Although he died almost 70 years ago and is acknowledged as a difficult narcissist, Frank Lloyd Wright and his structures still fascinate us. Every year over 150,000 people visit Fallingwater, one of the homes he designed, and his estates, Taliesin West and Taliesin East.
For an up-close look at some of his homes, visit Polymath Park in Pennsylvania, about an hour from Pittsburgh. Founders Tom and Heather Papinchak relocated two Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in other states to join two on the property designed by one of Wright’s apprentices.
Tours and dining at Treetops Restaurant, with treehouse seating, are available.
Please see our full story on Frank Lloyd Wright homes.
Stay Overnight at Polymath Park
To really immerse yourself in the world of FLW, stay in one of the four homes at Polymath Park. This gorgeous property is located on 130 acres in the mountains of Pennsylvania.
Four homes at Polymath Park are available for rental.
Mantyla
One of two homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Polymath Park, Mantyla was moved from its original home in Cloquet, Minnesota. The home had been on the market but with no prospects of a buyer, it was facing demolition.
The owners, Julene and Peter McKinney, had raised their son in the home and it had been in their family for 60 years. They decided relocation was the best way for the home to survive. They donated the home to the nonprofit associated with Polymath Park, Usonian Preservation Inc.
Mantyla has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a magnificent, sloped roof and huge windows in the living room for a view of the forest behind it.
Duncan
In the 1950’s, FLW partnered with the Marshall Erdman Company to design prefab homes that were more affordable for those wanting to own one of his designs.
Elizabeth and Donald Duncan purchased one of these homes, and constructed it in Lisle, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 1958. After Donald died in 2002, the home was destined to be torn down, but it was saved when the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy helped to transfer it to Polymath Park. It was meticulously relocated, piece by piece.
The home has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a brightly colored kitchen.
Balter and Blum
These two homes were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentice, Peter Berndtson, who started working with FLW in 1938.
The Balter and Blum families commissioned these homes as summer homes to be constructed on 130 acres in the mountains outside of Pittsburgh. Both families wanted a “Usonian” house. Wright coined that term to mean United States of America and wanted homes in this style to be affordable. They were simple, one-story structures. Both homes were completed in the early 1960s and used as summer homes for decades.
In 2003 Tom and Heather purchased the 130 acres to preserve these homes, which created the impetus for Polymath Park, opened in 2007.
Balter has four bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a pitched roof and treehouse-like feel. Blum has three bedrooms, two baths, along with skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light.
Dining at Polymath Park
Treetops Restaurant is open seasonally for lunch and dinner from Thursday to Monday and reservations are required. During the 2025 season, it will be open from April 10 to November 16.
The restaurant is lovely, but for a truly memorable experience, dine in one of the FLW-style treehouse dining pods.
After our tour, our group sat in one of the pods to enjoy a 4.5-course dinner with each dish beautifully presented. There is no menu – dishes are Chef’s choice except for your entrée.
Tours at Polymath Park
If your time or budget doesn’t allow for an overnight stay, you can take one of several tours available. The Wright Collection Tour includes two houses and the Complete Collections Tour includes all four.
If you want to sample some of the fare at Treetops Restaurant, you can take the Tapas & Wine Tour, the Treehouse Brunch Tour, or the Treehouse Dinner Tour.
While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to make the short drive to Fallingwater. It’s only about 35 minutes away and is a must-see for Frank Lloyd Wright fans. The home was constructed from 1936-37 for the Kaufmann family, a Pittsburgh family that owned Kaufmann’s department store.
We were told the average home in Pittsburgh at that time was around $5,000. Fallingwater, with furnishings, cost $150,000.
Seeing it had been on my list for years and I really enjoyed taking the one-hour tour. My favorite part was the stairs that led directly down to the creek so you could dip your toes in the water without even leaving home.
Other Frank Lloyd Wright homes for rent
There are a few other Frank Lloyd Wright homes where you can stay, in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.
– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief