Renovation Photos

Alexis Park Inn & Suites

1165 S. Riverside Drive

Iowa City, Iowa 52246

Toll Free: 888-9ALEXIS

(888-925-3947)

Local: 319 337-8665

Fax: 319 351-4102

Email:

Proud Members of:

Iowa Bed & Breakfast Guild

Iowa City Chamber of Commerce

Iowa City Convention & Visitor's Bureau

Renovation Photos

A panoramic shot of the finished lobby

Converting the entire inn to an "aviation theme" hotel, one suite at a time, has been a massive undertaking. With 27 suites, 44 bedrooms, and almost 100 rooms to remodel and redecorate, it's an almost overwhelming task.

The first rooms to be done (the new lobby; the Wright Brother's Suite; the Memphis Belle Suite) were completed in August, 2002. New suites and amenities have followed at regular intervals. Each suite will eventually reflect a different, discrete era of aviation history.

Here are some renovation photos:

Interior Pix

Exterior Pix

Health Spa (Massage & Workout Rooms) Pix

Updated 5/14/07

We've got a new lobby! After five years, we have completely replaced the lobby, below.

Click here to see and read about this massive project.

INTERIOR RENOVATION:

Here are some photos taken during the ongoing interior renovation:

The new lobby -- didn't even have a hole in the wall!

Jay and a Sawz-All -- a time to worry!

Mary staining wood-work -- a never-ending job.

Mary painting the future lobby...

The future coffee area...

Joey peeks over the new lobby window...

Remodeling the future Wright Brothers Suite..

A tired Mary with our first finished suite - the Wright Bros!

Friend Eleanor and Mary working on the Lindbergh Suite

January 2006 - Working on the Piper Cub Suite..

January 2006 -- The Cub Suite in progress...

January 2006 -- John posing in the almost-done Cub Suite

February '06 - Mary adds another panel to the moon mural in the upcoming Apollo Suite

February '06 - Mary works another panel into the moon mural...

February '06 -- Mary's got the whole world in her hands!

February '06 -- Jay works the last panel of the Apollo mural...

EXTERIOR RENOVATION:

Although we renovated the sign in 2002, exterior renovation did not begin in earnest until Spring of 2004. Phase I of our three-phase landscaping plan was completed in the spring, all balconies received two coats of paint and 600 linear feet of "Astroturf" carpeting, and thousands of square feet of stucco siding was replaced.

In 2005 we began a comprehensive repair/repainting of the exterior of both buildings.

Here are some photos taken during the ongoing exterior renovation:

July 2002 - First order of business - fix the sign!

July 2002 - The kids loved the cherry picker!

April 2004 - A new park bench...

April 2004 - Limestone walls and landscaping added to entrance

April 2004 - Landscaping and wall added around base of sign

April 2004 - Front of tower building after addition of landscaping

June 2004 - Arnsel, the man who painted all 600 feet of balconies!

August 2004 - Carpet the decks -- all 600 feet of them!

August 2004 - Airport view from new balcony.

August 2004 - That's the MATS Constellation on the ramp, viewed from the balconies.

August 2004 - New siding on the airport building!

Fall 2004 - Cutting siding for the Tower building...

Summer 2005 - A systematic re-painting and repair of the east side of the Airport Building was completed.

Fall 2005 -- The tower was completely repaired and painted, inside and out. Check out the swinging doors!

Fall 2005 -- The postcard view of the completely repainted Tower building...

Fall 2005 -- Repainted, with planters...

HEALTH SPA RENOVATION:

This one could hardly be called a "renovation" -- creating our health spa was like starting over from scratch! When we took over, both the future massage therapist's office and the exercise room were piled floor-to-ceiling with junk (and I mean junk). Worse, what equipment that was there had been used as a source of parts for scavenging to other units! As a result, the toilet was missing, the sink was gone -- even the window casings had been pried off to use in other suites!

Our target date for completion was July 25, 2004 -- in time for our annual Oshkosh Fly-In Pool Party. Incredibly, it took until March 24, 2005 -- fully 8 months late!

But I think you'll agree it's been worth it. There is simply nothing like a one-hour massage, and Antoinette Pinault, our certified massage therapist, is the best there is. And working out when you have a view of the pool (and some great old Air Racing artwork) makes working up a sweat fun...

Click the pictures, below, to see some "before & after" pix: