House in Austin, MN

Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House

Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House

Photo gallery for Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House

The Elam House is a very unique 'Usonian' with over 100 windows
Limestone trucked in from a quary near Spring Green, WI., near Taliesin
Our guest entry and patio area
Our guest patio and garden view
Side view of the guest living room and patio area.  Lots of windows!

Overview of Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House

10 out of 10 Exceptional
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 5820 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

Austin, MN
  • Popular LocationMower County Historical Society19 min walk
  • Popular LocationRiverland Community College - Austin Campus20 min walk
  • Popular LocationFayette Sherman Park20 min walk
  • AirportRochester, MN (RST-Rochester Intl.)39 min drive

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House

Ever wonder what it would be like to stay overnight and tour one of the largest Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Homes? Now, you can find out! Experience the wonder and fascination of Frank Lloyd Wright in this beautiful home which features 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, 3 floor to ceiling fireplaces, two living rooms with soaring ceilings, cantilevered balcony, terrazzo and slate flooring, slate patio outside the guest entrance, over 100 windows, over 100 light fixtures all set in the ceiling, rare white cypress wood, massive limestone piers and stonework comparable to that of Taliesin East, the home of Frank Lloyd Wright.

The 820 square foot Guest House suite has one bedroom and sleeps two comfortably. The guest bedroom has a queen sized bed, in-suite bath room including separate shower and bath tub and walk-in closet. The guest quarters also include a living room and kitchen. The living room has a private entrance, dining area and Satellite TV. Free Wi-Fi access is available. The kitchen includes microwave, toaster, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee maker, pots, pans, china and flatware. There is also a futon and an air mattress available which can be set up in the guest bedroom or the living room for 3 additional guests. Enjoy relaxing in the privacy and quiet of the Elam House guest quarters.

Videos and magazines on the life of Frank Lloyd Wright and his designs will be available for our guest perusal. Surf the Internet while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee near the fireplace. Play a board game or watch a movie on Direct TV or from our collection of classic movies. Some of the original plans for the Elam House are on display in the gallery for our guest's viewing pleasure. A pocket door in the middle of the 60 foot long gallery/hallway separates the guest rental area from the residence and will be closed and locked before and after the tour of the entire house to ensure the privacy of our guests.

Tours of the entire house are available only to our rental guests between the hours of 5 - 7 pm. There may be some variability on weekends, so please confirm with Peter Plunkett when your tour will take place. Guests are free to walk around the grounds of the entire lot and through the entire guest area at any time during their stay.

You might enjoy examining the Webster Electric 'Teletalk' intercom system that is hardwired throughout the entire house. There are 3 base stations, one at the head of the stairs, one in the master bedroom and one in the guest living room. All of the bedrooms and the garage have an intercom as well. Although not operational at this time, we plan to renovate the system in the future.

The house was designed only for floor heat, however, that was not acceptable to Mr. Elam who demanded that a forced air heating system be added as well. The large 'Kewanee' boilers (there are two of them) and the huge air circulation system are really something to see. The original Hammond organ installed by Elam still remains in the main living room and will be restored as well. Of course, we are sure you will be 'Wowed' by the three floor to ceiling fireplaces that are in the house. Frank Lloyd Wright always liked a good fireplace that the family could relax and unwind by. As much as possible, we are striving to restore our beautiful home to its original splendor. We hope you enjoy staying in it as much as we enjoy living in it!

Property manager

Pete Plunkett

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor Space

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 12:00 PM

Children

Children allowed: ages 3-17
Children under 7 not allowed

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No smoking on the entire premises
For some of the house rules, see The Elam House Reservation form

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Austin

This vacation home is located in Austin. Mower County Historical Society and Hormel Historic Home are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and Shirley Theel Memorial Park. Be sure to check out the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

What's nearby

  • Shirley Theel Memorial Park - 11 min walk
  • Mower County Historical Society - 19 min walk
  • Riverland Community College - Austin Campus - 20 min walk
  • Fayette Sherman Park - 20 min walk
  • North West Park - 4 min drive

Getting around

  • Rochester, MN (RST-Rochester Intl.) - 39 min drive

Restaurants

  • McDonald's - 3 min drive
  • Culver's - 6 min drive
  • Casey's General Store - 4 min drive
  • Pizza Hut - 5 min drive
  • McDonald's - 4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House?

Check-out is at 12:00 PM.

Where is Frank Lloyd Wright overnight rental - The Elam House located?

