Published by GLD Commercial | Cedar Rapids Commercial Real Estate
From the road, it reads as a commercial event center — and a beautiful at that. But spend five minutes walking 2987 Epic Dr., Marion, IA on 9.11 acres with a pond, weeping willows, outdoor firepits, and a 10,800 SF building that comes with everything inside it, and the possibilities start to multiply. This property just had a price reduction to $1,700,000, and for the right buyer with the right vision, it may be one of the most compelling commercial opportunities in Eastern Iowa.
What’s Actually Here
Built in 2006 and renovated in 2019, the Epic Event Center at 2987 Epic Dr. is a fully finished, fully equipped commercial building on 9.11 acres in Marion, Iowa — just north of County Home Road and approximately two miles east of I-380. It’s easily accessible from Cedar Rapids, Robins, Marion, and Hiawatha, making it a genuinely regional property despite its tranquil, rural feel.
The Building at a Glance
- Building size: 10,800 SF
- Lot size: 9.11 acres
- Capacity: 400 seated guests / 600 total per fire code
- Year built: 2006 / Renovated: 2019
- Zoning: C-2 Highway Commercial
What’s Included in the Sale
Everything. This is not a bare shell. The sale includes the full furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) package — 40+ round tables, 450+ banquet chairs, 413 white folding chairs, 20 pub tables, full bar setup, two cold spark machines, a PA sound system, two wireless microphones, projector screens, a commercial kitchen prep area with 12×8 walk-in cooler, renovated bride and groom suites, 18-camera security system, two POS systems, outdoor firepits, water fountains, and hundreds of linens in multiple colors and sizes. The complete FF&E list is available from the listing agents.
The $1,700,000 sale price includes the 10,800 SF event center and a 7,830 SF warehouse investment property located on a portion of the 9-acre site. The two buildings can be purchased separately at $1,100,000 for the event center and $600,000 for the income-generating warehouse property. If purchased separately, the seller will establish a condominium regime at the seller’s cost as a condition of closing, separating this warehouse from the adjoining event center.
The Setting: Why the Land Matters as Much as the Building
The exterior of 2987 Epic Dr. is what stops people. A pond with a fountain. Weeping willow trees. A rock-lined island. Outdoor firepits. Landscaped walkways. This is not a commercial property that happens to have some land — it’s a setting that was deliberately designed to feel like somewhere special.
That setting is transferable to almost any buyer use case. For a wedding venue owner, it’s already done. For a church, it’s a sanctuary that cost millions to create. For a dog resort, it’s the outdoor amenity that sets you apart from every competitor in the market. For a wellness retreat, it’s the reason guests will pay a premium and come back.
The 9.11 acres also provides genuine room to grow. The aerial map shows clear expansion potential — additional buildings, parking, outdoor programming space, or whatever the next owner envisions.
Who Should Be Looking at This Property
Wedding & Event Venue Owners
The most obvious fit — and for good reason. 2987 Epic Dr. was purpose-built for celebrations. The renovated bride and groom suites, the dance floor, the cold spark machines, the full bar, the 400-person seating capacity, the pond backdrop for photos — these aren’t features you add after the fact. They’re already there.
For an entrepreneur looking to enter the wedding venue market, or an existing venue owner looking to upgrade or expand, this property eliminates years of buildout time and an enormous capital outlay. The equipment alone — chairs, tables, linens, AV, bar — represents hundreds of thousands of dollars in avoided purchasing costs.
Churches and Worship Communities
The Cedar Rapids metro is a faith-forward community, and the search for the right permanent home is one of the most significant decisions a congregation makes. 2987 Epic Dr. offers something most church property simply don’t: a finished, large capacity open-plan space on serene, peaceful land, with parking, kitchen facilities, and room to grow.
At 10,800 SF with capacity for 400+ people, this building works for established congregations and growing ones alike. The setting — nine acres, a pond, weeping willows — creates a genuinely peaceful envioronment that many churches spend decades trying to find or create.
Luxury Dog Resort and Pet Facility Operators
Eastern Iowa is underserved for truly premium pet boarding and resort facilities. The pet industry is one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in the country, and the demand for high-end dog boarding, grooming, daycare, and pet wellness has never been stronger.
2987 Epic Dr. offers something rare in the pet facility world: genuine land. Nine acres means real outdoor play areas, agility courses, water features using the existing pond, and the kind of outdoor amenity that makes a pet resort memorable. The 10,800 SF building provides more than enough space for boarding suites, grooming stations, a retail area, reception, and veterinary services. For the right operator, this could become the destination pet resort for the entire Cedar Rapids metro.
Dance Studios and Performing Arts Academies
Studio owners know the struggle: you outdrow your space, but finding something large enough, with high enough ceilings, in the right location, at a price that makes sense, feels nearly impossible. Most studios end up in strip mall spaces with drop ceilings and inadequate square footage.
