The Terrace at Geneva
A spacious gathering home with a private outdoor pool in the heart of Oskaloosa, Iowa
Terrace at Geneva is set in a walkable town rich with outdoor trails and conserved nature areas, live music and performing arts, local dining, festivals, shops, and year-round events. Hiking, biking, exploring nature, enjoying local food, or gathering downtown are all part of daily life here—often inspiring guests to settle in and stay longer, experiencing the area in every season.
Perched at the top of a hill and surrounded by mature trees, the home’s many large windows create a feeling often described as treehouse-like or reminiscent of a mountain retreat—peaceful, private, and tucked away, while still being just minutes from everything.
A Home Designed for Gathering:
Terrace at Geneva features a nearly 900-square-foot great room filled with natural light, opening into an expansive dining area and a fully equipped kitchen designed for real gatherings. The elevated setting and large windows throughout give the home a sense of privacy and immersion in nature, even while hosting large groups.
Step outside to enjoy the private outdoor swimming pool (open May–October), multiple patios, and beautifully lit outdoor spaces—perfect for yard games, relaxing poolside, grilling at sunset, and s’mores around the fire pit after dark.
Downstairs, the fun continues with a comfortable family room leading into an 800+ square-foot game room featuring a pool table, electronic dart board, foosball, game table, beverage fridge, smart TV, and generous seating.
Walkable Historic Downtown & Historic District:
Guests enjoy strolling through one of Oskaloosa’s designated historic districts on their way downtown, where classic architecture and tree-lined streets set the tone.
Historic downtown offers year-round events, live music, and a rich mix of locally owned shops, including an exceptional coffee shop with a cinematic interior, excellent thrift and vintage shops, home décor and clothing boutiques, and a charming antique shop.
Book lovers feel especially at home here. Downtown includes two bookstores—The Book Vault, housed in a historic bank with original vaults and filled with books and unique gifts for all ages, and a Christian bookstore offering a thoughtful selection of books and resources. Many thrift and vintage shops are also well stocked with books alongside furniture, clothing, décor, and unexpected finds.
Local artisans, studios, and hands-on creative experiences add even more depth to a downtown stroll.
Dining, Entertainment & Family Fun:
Downtown offers a wide range of excellent dining options. Favorites include a welcoming Irish pub, which often features live music, and Taso’s Steakhouse, known for its broad menu, classic steakhouse fare, and some of the best homemade pies around. Just steps from Terrace at Geneva, guests are often delighted to discover an Indian chef preparing authentic Indian dishes inside the Stop & Go, especially popular on Friday nights.
Rosso & Wine and G&G Pronto stand out as downtown favorites for special experiences. Together, they host weekly wine tasting dinners on Tuesday nights, pairing Italian dishes with curated wines led by knowledgeable sommeliers. They can also be hired to cater private events at Terrace at Geneva, providing both food and wine service for celebrations, reunions, and milestone gatherings.
The downtown mall area features an old-school video game arcade, axe throwing, and duckpin bowling, making it easy to mix dining with entertainment.
Nearby, The Trio Entertainment Complex offers dining with outdoor gas fire pits and beautifully designed lounge seating—an atmosphere that’s equally inviting for group gatherings and romantic evenings for couples—along with pickleball and tennis courts, shuffleboard, and a movie theater where you can order dinner and drinks while you watch.
Alfresco dining is a standout experience throughout the warmer months, with inviting outdoor seating at The Trio, Elmhurst Grille (overlooking the golf course), G&G Pronto, and several downtown locations where tables fill the iconic alley, creating a beautiful, social atmosphere.
Full Bloom Brewery showcases craft beers made with locally grown and foraged ingredients and features a full outdoor deck for alfresco dining, often with live music and community events. Overlooking the Mahaska Community Recreation Trail, it’s a favorite stop for cyclists, with bike racks available for those riding the full 14-mile loop.
Just outside of town, Tassel Ridge Winery—one of Iowa’s oldest and most established wineries—offers award-winning wines, tastings, and seasonal food-and-wine events, including popular wood-fired pizza nights and themed dinners (by reservation). Guests interested in local food and agritourism also enjoy visiting Friesian Farms, a working cheese farm and creamery offering farm-made cheeses and specialty products.
Outdoor Recreation & Nature:
Guests enjoy three golf courses, three disc golf courses, and the Mahaska Community Recreation Trail, a 14-mile paved loop connecting parks, dining, breweries, scenic overlooks, and a state-of-the-art YMCA. Seasonal free guided trail tram rides offer an easy way to explore local history.
Mahaska County also offers over 1,700 acres of publicly conserved land, with trails through woods, prairies, wetlands, and waterways. Lake Keomah State Park, just six miles away, adds hiking, fishing, picnicking, and lakeside trails.
The Mahaska County Conservation Museum, home to a locally discovered woolly mammoth skeleton, features hands-on exhibits and a beautifully designed outdoor nature space along the trail.
Arts, Music & Architecture:
Oskaloosa has a deep and genuine arts culture.
FACE (Friends of the Arts Centered on Education) brings professional music, theater, dance, comedy, and lectures to the community year-round. The George Daily Auditorium anchors performing arts with concerts, touring performers, films, lectures, and live productions.
The town also holds architectural significance, with two Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian homes and a third nearby residence designed by an architect influenced by Wright.
A growing creative community includes working artists, a giant puppet maker, and a producer, writer, and director originally from Italy who has already completed a major film locally and continues to develop new projects here.
Seasonal Events & Traditions:
Community favorites include Art on the Square, the longest-running art festival in Iowa, Sweet Corn Serenade, Fridays After Five, Thankful Thursdays, one of the largest Christmas parades in the Midwest, a free Christian concert on Labor Day weekend, and the long-running Pioneer/Fall Festival at Nelson Pioneer Farm & Museum.
Oskaloosa and Mahaska County are also a popular destination for weddings and organized events, with several established venues nearby, making the area especially convenient for wedding weekends and multi-day celebrations.
Winter at Terrace at Geneva:
Winter trail walking is truly beautiful here and one of the most joyful ways to experience the area. Trails remain alive with birds throughout the winter, foraging on berries and moving actively along the paths.
Winter also brings increased daytime wildlife sightings, including deer and raccoons, with chipmunks, squirrels, and woodchucks active as well. Those walking near waterways may even spot fox or the area’s rebounding river otters.
When conditions allow, ice fishing is a popular local pastime. Indoors, winter is equally inviting—guests love gathering at the local coffee shop and enjoying cozy indoor spaces. Winter and extended-stay guests especially appreciate the Mahaska County YMCA, where modern fitness spaces and aquatics make it easy to stay active, energized, and connected.
Back at the house, the gas fireplace and warm winter sunlight streaming through the many large windows create a light-filled, comfortable place to return to. Many guests choose winter for longer stays, and extended-stay discounts are available January–March.
Perfect for Gatherings & Special Occasions:
Terrace at Geneva has hosted book club retreats, family reunions, milestone anniversaries, birthday celebrations, organized bachelor and bachelorette gatherings, and catered events.
A Place People Choose — and Choose to Stay
Guests have come from around the world, including families from London and artists and musicians from Italy and France—and several Italian creatives have even chosen to move here, drawn by the quality of life and creative energy.
Terrace at Geneva is more than a place to stay—it’s a place to connect, explore, and enjoy a simple but beautifully full time together, in every season.
