unique architecture of Hotel Millwright featuring reddish brick and wood exterior against a blue sky with clouds

It was December of 2020 when I first visited the brand new Hotel Millwright in Amana - and I have returned since. I love the uniqueness and thoughtful designs of boutique hotels and was intrigued that Hotel Millwright was on the site of Iowa's only remaining textile mill. (Spoiler alert - it did NOT disappoint!)

Here is my original account of my first visit:

I had never been to this part of the Amana Colonies, so it felt like an Iowa road trip worth taking. Amana is a short drive East of Des Moines - less than 2 hours away - and my husband and I were able to sneak in a spontaneous 24 hour kid-free getaway thanks to the fact that we were now living in the same city as our mothers. (We had never had this freedom as parents in California - and it felt so good to do something for ourselves!)

lobby of Hotel Millwright with artwork, a couch, chairs, fireplace and a Christmas tree

We booked our trip for a Thursday night stay at Hotel Millwright and it was perfect! We saw some other guests, but it really felt like we had the property to ourselves. And I love that it was decorated for the holidays - it was a wonderful way to kick off December and would be a great getaway for New Year's Eve in Iowa as well!

There are beautiful art installations throughout the hotel paying homage to the property's rich textile history. I enjoyed discovering unique artwork around every corner and I'm only sharing a portion of it here so you can be surprised for yourself when you visit. :)

vibrant art installation featuring multiple colors and sizes of wool on spools

white building exterior of Hotel Millwright lobby entrance

fireplace with white stockings and two leather chairs on a rug

art installation of multiple small squares of different colors and patterns of wool fabric

large table with chairs next to window and Christmas tree in Hotel Millwright lobby

Hotel Millwright Room Tour

We stayed in room 104, which was a corner room King Suite on the first floor. The room was huge! And I'm pretty sure the couch pulls out into a bed so this would be a great room if we bring the kids next time. We had a wet bar with a fridge, microwave and Keurig. (I love that our room was also decorated for the holidays!) The bed and the couch both faced a wall mounted TV and there was a writing desk in our large entry way. Hotel Millwright also wins for best door hanger privacy sign ever. I always appreciate a good pun.

large hotel room with bed, desk, chairs, couch and windows

Do not disturb door sign says "I was weaving all over the hallway, so they told me to get a loom."

Amana for Hotel Millwright label sewn onto wool blanket

Can we talk about the size of the bathroom?! Definitely no fighting over this space. It had double sinks, a double shower head and it's own heater. And yes, all of the windows had privacy shades AND blackout shades. ;)

very large hotel bathroom with double sinks and two windows

hotel hallway with wool tapestries hanging on wall

Lunch at The Indigo Room, Hotel Millwright

I had been craving the Wedge Salad from The Indigo Room since they posted about it on Instagram. I added chicken because I was starving (and because our server recommended it) and it was definitely the right call. Luke ordered the Turkey and Swiss with arugula on a hoagie with a side of couscous. His sandwich was so good we ate half of it before I could even take a photo.

two leather chairs with artwork in hotel lobby

wedge salad with chicken and half sandwich and bowl of couscous on table

man in flannel shirt and stocking cap sitting at restaurant table

Exploring Amana, Iowa

After lunch, we set out on foot to explore the small historic town of Amana. Everything is within walking distance and it wasn't bad in the cold because we were popping into one shop after another which gave us a chance to warm up. From chocolate to blankets to furniture to clocks to antiques to gifts to wine to food to toys to Christmas decor galore, there is literally something for everyone. Most items are locally made and I love supporting small businesses so we purchased something at almost every stop.

brick exterior of Amana Furniture Shop with windows and holiday wreaths

wood exterior and sign for Chocolate Haus in Amana

exterior of International Christmas Market in Amana with huge floral installment over the door

brick and wood exterior of small shops with Amana water tower in the background

exterior of an Amana winery decorated for holidays with wreaths and luminaries

green garland with red bows attached to a fence along the sidewalk in Amana

About Amana, Iowa

Amana is one of the seven villages of the Amana Colonies, settled by Germans in the 18th century. The Amana Colonies are now a National Historic Landmark and one of America's longest-lived communal societies. There is plenty of history to learn about and walking tours available, though this trip we decided to explore (and shop) on our own. In addition to shops, showrooms, studios and restaurants, there are a few wineries that offer wine tastings as well as Iowa's oldest operational brewery, Millstream Brewing Co.

exterior of the large brick building of Ox Yoke Inn

From Golden Hour to Blue Hour to Happy Hour

We returned to Hotel Millwright just before sunset with our arms full of local goods we had purchased. There was no way I was going to stay inside as that Iowa sky transitioned from golden to pink to turquoise blue. I grabbed my camera and cruised around the property capturing her in all of her sunset glory before meeting Luke for a happy hour drink by the lobby fireplace. (This was another favorite part of my day.) I was so fulfilled and so relaxed and already couldn't wait to return to Hotel Millwright.

Btw, there really were other guests staying at the property. They were just very conveniently parked in the other lot and out of frame. (How did I get so lucky??)

Jill holding shopping bag outside of red brick building with green garland

Hotel Millwright lobby exterior at sunset

outdoor patio with empty tables and chairs next to evergreen trees at sunset

brick exterior of large building at Hotel Millwright at sunset

large red brick building with many windows under a blue sky with clouds

directional sign at Hotel Millwright pointing towards the lobby, whisky bar, event center and studio

brick building exterior and trees without leaves at dusk

sidewalk and courtyard of white buildings at Hotel Millwright

Dinner at Millstream Brau Haus

All the restaurants in Amana are easily walkable from Hotel Millwright and since it was freezing outside we chose the closest option, Millstream Brau Haus right across the street. We ordered a pork sandwich, a chicken sandwich, fries and - since apparently we couldn't wait for all that food - a fresh, hot pretzel as an appetizer. Of course we didn't finish it all, but we love to try multiple things when visiting new places. It was all good!

Millstream Brewing Co wood building and patio at sunset

Rise and Shine

We had a great night of sleep (without any kids crawling into our bed) and the next morning we slept in and slowly started our day with coffee and breakfast in our room. Luke brought me the most beautiful and delicious Greek Yogurt Parfait from the Indigo Room counter - it was just begging to be photographed! And that large window was just begging for someone to sit and enjoy its view.

yogurt parfait with granola next to coffee mug

We'll Be Back!

After breakfast, we packed the car and checked out around 11am. We made a couple more stops in town before heading home and concluded that twenty-four hours in Amana is just enough to leave wanting more. It was a perfect couple's getaway, though we also want to bring the kids with us next time as there are things they will enjoy too.

Visit the Hotel Millwright website to book your own stay!

For the record, I was not invited by anyone to stay at Hotel Millwright. We booked a room on our own and this is my account of our guest experience. I just enjoyed it so much I wanted to share!

PERSONAL BRANDING + HEADSHOTS

Are you ready to invest in yourself and your business with professional photography?

Whether you need a few new headshots or a library of custom images for your website, social media + marketing needs, I'm happy to discuss the right option for you!

LET’S CHAT

Our 24 Hour Getaway to Hotel Millwright in Amana, Iowa