2987 Epic Dr. is the opposite of that. High ceilings. A 10,800 SF open floor plan that can be divided into multiple studios. A stage-ready space. A PA system already installed. Private suites that work as changing rooms or instructor offices. Nine acres with room to add an outdoor amphitheater or programming space. For a serious dance academy, performing arts center, or movement studio, this is the facility that changes what’s possible.
Retreat, Wellness, and Corporate Retreat Facilities
The retreat and wellness industry is booming, and the demand for distinctive venues — places that feel genuinely removed from daily life while remaining accessible — outpaces supply in most Midwestern markets.
2987 Epic Dr. has all the ingredients: a calming natural setting, a pond, outdoor firepits, private suites, a commercial kitchen for catering or cooking workshops, generous indoor space for programming, and 9+ acres for outdoor activities. Located just two miles east of I-380, it’s accessible enough for day visitors and overnight guests. For a corporate retreat operator, a yoga and meditation center, a wellness spa, or a holistic health campus, this property offers a genuinely rare combination of setting and infrastructure.
Culinary Schools and Training Facilities
The existing commercial kitchen prep area, combined with the large event hall and private rooms, creates a natural foundation for a culinary school, catering training facility, or professional development campus. The 9-acre property adds outdoor programming potential that most culinary schools can’t access.
Why Now is the Time
The sellers are motivated and the price reflects that. For buyers who have been watching this property, this is the moment to move. Properties of this character — finished building, exceptional land, all FF&E included, accessible location — rarely come to market.
Contact Angie Glick-Martin, SIOR or Rachel Waters at 319.731.3400 to schedule your tour today.
The Epic Event Center at 2987 Epic Dr, Marion, IA 52302 is a 10,800 square foot commercial building on 9.11 acres currently for sale. Built in 2006 and renovated in 2019, the property features a 400-person event space, full bar, commercial kitchen prep area, renovated bride and groom suites, outdoor pond with fountain, firepits, and all furniture, fixtures, and equipment included in the sale. It is listed by Angie Glick-Martin, SIOR and Rachel Waters at GLD Commercial.
The Epic Event Center is located at 2987 Epic Dr, Marion, IA 52302 — just north of County Home Road and approximately two miles east of Interstate 380. The property is easily accessible from Cedar Rapids, Marion, Robins, and Hiawatha, Iowa, making it a centrally located commercial opportunity in the Cedar Rapids metro area.
The Epic Event Center consists of a 10,800 square foot main building on a 9.11-acre lot. The building accommodates up to 400 seated guests or 600 total occupants per fire code. The 9+ acres include a pond with fountain, weeping willow trees, outdoor firepits, landscaped walkways, and significant room for expansion or additional development.
The sale of the Epic Event Center includes all furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E). This includes 40+ round tables, 450+ banquet chairs, 413 white folding chairs, 20 pub tables, a full bar setup, two cold spark machines, a PA sound system, two wireless microphones, projector screens, a commercial kitchen prep area with 12×8 walk-in cooler, an 18-camera security system, two POS systems, outdoor firepits, water fountains, and hundreds of linens in multiple sizes and colors. The complete FF&E list is available from the listing agents.
Yes, the Epic Event Center is well-suited for use as a church or worship center. The 10,800 SF open-plan space accommodates 400+ people, the 9.11-acre setting is peaceful and spacious, there is ample parking, a commercial kitchen prep area is in place, and the C-2 Highway Commercial zoning supports religious assembly use. Buyers should confirm specific religious assembly use compliance with Linn County.
Yes, 2987 Epic Dr. is exceptionally well-suited for a luxury dog resort, pet boarding facility, or pet wellness center. The property offers 9+ acres of open land for outdoor play areas and agility courses, a pond that could support water features, and a 10,800 SF building with room for grooming suites, boarding kennels, a retail area, and reception. The rural yet accessible location makes it an ideal destination facility for the Cedar Rapids metro pet market. Buyers should confirm specific use compliance with Linn County.
Yes. The Epic Event Center’s high ceilings, open floor plan, existing PA sound system, stage-ready space, and private suites make it a strong candidate for a dance studio, performing arts academy, or movement center. The 10,800 SF footprint allows for multiple studios, a recital hall, lobby, changing rooms, and instructor offices. The 9.11-acre property also provides room to add an outdoor amphitheater or programming space. Buyers should confirm specific use compliance with Linn County.
Yes — the property’s natural setting makes it one of the strongest retreat and wellness candidates in Eastern Iowa. The serene pond, outdoor firepits, weeping willow trees, private suites, commercial kitchen prep area, and 9+ acres for outdoor programming provide all the foundational elements of a retreat, meditation, yoga, spa, or corporate wellness campus. The location two miles east of I-380 ensures accessibility while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. Buyers should confirm specific use compliance with Linn County.
Yes. The existing commercial kitchen prep area with a 12×8 walk-in cooler, combined with the large open event hall, private rooms, AV system, and 9.11-acre property, creates a strong foundation for a culinary school, catering training facility, or professional development campus. The outdoor acreage also allows for farm-to-table programming or outdoor culinary experiences. Buyers should confirm specific use compliance with Linn County.