Homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright continue to be highly coveted by real estate aficionados, even more than six decades since his passing. But what about design lovers and architecture buffs who don’t want to commit to buying one? Luckily, options are aplenty in the vacation rental world, with some of the legendary American architect’s best-known residences available for a short-term stay on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO.
The sculptural Norman Lykes House in the desert hills of Phoenix, for instance, is one of Wright’s rare circular homes, while Michigan’s Goetsch–Winckler House is widely regarded as a superlative example of his signature Usonian architectural style. Below, check out both dwellings, plus seven more that can be rented by anyone looking for an unforgettable stay.
Norman Lykes House by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Norman Lykes House | Phoenix, AZ
Paying homage to its rugged desert surroundings, the 1967 Norman Lykes House features organic architecture that seamlessly blends into the mountains of Phoenix’s upscale Biltmore neighborhood. One of just 14 circular designs by Wright, the three-bedroom home sleeps six and has a crescent-shaped pool and patio lined with mother-of-pearl. Due to the home’s alpine setting and curving floor plan, each room features sweeping views of the city and canyon below.
The Elam House in Minnesota is one of Wright’s largest Usonian homes.
The Elam House | Austin, MN
Located in southern Minnesota, the Elam House is one of the largest residences ever designed by Wright, with five en-suite bedrooms and six baths. The 1951 home includes massive limestone piers from a Wisconsin quarry, white cypress and terrazzo flooring, cantilevered balcony, steeply pitched roofline, and more than 100 windows. The stonework is often compared to Taliesin East, Wright’s personal residence, which is regarded as one of his masterpieces.
Overlooking the Waiaka Stream, Cornwell House (also called the Simms House) is the sole residnece in Hawaii envisioned by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Cornwell House | Waimea, HI
Visitors to Cornwell House have the distinction of staying in the only home designed by Wright located in Hawaii. Finished posthumously, in 1995, the house was based off of unrealized plans and constructed in collaboration with Taliesin Associated Architects, John Rattenbury, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to ensure its authenticity. With three bedrooms, the house is a short drive to the beach and features views of three volcanoes.
The Eppstein House outside of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Eppstein House | Galesburg, MI
Part of a planned community outside of Kalamazoo that Wright envisioned containing 21 dwellings, the Eppstein House ended up being one of only four homes built in what’s now called The Acres. The 1953 Usonian residence is composed largely of concrete and mahogany and has three bedrooms, accommodating up to five guests. In 2016, it underwent a total renovation that brought in modernized systems while retaining Wright’s original charm. The estate also comes with three terraces, one of which is sunk into the ground to complement the natural topography.
Still Bend by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Still Bend | Two Rivers, MI
Sometimes referred to as the Bernard Schwartz House, Still Bend vaulted to popularity after being featured on Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. It’s easy to see why: The 1938 residence near the shores of Lake Michigan has been meticulously preserved over decades and features an interior sheathed in brick and warm wood. It has original furnishings and clerestory windows with geometric cut-outs that create intriguing shadows throughout the day. Notably, the house’s design was based off of Wright’s vision for an American “dream home” that was first published by Life Magazine.
The Meyer House in Michigan won an award for its architectural restoration.
The Meyer House | Galesburg, Michigan
With a curving silhouette and plenty of built-in furnishings (check out the living room’s upholstered sofa-meet-bookshelf combo), the Meyer House in southwest Michigan has won awards for its painstaking 2018 restoration. Constructed in 1951 in Wright’s Usonian style, the residence expresses aesthetic themes that would culminate several years later in his design for the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The house contains a trio of bedrooms (and one-and-a-half baths) that can accommodate up to four guests and features a manicured garden that’s consistently in bloom during the warmer months.
Woodside | Marion, IN
Completed in 1955, this unusual home—also called the Dr. Richard Davis House—is set in a leafy, rural neighborhood in central Indiana. Initially designed for a parcel in Lake Tahoe in the 1930s, the four-bedroom home sleeps six and is available on both Airbnb and VRBO. The most striking element is undoubtedly its 40 foot-tall chimney apex, which Wright designed based off the Sioux Native American tribe’s traditional teepees. The host notes that new heating and cooling systems have been installed to ensure a comfortable atmosphere any time of year.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Goetsch–Winckler House in Okemos, Michigan.
Goetsch—Winckler House | Okemos, MI
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1940 Goetsch-Winckler House outside of Lansing is a diminutive example of Wright’s Usonian designs, which emphasize a connection to the natural world. At 1,350 square feet, the two-bedroom home can accommodate four guests, although the listing recommends visiting in the cooler months, as the home does not have air conditioning. (There are radiant-heat floors, however, which will help keep you cozy in the winter.) Best of all, many of Wright’s hallmarks are still intact, including wooden cantilevers and original furnishings.
The Louis Penfield House in Willoughby Hills, Ohio.
Penfield House | Willoughby Hills, OH
Set in Willoughby Hills, a suburb of Cleveland, the Louis Penfield House dates back to 1955 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Set on a 30-acre parcel, the three-bedroom Usonian home is crafted largely out of wood and concrete blocks, with large glass windows and a flat roof. Notably, since the original client was above average height, Wright designed the interiors with higher doorways than most of his other buildings.
Geoffrey Montes is an associate editor at ELLE Decor with a serious love for all things real estate and design. Before that, he worked at Architectural Digest, Galerie, and Preservation magazines, covering everything from jaw-dropping listings to world-famous architects and design events like Salone del Mobile and Homo Faber.
