Property Info
BW Plus Longbranch Hotel & Convention Center
What began as a Western-themed restaurant has evolved into a favorite upscale venue for business travelers, special events including weddings, and guests in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Best Western Plus Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center was created by Vince and Mary Ellen De Long in the mid-century, who dreamt of a family-owned restaurant featuring the choicest cuts, most delicious sides, and decadent desserts that would highlight Iowan flavors.
Mary Ellen’s murals are still highlighted around the hotel, and the couple’s sons tackled much of the initial manual labor. The Longbranch Supper Club opened in 1968, and today the Cedar Rapids hotel includes two full-service restaurants.
Most original recipes were favorite family dishes, and these staple comfort food dishes are still some of the most popular on the menu—albeit tweaked and refined. In 1970 the original dining room was doubled, and a few years later the Convention Hall that seats up to 425 was added. Dinner performances were wildly popular until 1978.
Great Amenities:
- Complimentary buffet breakfast: fresh scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon or ham, pancakes, French toast sticks or hash browns. These items rotate daily.
- Two restaurants a cafe & lounge on-site
- Heated indoor pool with hot tub
- Steam room, dry sauna
- World-class exercise facility – 8,000 square feet
- Free parking, self parking
- Wedding Venue
- Meetings Venue
The family built a four-story, 54-guest-room hotel in 1978 with a revolving top floor bar. With kitchenette suites, private Jacuzzi tubs, and other upgrades throughout the 1980s, the hotel quickly made a name for itself.
A full-service health club, sauna, heated indoor pool, and atrium flanking the billiards room continue to be part of what makes the hotel special.
The Goldzone Café opened in the 80s to provide poolside dining to the expanded 106 rooms. By the 1990s, The Longbranch was awarded multiple accolades for menu entrees and lodging.
Today, the Best Western Plus Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center continues to grow and enjoy regular updates. Chandeliers in the Grand Ballroom, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and king-sized beds are now staple features of the hotel. The De Long family continues to operate the hotel, which includes banquet facilities for up to 425 guests and an 8,000 square foot Gold Pointe Fitness Club with state of the art equipment and fitness classes on demand.
Both hotel guests and locals alike adore the daily lunch buffets and themed catering options, from pizza parties to sandwiches or formal dining fare. Friday and Saturday nights feature slow-cooked prime rib of beef and the award-winning barbeque pork ribs that fall off the bone. The new steakhouse features seared sea bass and high end steaks. Sunday’s Grand Brunch Buffet offers carved Iowa ham and roasted baron beef along with Belgian waffle bars and much more. Full-service catering, event planning, and meeting amenities are available.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Discover what the premier Cedar Rapids hotel can offer you.