American Tavern Markley & Blythe to debut at The Historic Park Inn Hotel

April 25, 2022 – The Indigo Road Hospitality Group is thrilled to announce that Markley & Blythe, a sophisticated American Tavern, will open for dinner service on Friday, April 29, at The Historic Park Inn Hotel on West State Street. The restaurant, helmed by Executive Chef and Iowa native Jonny Worley, pays homage to the bounty of the Midwest, driven by seasonal produce and offerings from neighboring ranchers. Named for the two attorneys who originally brought renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright to Mason City (leading him to later design The Historic Park Inn), Markley & Blythe honors the past while ushering in the famed building’s next chapter under the management of Indigo Road, who took over hotel operations earlier this year.

“Markley & Blythe will be Indigo Road’s first restaurant opening in the Midwest, and I can’t think of a better place than The Historic Park Inn and Mason City – we are so appreciative of the warm welcome from the community and look forward to many memories to come,” said Steve Palmer, Founder and Chief Vision Officer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group. “We’re excited to offer an excellent on-site dining experience to Wright-enthusiasts and travelers visiting this special property while also providing Mason City’s own a place to gather for great food, drinks, and hospitality.”

A Taste of the Tavern

The welcoming menu will feature a selection of snacks, starters, and entrees by Chef Worley, all taking full advantage of Iowa’s vast agricultural community. Markley & Blythe boasts an impressive in-house charcuterie program and offers spins on traditional Midwestern dishes, handmade pastas, nostalgic entrees, and more. Stand-out starter items include the nostalgic Iowa Cheese Curds (battered with local Pilsner and topped with Scallion Comeback Sauce), Short

Rib Ravioli (Braised Iowa Beef Short Ribs, Onion Soubise, and Fine Herbs), and Gnudi Carbonara (Mossy Cup Farms Bacon, Parmesan, Black Pepper, and Chives); signature items include the classic Smash Burger (C.A.B. Beef, American Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Sesame Bun), Mangalitsa Double-Cut Pork Chop (New Potato, Brussels Sprouts, and Pork Jus), Duck Pot Pie (English Pea, Carrot, Pearl Onion, Puff Pastry, and Chives), and Indigo Road’s nationally-lauded Bone Marrow Bread Pudding recipe. The State Street dining destination will also serve an extensive offering of local draft beers, balanced cocktails, and a sophisticated but approachable wine list with a focus on new world varietals.

We’re excited to offer an excellent on-site dining experience to Wright-enthusiasts and travelers visiting this special property while also providing Mason City’s own a place to gather for great food, drinks, and hospitality.

Steve Palmer

The Markley & Blythe Experience

In addition to Chef Worley at the helm in the kitchen, the team behind Markley & Blythe includes Restaurant Manager Chris Glenn and Hotel General Manager Mellisa Leach. The Historic Park Inn welcomes Leach back to the property and the role of General Manager, which she previously held.

Reservations for the dining room are recommended and can be made via OpenTable. The 76-seat restaurant is open for dinner service Tuesday through Thursday from 5-10pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 5-11pm. Brunch service will be added at a later date.

For further details, visit the restaurant’s website and follow along on Instagram @markleyandblythe and Facebook.

About The Historic Park Inn Hotel:  In 2011, one hundred and one years after its original opening, The Historic Park Inn Hotel gracefully began fulfilling its place as the last standing hotel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a tribute to his role in architectural history and a landmark in which Wright on the Park, the city of Mason City, and the State of Iowa can take great pride. Since that opening, it is enjoying outstanding occupancy in its 27 hotel rooms, praise for its dining and bar facilities, frequent tours by visitors, and a steady rental of meeting rooms, including the ballroom, for activities. Its hotel management is led by The Indigo Road Hospitality Group.