Prairie View Bed & Breakfast
Prairie View as the name implies offers welcoming country views. This rural home is conveniently located in central Iowa just 2 miles west of Panora. Your hosts are science teachers with ecotourism in mind; therefore, walking trails provide a unique experience with 15 acres of prairie. Only minutes from Lake Panorama, be their guests to boat or fish. If bicycling is your interest, enjoy traveling the Raccoon River Bike Trail. Wide-open skies provide a perfect setting for evening star gazing and campfires.
Relax on the deck, play a round of golf at the Lake Panorama National Golf Course or just enjoy leisure time on the yard swing. In colder months, enjoy hot cider around the fireplace and cross country skiing for the more adventurous. Guthrie County Regional Airport is only one mile away and welcomes private planes. There are 3 guest rooms of which one is a spacious suite for honeymooners or any special occasion for pampering. A full breakfast compliments this country retreat with a choice of formal or casual dining.
As your hosts, let us introduce ourselves. We are Karen and Jim Sievers. We came to the Lake Panorama area in 1997. We have two young adult sons who are city dwellers, but love swimming, boating and bicycling. Just what this B & B offers. After teaching science and health for the Des Moines Schools for over 30 years, we decided to combine our love of the lake with our passion for the Iowa environment. The results is Prairie View Bed and Breakfast. We were drawn to the country views and the retreat atmosphere which we hope to share with our guests.
During her career as a teacher, Karen received the NEWEST award from NASA as part of the "Teacher in Space Program", the National Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and a Fulbright from the University of Wisconsin to research ecotourism in Costa Rica. She served on the American Lung Association board acting as President and received the Opal Fagel Award for her outstanding volunteer effort. "All of these experiences have inspired me to begin a new career in hospitality with a twist of ecotourism." (BA Dakota Wesleyan University, South Dakota and Masters MSE, Drake University in Des Moines)
After completing 35 years of teaching Jim retired from Weeks Middle School, Des Moines, IA. His 6th grade students and parents honored his efforts by nominating and awarding him the Wal Mart Area Teacher of the Year 2004. "I love spending time at the B & B and Panora because it's like coming home to small town America from my childhood in Nebraska." (BA Wayne State College, Nebraska and Masters of Admn. Iowa State University in Ames)
Jumping from our Victorian neighborhood in the Sherman Hill area of Des Moines to country and small town has been anything but dull. We stay active in both the Panora and Guthrie Center Chambers of Commerce. Karen serves on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and Regional Workforce Investment Boards. Jim holds an office in the Lions Club and sits on the Panora City Streetscape Enhancement Committee. Recently, we have begun collecting unique bicycles.
