MASON CITY – If you haven’t heard yet, there is quite a happening location near downtown Mason City, to go with all the other attractions.
The Rancho Deluxe, located at the 400 block of 3rd Street NE, is a beehive of activity on most afternoons and evenings, with folks of all ages and backgrounds stopping by. Many like to walk through the maze of flowers, grass, stone blocks, signs, artwork and sculptures just to relax, while others stop down to see who else might be around in the hopes of some good conversation.
Friday afternoon, a member of the band Buckcherry – Stevie D, the guitarist – was enticed to make a stop at the Rancho Deluxe after employees at the Historic Park Inn made the recommendation.
Rancho Deluxe architect and mastermind Max Weaver was on hand to welcome all visitors, and greeted Stevie D of Buckcherry and his band photographer, Chad, with an enthusiastic handshake as he welcomed the musician to Mason City.
“I’m just tickled these gentlemen came down here today,” Mr. Weaver said.
“We are making our way across the country, city by city, bringing music to the people, and we are staying at the Historic Park Inn. They made sure that I stopped here first, ’cause they said you are like the talk of the town,” Stevie D said to Mr. Weaver.
“Well I hope the talk is good,” Mr. Weaver said with a chuckle.
Buckcherry, a hard-rock band out of Los Angeles, is in town to play the Surf Ballroom Friday evening. “It’s a legendary venue, Stevie D said. “Famous for the day the music died.”
Before – and after – Stevie D arrived at the Rancho Deluxe, the unique “garden” was abuzz with people coming and going, driving by, some stopping some just honking and waving.
“Hey Max what do you know?” more than one passer-by shouted. Another man in a wheelchair made his way down, just to listen to the stories about the Lehigh Cement Plant and other tales from the early 1970’s onward.
“It’s like this most of the day and evening,” Mr. Weaver said, walking around with a rake, hose, saw or some other tool in his hand.
Just as the scene was quieting down at about 7 PM and Mr. Weaver was getting in his truck to drive away, more people in cars, on bikes and on foot arrived and wanted to know “What’s going on.”
VIDEO:
httpv://youtu.be/P6CAQ9CTecI
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