Little Crow Hotel & Conference in Spicer is a local favorite for a reason.
By Kaity Young of Best of the Midwest – June 3, 2026

The little touches put Little Crow Hotel & Conference at the top of the local hotel list, like this note from housekeeping on Monday, May 4, 2026, near Spicer, Minnesota. Kaity Young / Best of the Midwest

Hospitality is more than just a concept at Little Crow Hotel & Conference just outside Spicer, Minnesota. It’s ingrained in everything, from the warmth of the front desk staff to the notes left by housekeeping.

Little Crow is the place locals recommend when family is coming to town, and it’s a favorite for weddings, golf outings, or dinner and a drink. Locals in the annual West Central Tribune Best of the Best contest voted it their top option for lodging, and those who stay there quickly learn why.

The excellent hospitality at Little Crow starts at the top. General Manager Robby Denzel happened to be working when I stayed at the hotel recently, training a new staff member at the front desk. I was greeted with friendly chatter, and the room key was ready and waiting.

The room itself was clean and spacious, with a view overlooking the golf course. A friendly note from housekeeping greeted me on the nightstand; the kindness I found at the front desk is also exuded by the staff I’m less likely to run into.

The rooms are clean and spacious at Little Crow Hotel & Conference on Monday, May 4, 2026, near Spicer, Minnesota. Kaity Young / Best of the Midwest

Robby gave me a few minutes of his time for a tour and interview, and the remarkable thing was the number of guests who stopped to chat with him during that time. He knew each person by name, and they were eager to say hello or share a bit of gossip with him. It was clear he cared about what they had to say.

“We try to get to know who’s coming in,” he later told me. The leading philosophy is that “you treat people with kindness, like how you would treat somebody in a family that you love.”

During the tour, I learned it’s not just locals recognizing the superior service at Little Crow. Among the 129 hotels under the Trademark by Wyndham brand worldwide, Little Crow ranks third for guest satisfaction.

The hotel features a pool and a hot tub, with the area available for open swim from Sunday through Thursday during the winter so locals can enjoy the amenities, too. Patio seating in the continental breakfast area offers a sprawling view of the driving range.

Targets and measurements dot a driving range surrounded by trees at Little Crow Hotel & Conference on Monday, May 4, 2026, near Spicer, Minnesota. Kaity Young / Best of the Midwest

The conference center is a hub for local events. In addition to weddings, Little Crow hosted the local prom this spring, and Robby was setting up for soil and water testing during my stay.

In addition to the hotel, the Little Crow golf course is a Best of the Best winner. It features three nines of varying difficulty, so you can choose how challenging you want your game to be.

The attached bar and restaurant, Max’s on the Green, is a local favorite for outdoor dining and date nights. As I was going down the elevator to interview Robby, another woman told me that she lives nearby and was about to pick up food from Max’s. Not knowing that I was planning to write this story, she gave me a rave review of the restaurant and urged me to stop there for a meal if I had time.

If you’re stopping by in the summer, I recommend coming on a Thursday evening, when they have live music out on the patio.

These extra amenities, combined with the incredible customer service at the hotel, helped Little Crow earn its place at the top of the charts. It’s apparent why locals favor this as the best place to stay in the Willmar area, and why people keep coming back to stay again and again.

This article was written by Kaity Young, content manager for Best of the Midwest. You can view the full article on their website by clicking here.