Here is a post Janet put up on the Facebook page.  It looks like the Holiday Inn Express is the place to stay - the Harringtons and Ohdens are already booked there.  Also, don't forget you can rent/borrow/steal an RV or a tent and stay at Janet's for almost free.  Call Janet if you have any other questions.

ok, every one who is going to be staying in a hotel. I got the prices for the hotels it think are the best and most convvenient for you to stay at. 


Adventure land Inn. is &179.00 a night, all they had left was pool side.

Holiday Inn Express 967-1855. $109.00 and 119.00 for a suit. This is the one I think is the best value for your money. Very very nice.

Settle Inn 967-7888 $79.00 for a king, and$89.95 for 2 queen beds. This one is a little older but still nice, right across the street from the casino. I am still working on getting a group rate for this one.

The price I gave you for the Holiday Inn Express is a group rate, so we would want to try to all stay at the same place.

Best Western Is $125.00 for 2 queen and $119.00 for 1 King. I don't know why they are so expensive, they are not even one of my favorites. 

If anyone who is staying in a hotel. could let me know where you want to stay, within the next week or so, I should be able to get us a group rate, but can't get a group rate untill I know how many rooms we will be wanting. Waiting to hear from anyone who is coming so I can get some kind of head count so I can plan on food, and sleeping accomadations. Please get back to me as soon as you can. Thank you all very much Your favorite cousin Janet

Hey everyone! Just wanted to post an update on the Schmitz Family Reunion being held this summer at Janet and Allen’s in Bondurant, Iowa. We will be gathering around noon on Friday, July 6 and the party will continue until around noon on Sunday, July 8. We will be providing a breakfast buffet on Saturday and Sunday morning. All day Saturday will be a picnic at the park about a mile from Janet’s. She has reserved the entire park for us – three shelter houses, volleyball court, baseball field, playground and a lake. Those wanting to fish can get a three day license at the local Walmart. We’ll bring extra fishing poles. We’re thinking we will have Hy-Vee or Kentucky Fried cater lunch. Games and fun all day. Then back to Janet’s for supper. We’re thinking about supper for Friday and Saturday nights as steak fry one night and hamburgers and hot dogs the other night. Allen just got a new grill! Lunches will be on your own, or something casual. Cost for food will be figured out closer to the actual reunion, and promises to be minimal.

There is room at Janet’s for lots of RV’s, tents, etc. Also, there are beds available in Janet’s house, with first consideration going to those over 70 years of age. There is a place in Des Moines that rents and will deliver RV’s to the site. They run from $130 to $140 per night with a three night minimum. A to Z RV Rental, 611 S.E. 14^th Street, Des Moines, IA. (515) 229-4949. If you mention the Schmitz Family Reunion, the owner will work with you on the price and delivery. Also available through various family members are tents if you prefer tenting. Also, the Holiday Inn Express is fairly close by, as well as Prairie Meadows Gambling Casino with several hotels. Let us know what you need, we’ll hook you up.

I would encourage anyone coming for a longer stay to think about coming up to Mason City the week or so before the reunion to celebrate the Fourth of July. These two links, www.clearlakeia.com and www.masoncity.net, are very helpful to look into things to do, places to stay (campgrounds), parades and fireworks going on. The Clear Lake link shows lots of things under “where to stay” and “events”. The Mason City link has good stuff under the “visitor” link.

As far as cost, the food will be figured out later, but should be reasonable. There is no cost for the park (except for a goodwill donation to the local baseball team) and no cost for staying at Janet and Allen’s (except a goodwill donation to help cover the cost of water and electricity.) So if you sleep in a tent, the cost will be minimal. Hotel or RV costs are up to each individual.

Let us know when you get your plans in order, with June 15 as our preferred “last date” to let us know, although that is flexible, as always. If you need picked up at an airport, let us know.

We’re excited and hope you are too! If you have a family member not on Facebook, please forward this information to them. Also, JoDee Johnson Bryant and her daughter Jessica, have set up another family page at “schmitzfamilycorner.blogspot.com”. Some cool pictures and information on family.

Congratulations to Katie Lee, on the birth of a healthy baby boy today. Katie is the daughter of Michelle, who is the daughter of Barbara, who is the daughter of Jean Stone. This makes Aunt Jean a great great grandmother!

Congratulations to John & Diana Vargas

John & Diana Vargas (grandson of Joyce) have a new baby girl, Samantha Louise Vargas, born Novmber 15, 2011, at 6:16pm. 7lb. 9oz, 20.5 inches.

The New Mayor

Congratulations to Cousin Mark Harrington (son of Gale).

 In local elections on 11/8/11, he was elected as the new Mayor of the city of Plymouth, IA, population 409. It was apparently a grass roots write-in campaign, with many Plymouth residents, including Mark, unaware that he was running for mayor.

Reunion Location Update

So we had another meeting, but this one was with some new committee members, down in Des Moines, Janet, Babby and Trudy. And we got a great offer for a new venue for the 2012 reunion! Janet and Alan offered the use of their home and really big yard for the festivities! It is in Ankeny, IA, just north of Des Moines, kind of out in the country. They have a huge house and room for dozens of campers/tents/baseball diamonds/volleyball courts/three legged races, etc. The house is open for reservations, with preference going to those family members over 70 years of age. They have three bathrooms, three bedrooms on the main floor, a "suite" upstairs, and a fully finished basement. Alan has a big military type tent that would probably sleep 20 or so, but thinks it would better serve as a beer tent (Kevin & Jennifer). He also has a big shop building (bigger than the house) that we can use as a dining hall/kitchen. Then we can do meals and stuff like we had in AZ at the last "fabulously planned and executed (thank you again Croxtons)" reunion that was held. They have two decks, a huge barbeque and a fire pit. It also has a small lake a couple miles away for fishing and sand volleyball. There is also a casino near by and Adventureland and big shopping centers close by. So our committee has grown from 4 people to 7 people and changed location. Let us know what you think and if you and your family would like to make the trip. Anyone with the last name Schmitz, or related to someone named (or previously named) Schmitz, or anyone who knows someone named Schmitz and is up for a weekend party, is invited. Tell your families and get back to us.

(Originally posted by Candy Evans on Facebook, August 3, 2011).

Reunion Dates

So, all ya'll Schmitz relations..... The meeting was held and it was decided to have the reunion on July 6, 7 and 8, 2012. It's a Fri, Sat, Sun. The fourth of July is on a Wednesday, so if people come early, they can enjoy all the local 4th celebrations - especially in Clear Lake - or they can stay late and miss all the hysteria. Talking about a cruise on Clear Lake Friday night, all day picnic/games/swimming/etc. on Saturday out at Rudd lake, Sat.night pot luck/pig roast at Rudd Community Center and brunch somewhere on Sunday. Extra things to be arranged other times - canoe rides/inner tube floats down river, rock hunting, historic homes tour, Music Man Square - whatever people would like to do and finding out if others would like to join in.

(Originally posted by Candy Evans on Facebook, July 7, 2011).