The Lodge Resort Hotel has become an unexpected sanctuary for Midwestern city dwellers seeking a genuine escape from the bustling pace of urban life. Drawing visitors from three major metropolitan areas—Minneapolis-St. Paul, Des Moines, and Madison—this charming retreat offers something increasingly rare in our hyperconnected world: authentic peace and quiet.
For the nearly 285,000 residents of Madison, Wisconsin – and even more counting all the habitants of Dane County’s biggest metro area, The Lodge represents freedom from one of America’s fastest-growing cities. Madison’s population has surged dramatically in recent years, transforming this once-sleepy college town into a bustling tech hub and government center. The constant construction, traffic congestion around the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and the relentless energy of a metro area approaching 708,000 people can wear on even the most devoted Badger fan. The drive from Madison to Forest City takes approximately 3.5 hours via Highway 151 West and I-380, a gorgeous route to take and disconnect immediately. As Madisonians cross the Mississippi River into Iowa, the tension of endless meetings, packed farmer’s markets, and the perpetual hunt for parking begins to melt away. The Lodge offers what Madison’s booming central district simply cannot: space to breathe. For Madison professionals juggling demanding careers at Epic Systems or state government offices, The Lodge’s distance from Wi-Fi temptations and work emails creates the forced disconnection they desperately need. The property’s cross-country ski trails, riverside hiking paths, and fishing opportunities provide the outdoor recreation Madisonians crave, without the weekend crowds that now pack Devils Lake and Mirror Lake State Parks.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, home to over 3.7 million people, sits approximately 2.5 hours north of Forest City via I-35 South. Twin Cities residents escape one of America’s largest metropolitan areas, trading the constant hum of urban life for The Lodge’s oak-shaded tranquility.
For Des Moines residents—approximately 213,000 in the city proper and 750,000 in the metro area—Forest City sits roughly 2 hours north via Highway 69. While Iowa’s capital may be smaller than the Twin Cities or Madison, it carries its own unique pressures. As the state’s insurance industry epicenter and a rapidly growing Des Moines metro, the city’s corporate culture demands long hours and constant connectivity.
Regardless of which city they’re fleeing, visitors to The Lodge discover the same essential amenities: comfortable rooms in a retro chalet-style building, complimentary continental breakfast, a restaurant serving home-style meals, and acres of riverside property perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and simply unwinding. The property’s pet-friendly policy means city dwellers can bring their dogs to experience grass and woods beyond the dog park fence.
Wherever you’re from, sometimes the best escape is the one closest to home.