flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

The Usonian Inn, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired motor lodge, is on the market for $665,000

Hotel Facilities

The Usonian Inn, a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired motor lodge, is on the market for $665,000

The Usonian Inn proudly displays many Wright-inspired characteristics, the most prominent of which is the use of cantilevered overhangs.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | March 30, 2016

Photo Credit:  Teemu08, Wikimedia Commons 

For any horror movie fans or aspiring horror filmmakers out there, having an inn of your own would provide the perfect canvas for reenacting your favorite horror moments, such as the shower scene from "Psycho" or “Here’s Johnny!” from "The Shining" (come to think of it, if you ever find yourself in a scenario reminiscent of a horror movie, stay away from the bathroom). But for one particular inn that just hit the market, it isn’t just horror movie buffs that might be interested in making the $665,000 purchase, but fans of architecture, as well.

The Usonian Inn, which was previously known as the Rest Haven Motel (which sounds like a name that could have been taken directly from an old horror movie), is an 11-room motor lodge in Spring Green, Wis., that was constructed in 1952. What makes this particular inn noteworthy is that Jesse C. Caraway, an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the structure.

As Curbed.com reports, the Park Inn in Mason City, Iowa, is the only hotel still in existence that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself, but The Usonian Inn proudly displays many Wright-inspired characteristics. The most prominent of which is without question the use of cantilevered overhangs.

The V-shaped building was one of the first to use aluminum siding, which was provided by Reynolds Metals for free as a promotional tool, and was also once considered for a feature in Life magazine. Currently, the inn is listed on the State and National Register of Historic places.

And don’t let the old horror trope of haunted or creepy inns scare you away, the Usonian Inn has undergone more than a few facelifts in an effort to keep the structure looking young. In 1992, the inn’s grounds were freshly landscaped and the current owners, Carolina and Theo Dursina, have provided significant upgrades, as well, such as the addition of sustainable fixtures and double-glazed windows and a new roof.

While the $665,000 price tag certainly isn’t cheap, the building’s unique history and quality location near Spring Green, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin home and studio, and the Wisconsin River do make for an intriguing purchase.

Related Stories

Hotel Facilities | Jun 28, 2016

Hotel construction in U.S. is outpacing the rest of the world

New York continues to be the leader among metros in projects and rooms in the pipeline, according to Lodging Econometrics latest data.

Hotel Facilities | May 17, 2016

U.S. hotel construction pipeline full, fueled by upscale property segment

The 506,000 rooms under contract in April represent a 14.6% YoY increase. 

Modular Building | May 17, 2016

Oklahoma’s first modular hotel will begin construction next month

Guerdon Modular Buildings will produce 81 modules for this project. 

Retail Centers | May 10, 2016

5 factors guiding restaurant design

Restaurants are more than just places to eat. They are comprising town centers and playing into the future of brick-and-mortar retail.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 6, 2016

Las Vegas debuts another new arena, with a number of ‘firsts’

The gambling mecca has its eyes on attracting a pro sports team. 

Hotel Facilities | Mar 18, 2016

Starwood backs away from merger with Marriott

Hotel giant prefers higher, all-cash bid from China’s Anbang

Hotel Facilities | Mar 9, 2016

New hotel rooms generate an intergenerational battle

Hotels are going for a new minimalist look to attract younger guests, but some older business travelers don't like the small "desks"—and they don't want to work in the hotel lobby. But it's really all about trimming construction costs.

Hotel Facilities | Mar 7, 2016

Exclusive villas and spa in China will be built at the center of a lake

The only connection between the complex and the mainland will be a narrow pedestrian bridge.

Market Data | Feb 10, 2016

Nonresidential building starts and spending should see solid gains in 2016: Gilbane report

But finding skilled workers continues to be a problem and could inflate a project's costs.

Multifamily Housing | Feb 1, 2016

Top 10 kitchen design trends for 2016

Charging stations, built-in coffeemakers, and pet stations—these are among the top kitchen design trends for the coming year, according to a new survey of kitchen and bath designers by the National Kitchen & Bath Association.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



3D Printing

3D-printed construction milestones take shape in Tennessee and Texas

Two notable 3D-printed projects mark milestones in the new construction technique of “printing” structures with specialized concrete. In Athens, Tennessee, Walmart hired Alquist 3D to build a 20-foot-high store expansion, one of the largest freestanding 3D-printed commercial concrete structures in the U.S. In Marfa, Texas, the world’s first 3D-printed hotel is under construction at an existing hotel and campground site.


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021