The Highlander Hotel

A RETRO REVIVAL OF THE 1967 ORIGINAL HIGHLANDER INN AND SUPPER CLUB IN IOWA CITY, IOWA

Can’t get no satisfaction from buzz-killing, soulless chain hotels? Want to break on through to the other side at an uber-luxe crash pad where you can turn on, tune in, drop out and counter culture in psychedelic fashion?   

Power up your inner Fleetwood Mac, and go your own way at Iowa City’s trippiest new urban resort, The Highlander Hotel. Picture chic meets shag. Five-star meets rock star. With new surprises and delights at every turn(table). Think you’ll find any of this at a hotel chain? Dream On. 

Looking for a laid back vibe? You'll find that at The Highlander Hotel. Or, if you want a family-friendly, rockstar party atmosphere with kids splashing in the pool, we can deliver on that too. The best part? The Highlander Hotel is pet friendly so you don't have to leave Fido at home!

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The Highlander Supper Club was built in 1967. The hotel, ballroom, and pool followed in 1974. For the next 30 years, both experienced extraordinary success playing host to celebrities like Micky Mantle, Joan Baez, and Arnold Palmer, arguably becoming one of the most popular entertainment, event, dining, and hotel destinations in Iowa history. 

The following 20 years were a time of slow decline for The Highlander; by 2019, the icon was in serious distress with dated decor, broken furniture, a roof leaking in countless places, and pests larger in number than guests.

Iowa entrepreneur Angela Harrington purchased the Highlander in December of 2019, three months before a pandemic would bring financial catastrophe to the industry. Somehow, the Highlander survived, and three years later, the interior renovation was complete. The property is now designated as a local landmark by the Iowa City Historic Preservation Commission.
The Highlander Hotel has been reinvented as a chic boutique urban resort, now the only independently owned hotel in Iowa City and the number one traveler-ranked hotel on Trip Advisor for two years running. The Supper Club, shuttered for two decades, has new life as a retro cocktail arcade, its epic sunken bar restored.

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"A great family stay!! So much fun and very well equipped, clean, comfy. 5 stars"- Dana K.

"If you are looking for a unique experience and over the top hospitality I highly recommend a stay at this property stat!"- Amy B.

"Will never stay anywhere else in Iowa City area. This place is incredible! The rooms are nice with cute touches everywhere."- Maria M.

"Stayed there for a kid free getaway weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed everything the Highlander had to offer. The room was clean and comfy. The pool was nice as well as the poolside snack shack. Yay for the adult swim time. Had a blast in the restaurant/bar/arcade room. Live music and the community fire pit next to the other drink getting place definitely worth the visit."- Tia W.

"Such a gem in the Iowa City area! We stayed in a poolside king room. We enjoyed the pool and hot tub, delicious breakfast, arcade bar with live music, friendly and attentive staff, and close proximity to Iowa City attractions. This will be my go to place to stay in Iowa City from now on"- Madeline G.

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