Sensing a desire for additional restaurants in the Cedar Rapids-Marion area, Vince and Mary Ellen DeLong conceived the idea of an eating establishment with a western theme in 1967. A Collins Radio engineer by trade, Vince did much of the construction on the original restaurant himself after work and on weekends. His wife's artistic talents produced caricatures and murals for the old West theme found on the front and throughout the original buildings. Their four sons provided much of the manual labor. After school and on weekends were spent scraping and painting old wagon wheels, pouring concrete, and laying block. Vince has been known to joke, The most cost effective way to construct a building is with child labor. Family Dining Since 1968. The DeLong's had originally intended to lease the building to someone with a background in the food and beverage industry. But they wound up running the restaurant themselves when a lessee backed out of the deal at the last minute. Not having any restaurant experience, the DeLong's hired a manager to operate the restaurant when it opened in 1968 as The Longbranch Supper Club. Soon though the DeLong's learned that the only way for the operation to be successful was to have the family in the business. Original Wagon Room Dining Area. 1970's Catering Crew and Chuck Wagon Delivery. Many of the original recipes came from family members, friends, and employees. Business was brisk with guests having to wait on many nights up to three hours for a seat. In 1970 an additional dining room was constructed doubling the original seating for dining. A large Convention Hall was opened behind the original restaurant in 1974 with seating up to 475. The Convention Hall featured a motorized stage used for dinner theater performances from 1974 until 1978 by the Old Barn Players. During the 1990s The Longbranch entered into several different events and won many awards (see list below). Unfortunately rising costs to enter such events have prohibited our attendance in recent years. Growing to Meet Your Needs. In 1978 The Longbranch constructed a four-story, 54-unit motel with a revolving bar on the fourth floor. Four kitchenette suites and three Private Jacuzzi suites were added in 1980. Another four-story hotel addition including a full service health club, indoor heated pool, whirlpool, dry sauna, and a large garden-like Atrium area with billiards, games, and The Goldzone Cafe opened in 1985, this bringing the total hotels available for rent to 106 rooms. With the opening of the new lounge and cafe near the pool the revolving bar was closed and remodeled into larger hotel rooms. Million Dollar addition under construction in 1985. Two Coonrod cranes lift an 8 ton roof section into place for the 1985 addition. The purchase of the Village Inn Hotel came in 1993. The hotel and restaurant were completely renovated and renamed: Cooper's Mill Restaurant and Best Western Cooper's Mill Hotel. A new indoor-pool and whirl pool was opened in the hotel in 1999. In 2002 the restaurant was completely redecorated, as well as the three meeting rooms. Cooper's Mill Hotel on the Cedar River. Cooper's Hot Tub in the new 1999 addition near the indoor. Keeping a High Quality Level. The Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center strives to stay current with on-going renovations. New chandeliers were installed in our Grand Ball Room in 2001 and our dining rooms were updated. The hotel in 2001-2003 has been completely renovated and now features free high-speed Internet access, free full service health club use, and king rooms available. Both our properties hotel rooms also feature: 25 televisions with expanded cable HBO, hair dryers, iron large ironing board, voice mail telephone with modem ports, free local calls and free toiletries. After 40 plus years in business, the DeLong family still participates in the day-to-day operations of both hotels. Stop in soon and enjoy a meal or an over night stay with us. We know your visit will be a memorable one! Chronology of Awards. 1991 Award for Pork - Iowa State Pork Producers Assoc. 1992 Restaurant Award - Linn Co. Pork Producers Assoc. 1992 Competitive Employment Employer of the Year - Options of Linn County. 1993 National Pork Producers Council Award. 1993 National Pork Restaurant of the Year Finalist. 1994 Second Place Taste of Elegance - Iowa Pork Producers Assoc. 1993 Best BBQ Restaurant (2nd place) Cedar Rapids Gazette Readers Choice. Cedar Rapids BBQ Round-up Awards. 1990 First Place, Best Barbeque Pork. 1991 First Place, Best Barbeque Pork Ribs. 1992 First Place, Best Barbeque Pork Ribs. 1993 First Place, Best Barbeque Pork Ribs. LOCAL PHONE NUMBER 319-377-6386 or 1-800-443-7660

Click Here for a Virtual Tour. Looking for a hotel with everything under one roof? This is your place!! Each of our guest rooms feature: 25 inch color televisions, full cable with over fifty stations including HBO, queen or king beds, hair dryer shampoo, iron ironing board, coffee maker with coffee, FM/AM alarm clock radio, electronic keycard, individually controlled air-conditioning and heat, telephone with data port voice mail, free High Speed Internet access (wireless or wired), in-room pay per-view movies and room service available from 7AM till 10PM. On request we have connecting rooms, non-smoking rooms, refrigerators, and microwaves. Our Rooms speak for themselves Our pool view rooms open into a large garden-like atrium with an indoor heated pool, whirl pool, dry sauna, video games, billiards, and the Goldzone Cafe. The lower level of this wing is our 8,500 square foot fitness club. The Gold Pointe Fitness Club is FREE to all registered hotel guests. The health club also offers, for additional cost, tanning beds and a full service massage therapist. Honey Moon and Hot Tub Suites. Do you want to have your own in room private hot tub? We have three hot tub suites to choose from. Besides all the amenities of our standard rooms these suites feature a one hundred gallon hot tub for two. Some suites also feature a dry sauna or a full kitchen and living room. LOCAL HOTEL RESERVATION LINE. 319-377-6386 or 1-800-443-7660. Click for pictures for larger image. Relaxing Pool Atrium. Gold Pointe Fitness Club. Try Our Hot Tub Suites

