A hotel housed in the iconic Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is set to close temporarily in September 2024. The closure follows controversy over the sale of historical items without the approval of the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy. The current owner, Copper Tree Inc, has faced financial challenges, leading to the decision to sell these items to cover the hotel’s operating costs.
Price Tower, one of only two skyscrapers ever designed by Wright, was completed in 1956. Originally serving as the headquarters for the Price Company, the building also housed residential apartments. In recent years, it was restored and repurposed as a hotel, restaurant, and gallery space. The tower, previously owned by a non-profit organization, was sold to Copper Tree Inc last year.
The trouble began when Copper Tree Inc reportedly sold several items, including a gate designed by architect Bruce Goff and Wright-designed furniture, to a Dallas-based design dealer. These sales raised alarms because the items were protected under a conservation easement granted to the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy in 2011 by the building’s former owner, the Price Tower Arts Center (PTAC). The Conservancy, which holds the easement, reminded Copper Tree Inc that these items could not be sold without their consent. However, the sales proceeded without the Conservancy’s approval, sparking concern and disappointment.
Among the sold items were a unique directory board, an armchair, and copper relief panels, all designed by Wright specifically for the Price Tower. The Conservancy emphasized that these items were not only historically significant but also integral to the building’s original design context. Removing them from their intended setting, according to the Conservancy, diminishes their value and the overall integrity of the site.
Despite the ongoing issues, Copper Tree Inc defended its actions, citing the need to raise funds to cover the hotel’s expenses. The owner mentioned that the previous non-profit management had also sold items for similar reasons, a practice the Conservancy had previously discussed but not fully endorsed.
As a result of these sales and the financial strain, the 19-room hotel in Price Tower will temporarily close, though the property will remain open for historical tours. The future of the on-site restaurant remains uncertain.
This situation underscores the delicate balance between preserving historical integrity and managing the financial realities of operating a landmark property. The fate of the sold items and the hotel’s long-term future remain to be seen, with the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy likely to seek legal recourse if necessary.
