Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast, 20664 Claybanks Drive, Nora Springs, IA (2026)

08/01/2025

It is with great remorse that Project A.W.A.R.E.’s (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) subspecies Project S.P.A.R.T.A.N. (Special Post Aware River Trip About Nevergivingup) for the Winnebago River is canceled.
I have personally emptied 12” of June rainfall followed by July’s 9” from my rain guage. Our river will flow in self-cleaning mode until a much more safe and clean-up-friendly water level returns.
Perhaps next year a not-so-hastily-thrown-together Winnebago clean up can happen that will not be quite so spartan! Please help spread the word and thanks for considering Project S.P.A.R.T.A.N.
Dale & Committee Adhoc

07/18/2025

North Iowa river paddlers and concerned citizens were greatly disappointed when Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E (A Watershed Awareness River Expedition) could not be on the Winnebago River due to excessive water flow. So, an adhoc group tossed together the S.P.A.R.T.A.N. (Special Post-Aware River Trip About Nevergivingup) float!
**Food lines-none. Bring your own eats.
**Dish washing stations-none. Don’t use dishes.
**Bus rides-none. Team up to shuttle with fellow paddlers.
**Public programs-none. Entertainment & education via fellow paddlers and Mother Nature.
**Fees & registration-none. Participate at your own risk. Only a smile and good attitude required.
**BYOBpp—Bring Your Own Boat, pfd & paddle.

Saturday, August 9, 2025, 9:00 A.M. Put In @ East Park, Mason City.
Take Out @ Averydale Access, 2-3 hours and dumpster, stretch break, and paddle for all to sign.
Optional Take Outs for those who wish to continue the enjoyment of the Winnebago: Cupola Inn Accesses, (2), just past the Avenue of Saints twin bridges, marked with rag flag, 4 hours.
Wren Avenue Access, 5-6 hours from put in.

Your hosts: Cerro Gordo County Conservation Lime Creek Nature Center, Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast, Landfill of North Iowa, Cutting Edge Tree Service. Hope you can join is for a Spartan day on the river! Dale Mills

05/11/2025

An early 1800’s Missouri River fur trader, Manuel Lisa, once said “I go a great distance while some are considering whether they will start today or tomorrow.” I can readily identify with that simple but prophetic statement.

Our Winnebago River Owl Cave has been occupied by what I like to believe to be the same pair of Great Horned Owls since early January and I have paddled past a single Owlet a dozen times this spring. Thinking this was to be one of only a couple in the past 16 consecutive years of a single baby, canoe buddy photographer extraordinaire Jim Rose captured the first rather haunting image on May 4. The next day one Owlet was laying at the entrance of their home and the other was sunning himself on a lime rock shelf about 15’ away. It was the last time we spotted both owlets, as fledging was underway.
Yesterday, 5 days after the first one flew away and knowing that at anytime the other would also leave home, while peering through my binoculars at his blinking eyes and stunning statuesque pose, a water snake slithered in perfect S-shaped patterns right beside my canoe. With only his head above water and sensing danger, he submerged and instantly stirred the river bottom to create the perfect disguise. We were equally surprised and I was lucky to have glanced away from the stare-down with my yet flightless avain buddy.
After intently studying each other for a half hour, I am certain that this owlet is used to canoes, even when there have been up to three canoes focused on him. We approach in extreme silence one at a time with quite a distance between us and do our best not to over extend our stay. My Nature buzz does not easily disappear when spending so much time with this future Flying Tiger.
On downstream, still relishing my time with the owlet, I spotted a Mink swimming across the river and when he saw me approaching quickly, he swam even faster. I was digging for my camera as he climbed onto a log assuming a picture-perfect pose. A truck on the gravel road only 4’ away distracted his attention to what I thought would be my advantage for a wonderful close up picture. As the truck zoomed past, a rolling, heavy, thick cloud of dust engulfed the entire area and when it finally dissipated, the mink was gone. ☹️
Enjoying the company of Owlets while canoeing 12 times in the past 15 days, my hearty gratitude to Manuel Lisa for the inspiration! Paddle On. Dale

12/09/2024

Winnebago River critters are not in a Christmas Spirit yet as today I got sassed by Fox Squirrels, Jack Squirrels, Bluejays, Kingfishers, Red-belly and Downey Woodpeckers. Two critters who had good reason to sass chose not to. I woke up the masked one from his late afternoon nap in the warm sunshine and I interrupted the buck-toothed buddy eating his supper. Grateful they both posed for me and I am willing to allow them to use prints for their respective Christmas mailings! Paddle on. . . . .

11/17/2024

Beaver Super Moon Paddle. 11-15-24
A day later I am still Nature buzzed and exceptionally rewarded to share this float with two never-before night time paddling buddies on an absolutely perfect late autumn evening on the Winnebago River.
Dozens of roosting turkeys entertained us with nervous clucking and noisy, clumsy-looking flights. We felt fortunate not to get pasted by their deposits and PEEEWWWW, did it ever stink!
This spiritual experience will likely draw my canoe buddies back for more, but next time, with adequate snow cover, we may have to add sunglasses to our gear. Paddle On.