This family-friendly Austin vacation home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Shirley Theel Memorial Park, Fayette Sherman Park, and Mower County Historical Society. Community Park and North West Park are also within 2 mi (3 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 150 out of 160 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 9 out of 160 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 160 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 160 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 160 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Kevin S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Back to our hometown!
Peter was a wonderful host and their home is beautiful! It was clean and beautifully decorated to show off the splendor of this FLW home. We were promptly greeted upon our arrival and given a tour of the mansion, as promised. Peter was easy to communicate with and very prompt with his replies. Thank you for sharing this Austin gem with us! Kevin, Christine & Emily
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ashley J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A special stay
What a treat to spend the weekend in a FLW house. The space is beautiful and comfortable. Peter is an excellent host and gave us an interesting tour of the entire house. The rental is clean and well appointed. Highly recommended.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michelle R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Easily the Highlight of My Trip
It was such a treat to stay at the Elam House! We would do it again if we are traveling through the area. We were welcomed as if we were family, and toured through the entire house as if we were family. I'm not joking...I saw more of the ins and outs of this house than those of my family members! Peter was extremely generous with his time, knowledge, and personal experiences with the Elam House and it's clear he is a mindful steward of this historical gem. For the FLW enthusiast (or casual fan): it's one thing to study him and his work, another to tour his works, but to have an embodied lived experience of his design principles (the manifestation of his genius, vision, and raison d'être) is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since each structure is unique to its environment, no two FLW stays are the same! If you are considering staying here, do yourself a favor and book the Elam House. For logistics: Outlets are two prongs (for the most part), and given the era of the house, can be more sparse than what we are used to, so bring adapters and/or extension cords (CPAP machines and other medical devices). Also, there are no ceiling fans in the bedroom, so if you need a little air circulation, it might be best to bring a small travel fan with you. Shower water pressure is excellent. Thanks again, Peter!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lauree L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Hometown visit
This property is like a museum….original perfection!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tracy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Guest House Excursion
We stayed the weekend in the guesthouse and thorouggly enjoyed immersing ourselves in a FLW Usonian. Included in our stay was a tour of the main home where you get to see how todays family has embraced Frank's vision. So much has remained, timeless. Peter is a wonderful and accommodating host. The place was clean, largely intact and welcoming space. Great memories.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

About the host

Hosted by Pete Plunkett

Host profile image
Welcome guests. I am Pete Plunkett, the Innkeeper for the Elam House. I live in the Elam House with my son, Daran. I was born 5 months after my father Warren Plunkett, purchased the home in March, 1959 from S.P. 'Pearl' Elam. I grew up in the Elam House, went to school and graduated from Austin High School, obtained a BA degree in Business Management from St. Thomas College and a JD degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 1985. I have practicing law in Austin, Minnesota since 1985. In 1987, I purchased a home across the street from the Elam House and lived there until 2006 when I moved back into the Elam House.

I am also a slalom water skier competing in local, regional and national tournaments; a competition control-line model airplane pilot; an instrument rated private pilot; an Amateur Extra Class radio operator; an ice hockey player and coach; and an avid duck and pheasant hunter. I have lived in the Twin Cities, and Oklahoma City, but have spent the majority of my life in Austin. I know the Elam House very well and look forward to telling you about it and introducing you to Austin, Minnesota if you have never visited here before.

Why they chose this property

This is our family home. We enjoy the home very much and since it is the second largest Usonian home by Frank Lloyd Wright, we wanted to allow other people interested in Wright designs to stay overnight and experience the home in a more intimate manner. Wright drew plans for over 1000 homes. 532 of these designs were built and approximately 400 remain. 13 of these homes are in Minnesota and 4 are in Southern Minnesota. The Elam House is a rare treasure indeed!

What makes this property unique

Enjoy the fantastic views from either living room. Both living rooms have large windows that create one full wall of glass. Some of the windows in the main living room are Nine feet tall and three and a half feet wide. The three floor to ceiling fireplaces are a hallmark of Frank Lloyd Wright. The soaring ceilings in the living rooms are outstanding and give the effect of the room exploding upwards upon entrance. The rare cypress wood lining the ceilings and walls and the meticulous limestone work are wonderful to view and examine. Of course, there is nothing better than relaxing in the house during a thunderstorm. The rain hitting the stone coated steel roof and watching the storm roll by through the windows, it's almost as if you are out in the storm. Wright had the special gift of being able to bring the outdoors inside his homes and the Elam house is no exception.
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