Built by Mormon carpenters in 1846 as a hotel for the steamboat travelers on the Des Moines River, the Mason House Inn is now a Bed and Breakfast. History of the hotel includes being a hospital three times and a station on the Underground Railroad, a stagecoach stop and a boarding house. It has been sold intact each time, so the furnishings are mostly original to the 1800s. We have nine rooms, each with private bathroom with shower, and includes breakfast in the Main House dining room. The Caboose Cottage is in a real railroad car and features a queen size bed, kitchenette, dining area, and is the only room with a TV.
The six bedrooms in the Main House building are antique themed and are furnished with a queen size or a full size bed. Next door to the Main House, is a building that used to be Bonaparte's train station. In 1965, the owners of the Mason House bought the station, dismantled it , and then rebuilt it as a little store. Now it houses two bedrooms, each with a king size bed, and decorated with items left over from the store.
The little village of Bentonsport is one of the Villages of Van Buren. We have several cute stores with antiques, crafts, quilts, pottery, fudge, and artistic ironwork. Enjoy a walk on our historic bridge, explore the Rose Garden, or rent a canoe or a bicycle for a day of fun.
The Mason House Inn is a great place to have a family reunion, small business meeting, honeymoon, club gatherings, etc. We can host up to 24 people. Service animals allowed in Room 3 only. Owners have cats and chickens. Special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. Please mention it when you make your reservation.

Local

See and Do

• Bentonsport Historic District Keosauqua (0.0 miles) - Bentonsport Historic District is a historic village with a working blacksmith, artisans, Indian Arti...
• Villages of Van Buren Keosauqua (5.6 miles) - Van Buren County Welcome Center and McCoy Historical Museum Monday-Friday: 8am-4pm Saturday: 11am-2pm C...

Shopping

• Dutchman's Store - Cantril (12.6 miles) - Visit our newly expanded store with a large selection of bulk food and candy items, fresh produce, d...
• Milton Creamery - Milton (16.4 miles) - The Musser family mixes fresh ingredients, art, and passion for creating internationally award winni...