CORNING, Iowa — If you’re driving too fast on Highway 34 through Corning, it’s easy to miss the floating restaurant and event space known as the Floating Vine.

Nestled behind hills and between vineyard rows, The Floating Vine stands out because it, as the name implies, floats. This isn’t just a structure built over a pond — it literally floats on the water and is even held in place by cables. Co-owner Clint Henry says you can even feel it swaying on a windy day.

The Floating Vine was originally built as a tasting room for the surrounding vineyard. While grapes are still grown and locals still pick them to make wine, the building no longer serves just that purpose. Wine is no longer made here, so the Floating Vine has taken on a role as an event space, restaurant, and bar.

Henry hopes the Floating Vine can bring a “big city experience” to a rural community with craft cocktails, more upscale food, and live music.

One especially unique aspect of the Floating Vine is the piece of glass in the floor that allows visitors to see down into the pond below. In the winter months, that means just looking down into a piece of ice. But in the summertime, one large fish known as ‘Swim Shady’ frequently swims up to greet visitors. Visitors also bring fishing poles for themselves and their kids in the summertime.

Henry says the Floating Vine is an example of a growing community in Corning that can easily be a destination for people to visit. He hopes people will make Corning and the Floating Vine a spot for a future weekend getaway.

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