11/09/2024

Winnebago River find: A tree branch supported over-size river foam mattress. I don’t think I’ll be resting on it. Less than 4 hours later it had vanished. Judy calls it root beer float foam! Please comment and add your own label to this atypical aquatic anomaly!

11/04/2024

Canoeing Deficit Disorder
disturbing my
life balance.

November cool
low overcast
chilling damp
heavy day.

Single leaves
hanging on in
final glory on
naked trees.
brethren decorating
the river floor.

Walnut-bearing
squirrels,
deer searching
to mate.

The bump of
my canoe on
unforeseen rock.

The peaceful, quieting
yet inspiring
sensation of
gurgling, laughing water. . . . .

Balance Restored

10/02/2024

In recognition of the accomplishment of 21 years of consecutive monthly canoe outings, “Steel Away” is the latest addition to the fleet. Enlarge to see if you can identify tools and farm implement parts that found a new home from my scrap metal collection. The only trip this canoe took was in my tractor loader and building it was like putting a puzzle together, but you had to create your own pieces.
The paddle is a 54” Silverblack Bent Shaft with a “T” handle, model 007. It weighs 7 lbs and is NOT patent pending.
Here’s to another 21 years of monthly canoeing. . . . Paddle On!

08/11/2024

Gratefulness!
FIFTY years ago on this Saturday night I was fortunate to marry my best friend and life partner. With enough daylight after an evening out, as I pondered the appropriateness of a solo canoe float on our anniversary, the mind-reader simply stated “Go load your canoe and I’ll shuttle you”.
It was Cedar Waxwing night on the Winnebago, pure entertainment as dozens of them ferociously pursued their flying prey, pausing so gracefully in mid-air with each catch. Their quiet but shrill whistle was a bonus.
Our statuesque Eagle sat on a favorite dead tree and as I silently passed by, his body language telling me to move along, this is MY fishing spot, and I have not had supper yet!
We are grateful beyond measure for so many people who have in any way contributed to our joyful journey the past 50 years, 29 of those planning, building, and operating the Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast.
Our passions burn incessantly. . . . . . . . .Thank you to all. D & J

07/07/2024

To Everything-Turn, Turn, Turn. The Byrds, 1965
Consistent high water on the Winnebago has resulted in a major case of Canoeing Deficit Disorder, so a couple pro-style photographer buddies and I launched before sunrise on Ventura Marsh. Nearly a half day later our collective CDD was in check. Temporarily.
Black Terns, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and Pelicans dominated our sightings and Marsh Wrens were the primary audible stars. The hovering Black Tern was very loudly protecting chicks, the female Yellow-headed Blackbird had captured breakfast for her offspring, and the head-on Tern was not about to turn up the lane to the Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast!
Photos courtesy Jim Rose.

06/09/2024

Cupola Inn guests from TX & NE took a rest stop (Winnebago River oxbow) from the rushing freeway (river). Due diligence exercised merging off & on ramps (eddys), but no other traffic. Beautiful day, bountiful Eagle & bird sightings, wonderful time. Paddle On. . . . . .Dale

04/26/2024

Hard to think this was written 16 years ago by our children: For the courage to communicate ideas, For stepping out and taking the risk, For the coming of a dream, CONGRATULATIONS. For ten years of hospitality and memories, For early mornings and menial work, For new friends and passersby whom you’ve touched with love and sincerity, CONGRATULATIONS.

For the simple reason that no one has made a big deal of it yet, the four of us wish you Happy Anniversary as the proprietors of the Cupola Inn. We all wanted to celebrate this with you because is IS a big deal. Few startup businesses make it to their 10 year anniversaries, and we’ve all had a part in helping the Cupola Inn get on that track from the moment the cows went out the door.
We’re so bery proud of you and what you’ve created here. We refer to not only the physical property, but the intangibles. Through this business, you’ve helped create experiences that have a permanent place is so many people’s memories. And we are the lucky ones, for every memory that a guest takes home with them, they leave one here. We have literally hundreds of stories about family reunions, old and new friends, very obedient dogs, pampered cats, excited kids, moonlight floats, Mom’s first interview with the FBI, and every addition of “farm junk” in the Round Barn.

It is not only the setting and the amenities that guests enjoy, it is their hosts. As you’ve discovered in your own B&B adventures, a good host is essential to a good stay. We all know that this is why people love to come back to the Inn. Every person should be so blessed as to find the “job” that perfectly fits their passions and personalities.
Through this venture, you’ve been a marvelous example to us of what it takes to follow through with making a dream into a reality. Your vision and inspiration combined with taking risks and then seeing their rewards is something that we all hope to experience in our own careers and passions.

Whenever we’re asked, it is with great pride that we are able to reply:
What do my parents do? My parents run the Cupola Inn Bed and Breakfast!

Happy Anniversary with love from your children: Emily, Erin, Eli, Eva. October 2007

Cupola Inn Bed & Breakfast

08/01/2025

07/18/2025

05/11/2025

12/09/2024

11/17/2024

11/09/2024

11/04/2024

10/02/2024

08/11/2024

07/07/2024

06/09/2024

04/26/2024

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