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The Wright Place
by Kathleen Ganster
As the story goes, the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright was on the witness stand and asked to identify himself. He said, “I am Frank Lloyd Wright, the greatest architect who ever lived.” The judge was a bit miffed by Wright’s arrogance and told him to just state his name. According to legend, Wright looked at the judge and replied, “Your honor. I am Frank Lloyd Wright, the greatest architect who ever lived.”
Regardless of what Wright thought of himself, many agree with him. Wright is famous throughout the world for his unique designs and buildings. Perhaps the most famous Wright building is Fallingwater, the home he designed for the late Pittsburgh department store magnate, Edgar Kaufmann and his wife, Liliane. Fallingwater is located in the Laurel Highlands, about an hour and a half south east of Pittsburgh.
Numerous books have been written about Fallingwater, some describing the unique relationship between Kaufmann and Wright. Kaufmann commissioned Wright to build a home on his vacation property. While Kaufmann originally wanted this home to face waterfalls on his property, Wright convinced him to build the home on top of the falls. The house was completed in 1937. Unlike any other house in the world, the home is now owned by the Western Conservancy and open to the public. Thousands of visitors tour the home each year.
A few years after Fallingwater was built, Bernadine and I.N. Hagan, acquaintances of the Kaufmanns, commissioned Wright to build them a home. Also located in the Laurel Highlands about twenty minutes from Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob is another fascinating study of Wright architecture. But while Fallingwater is majestic, perched over the falls, Kentuck Knob has a homier feel, with wood paneling, small rooms and a cozy kitchen. The Hagan home was completed in 1956, three years before Wright died.
The Hagans later sold the house to Lord Palumbo of England in 1986. Palumbo opened the home to the public as well -- visitors can tour both homes in the same afternoon. In addition to the house, Palumbo has an incredible art collection, some of which is on display throughout Kentuck Knob and the property – worth a visit alone.
Riding on the good fortune of having these two outstanding homes in the area, Joe Hardy, owner of 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in the Laurel Highlands, decided to build a property based on Wright’s principals and philosophies. In the fall of 2003, Hardy commissioned David Merritt, an architect who studied at Wright’s school in Taliesin, to build a hotel. The result is an incredible structure made even more remarkable in the fact that it was completed in nine months – part of that time while Merritt was recovering from a kidney transplant!
Falling Rock is a 92,000 square foot hotel located on the PGA golf course at the Nemacolin Woodlands resort property. Designed using Wright’s principals, the structure is what Hardy considers a “work of art” according to Brian Leach, Art Curator for Nemacolin Woodlands, including Falling Rock.
Although it only has 42 rooms (four are suites), Falling Rock is amazing. The entire building was designed according to Wright’s philosophies with no detail too small. In the dining room, even the table clothes have Wright-like designs. And the chairs in the dining room look like those in the dining room at Fallingwater.
In addition to the Wright theme, the resort has other notable services such as your own butler who will not only escort you to your room, but will unpack your clothes, draw your bath, and bring you breakfast in bed. The suites have fireplaces and a porch complete with Wright-like table and chairs outside.
If you can muster the energy to leave the fabulous rooms, take advantage of other activities on the property such as the award winning spa, of course, golfing, and for the adventurous, the Off-Road Riding Academy where you get to drive a Hummer.
Falling Rock also offers a special package where you can visit Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and stay at the hotel.
For more information on Fallingwater visit www.paconserve.org or call (724) 329-8501. For more information on Kentuck Knob visit www.kentuckknob.com or call (724) 329-1901). Information on Falling Rock may be found by calling 1-877-899-5125 or visit www.nemacolin.com.
Kathleen Ganster may be reached at www.thetravelingbag.com or ganster@connecttime.net.
