I attended a work event at the Nature Lodge today. The room we used was able to access a very large…read moregroup (over 50) comfortably. Large windows brought in plenty of natural light. There was a large rolling rack for coats by the door. The entrance was welcoming with large seasonal planter. Parking was convenient and seemed to manage our group. Forgot to take pictures but will add some next time I am there.

Wowwww This is the park of all parks!…read more Worth the drive from Des Moines to Madrid, Iowa. Great "tree museum" if that's what you want to call it but it was very educational and well worth the time and money. Visited on a Friday morning with our homeschool community and it was a busy morning. Reserved a guided tour months prior for our large group and paid extra for the tree house playground experience. The guided tour was absolutely fascinating and our group learned so much about how to identify different types of trees and plants. The gardens are awesome even in the fall. Worth a second or third trip for the different seasons we have here in Iowa. The playground was MASSIVE and newly built. All wooded and just a walk away from the arboretum. My kids and the other students really enjoyed this playground. Safe and fun. Found lots of accessibility for all to play Highly

A lovely spot in the middle of Iowa. Offering classes, initiating preservation of monarch butterfly…read morehabitat, building pollinator gardens, and quiet places for a walk. Entry fee for non-members is $10 per person with reduced rates for children. Open year-round to the public, this sanctuary has facilities for meetings, parties, weddings, etc. A number of trails allow you to walk through the different gardens and enjoy and ever changing display throughout the year. We were so pleasantly surprised at this little slice of paradise so far off the beaten path. Established in the early 1980s by an Iowa family that owned a nursery in the region. Bird watchers, gardeners, and anyone that just enjoys beautiful flowers should check out the Iowa Arboretum.

We had my mom's 80th birthday party at the 1850 Homestead and it was perfect! Michelle was easy to…read morework with and so helpful. If you are looking for a place to have a birthday party, a reunion, a work party, a celebration of life celebration or any type of event this is the perfect place. The refurbished barn is beautiful. The outside setting is beautiful. They also have an air bnb on site which looks awesome. I can not say enough great things about the 1850 Homestead. It is AMAZING!

Opens in August, looks like it will be a nice place to hold events great stand of corn next to it…read morefor a backdrop... Classic barn interior housed in a modern shell to maintain climate control year round. We have an event booked for mid August.

Whether you are planning your wedding, reception, reunion, graduation, corporate event or any other…read moregatherings. Knotty Pine Venue possesses the perfect mixture of country, all while offering you a private and modern accommodations! The owners were able to recommend a variety of vendors - catering, DJ, Desserts and security. Nice size venue for the wedding/reception we attended. Large round tables were provided and easily fit the 200 guest of the wedding. They also provided banquet tables.

I was a day of coordinator for a wedding here in April. The venue was beautiful and set up…read moreperfectly with lots of space for the head table, guests, DJ, food, dance, cake table, snack table, gift table, and bar. There were spacious lounge rooms for groom groomsmen and bride and bridal parties with lots of mirrors and private bathrooms!! Perfect for everyone to get ready in all at once and leave all there stuff safely throughout the day. I did not stop hearing comments from the guests all day about how cute the bathrooms were. There was full changing tables, very family friendly. The lighting was the best I have seen at a venue. There was tons of natural light, the photographer thanks you! When it got dark the lights were beautiful but also actually lit the place up so we weren't sitting in a cave! It was beautiful inside and out, lots of places outside to do pictures. The parking lot is massive and there is easy pull up drop off access for limo or grandparent drop offs. The kitchen is spotless and practical with its own entrance. The owner Dorisa, her husband, and all of the staff were impeccable. I did not meet them until the big day during our first crisis (non existent keg) and they went above and beyond to help. The owners and staff were always present, never difficult to find, and ready to do whatever it took to make the day go off without a hitch. Throughout the whole day I was constantly seeing Dorisa, her husband, and all the staff go above and beyond expectations helping where it was needed, not just required. Overall I was incredibly impressed. It felt like we were being hosted by a family in their gigantic beautiful venue home than renting a space from a business. I don't think it can get much better than that! I strongly recommend this venue to anyone and everyone! Thank you!!!

If you have an upcoming event, I highly recommend this beautiful venue. They have several different…read morerooms, including a ballroom and what they called their green room. There are lush outdoor spaces. The worship team from my church recently held a recording session at the Monroe, and it was a perfect venue for us to be there. The staff was very accommodating. The building is beautiful and meticulously clean. Have a party and enjoy

From the owner: Welcome to The Monroe in West Des Moines, Iowa--an elegant, modern venue uniting old-world charm…read morewith contemporary sophistication for weddings and events. Our all-inclusive approach simplifies planning, pairing you with an expert from day one. Choose from three curated bar packages for your guests, ensuring a delightful experience. Our well-equipped kitchen aids caterers in crafting culinary masterpieces. Prepare in private get-ready rooms with plush furnishings and en-suite bathrooms. For ceremonies, opt for our Chapel Room with its vaulted wood-beam ceilings and natural light, or the charming outdoor brick-paved patio with a wooden pergola backdrop.

I had the pleasure of participating in a wedding that was held here recently…read more I dont have all the details of the rental agreement, but here are my take-aways. The house you can rent with the barn is huge. It had enough space and beds to hold the wedding party. The couple had the rehearsal dinner here the night prior to the wedding. We all met at the house, mingled, talked, and had dinner. There is a full kitchen and a butlers kitchen. They cooked dinner right there. Lots of space in this beautiful old house. It was a beautiful October evening so we even hung out in the open garage at a large table. The grounds are spacious. There is a pond and a little road that runs around it to the Barn, which is the venue. The next day we came back for the wedding. The majority of the wedding party had slept over, and stayed in the house. Bride made her way to the barn in the private suite for hair and getting dressed. I am married to one of the groomsmen so I was in charge of a couple little things. I got to talk with the nice staff who were helping get things set up. I asked them to add a couple little things to their honey-do lists before the wedding and they said no problem. I ran around to help and when something came up, they were quick to accommodate and help out. The barn is beautiful. I love the interior and the lighting. It is a barn. Barn doors on both ends, large wood structure with large beams. Details in cast iron and great floor for dancing all made this a great place. Easily holding about 200 people. Ample parking in the field that is mowed to accommodate. The couple catered in and it seemed seamless. Open bar as they have their own liquor license. We dance the night away in the barn under the beautiful tree lighting. The barn doors wide open for cool air. The kids playing on the hay bales right outside the doors. Being this far outside of town you could see stars forever. If I needed a romantic country setting, this is a great choice.

I was invited to a wedding in Iowa and the wedding took place at this beautiful rustic barn. What a…read morebeautiful place, the smell of wood, the beams, the cast iron details, just absolutely breath taken. Every detail made this place that much special. I'm from big cities and this place made me feel like as if I was part of a hallmark movie. Perfect and beautiful

We attended a wedding here during the summer and had an absolute blast. If you are looking for a…read morevenue for a smaller, casual wedding, I recommend checking this place out. The setting is really beautiful and Dave and Angela really know how to help your day go well. They can arrange everything from a photographer to the bar and catering. The space is pretty easy to decorate, and its next to a park so if you want to be outside you can. It's hard to find venues that are a good fit for parties or weddings of this size. There aren't many places in Adel, either. It's only about 20 mins from the highway and 35 mins from downtown. I was really surprised that they also have a really cool retail space next door. The Mercantile changes up all the time, and it is fun to walk around and hunt for things for your home. If you are into antiques or fun shopping experiences check it out.

From the owner: Event space serving Des Moines and surrounding areas. Located in historic Adel, Iowa…read more The newly renovated rustic-chic event space is an inviting backdrop for any event. Simplistic pricing & very few "rules" give you creative control. Indoor and outdoor wedding & reception options, a full catering kitchen, bar, reception seating for up to 250, & many standard amenities coupled with exceptional, innovative staff, Angela and Dave make wedding planning easy for you!

Great selection of trees mixed with prairie land. Great place to bring school kids. And a great…read moreplace to fly kites.

Beautiful location for photographs. Our photographer took us out here and there were numerous areas…read morethat I thought that looked like great Vantage places to photograph. We may use this location again for additional photographs or simply a walk.