Conventions and Banquets. The banquet facilities at the Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center welcome wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, retirements, reunions, business meetings, and more. Our professional staff will help make sure your special event, large or small, runs smoothly from start to finish. Your guests will rave over the delicious meals prepared by our chef. We can customize any event, business or social, with theme menus and beverage options. Our banquet sales manager will assist you in planning the event including; creative menu ideas, banquet room set up, hotel room blocks, audio/visual needs, hospitality suites, and more. Our attention to detail will ensure a successful event that will earn you applause! Call or email for a site visit today! CLICK HERE FOR OUR MENUS. Requires Adobe Reader to view. Meet our Banquet Specialist Team. Tami Mysak Gary Petrick Dan Sobolik. Sales Manager Operations Manager Banquet Manager. Or call 319-377-6386. The meeting and banquet facilities at the Best Western Longbranch at Cedar Rapids are ideal for groups from 10 to 450 guests. From our private meeting rooms to our Convention Hall, we have almost 11,000 square feet of flexible, versatile meeting space. Our on-site restaurant at the Longbranch, can accommodate up to 60 guests in a non-smoking environment and Kitty's Lounge and Wagonroom can accommodate up to 300. For all of your banquet and meeting needs, the Longbranch offers a total of 13 banquet rooms. Conference Services: Menu planning assistance. Program coordination. Studio/visual equipment on property. Click on room layout to see larger. Banquet Questions or for Information. Click Pictures for Larger Version. Cake Champaign Fountain

The Longbranch Restaurants. The main restaurant has been a local favorite for family dining since 1968. The Longbranch now has a completely separate smoke free dining room for non-smokers. A smoking dining area is still available too. We serve daily lunch buffets, sandwiches, homemade pizza, tenderloins and Ruebens. Nightly we feature Mid Western USDA choice steaks, slow cooked tender prime rib of beef, award winning falling off the bone barbeque pork ribs, Gulf shrimp, blackened Red Snapper, honey mustard chicken breast and many other entrees, salads and pastas to choose from. Most meals include a trip to our deluxe salad bar, a choice of potato, and fresh baked bread. All very reasonably priced!! Children are welcome here! We feature a special menu just for kids with mini pizzas, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken fingers, mac-n-cheese, and more! Celebrate your birthday at the Longbranch! A frosted six-inch cake is complementary for your special birthday party; please let us know in advance when possible. You are also welcome to bring in your own cake too. We take reservations for any size group and even have private rooms to rent. Call today and we will set aside a special table for your family or group! Our Grand Sunday Brunch Buffet: Every Sunday from 10am till 2pm. Featuring a large slow roasted baron of beef hand carved and special baked chicken. Hickory smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, corn, green beans, whipped potatoes with gravy, a Belgian waffle bar with toppings, fresh pastries, fruit crepes, our deluxe salad bar, and much, much more!! Bring your whole family after church! Daily Buffet Monday through Saturday: (11am till 2pm) We feature a different buffet every day! Call for today's Chef's choices. Each day we serve two meat or meat casseroles, two vegetables, whipped potatoes with gravy, our large, deluxe salad bar, two soups of the day, and this buffet even includes desert and ice cream! The Pool Side Goldzone Cafe. Each morning our poolside Cafe serves breakfast from the menu. We feature: pancakes, omelets, steak and eggs, French toast, and piping hot coffee. Stop in today and enjoy a wonderful meal with fast and friendly service! Open Monday through Friday 6am till 10:30am Weekends 7am till 11am. Also open evenings for cocktails by the pool and light meals nightly at 5:30pm, closed Sunday nights. An Outdoor balcony is open seasonally. LOCAL HOTEL DINNER RESERVATION LINE. Award Winning BBQ Pork Ribs

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Breakfast may be served in the room
 Clothes dry cleaning
 Conference and meeting room
 Credit cards accepted
 Lift
 Fitness hall
 Games room
 Hairdryer
 Heating
 Access to internet
 Ironing facilities
 Jacuzzi tub
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Licensed bar
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Around-the-clock recetpion
 Pets are accepted
 Parking lot
 Private park, garden, courtyard
 Clock/radio
 Fridge
 Restaurant
 Sauna
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Swimming pool
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms
 Patio, summer terrace
 Common room with a TV set