  

  

  After all that excitement, back into the Square we went for refreshments before starting a walkabout of town:
  

  

  Two buildings stand out in Mason City as signature designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, one a private residence and the other a bank/hotel:
  

  

  

  We re-entered "Music Man Square" as dusk approached not only to reach our car but for one last nostalgic look:
  

  

  Mason City itself is said to be the inspiration for Willson’s fictitious River City, “Oh, you got trouble!” Even the bridge in a local park is said to resemble the famous rendezvous, “the footbridge in 15 minutes!”