In late September, we started on a trip that would eventually take us to the East and West Coast Pleasureway Owners meet up in Branson, Mo. We attended this same rally two years ago.

As with most of our trips, we meandered through a number of states visiting relatives and checking out interesting places along the way. As we headed toward Columbus, OH where Sue has relatives, we drove about 4 hours and stayed at a wonderful winery in Hunker, PA, Bella Terra Vineyards. This put us about a three-hour drive from Columbus.

We can’t say enough good things about this Harvest Host. We’ve stayed at this vineyard 5 times and have always enjoyed the wine and incredibly friendly staff.

And since it is a Harvest Host, we can stay overnight in the parking lot!

Bella Terra is also 45 minutes from the Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) designed home Fallingwater, the second FLW house we have toured. The first was the Westcott House in Springfield OH, which we visited in 2024 at the time the city was targeted by the “Pet Eating” hoax. Since we did not include Springfield in our travel blog last year, following are a few photos.

Westcott House Photos

Fallingwater is built over a waterfall on the Bear Run Creek. It was built for the owner of the Pittsburgh-based Kaufmann’s Department Store on land that was once used was a summer retreat for Kaufmann’s employees. The house was first occupied in 1939 and the Kaufmann family used Fallingwater as a weekend home until 1963, when they entrusted it to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy.

The defining feature of the house is the adjacent stream and a 30-foot waterfall. The house features concrete terraces that are cantilevered off the main structure. The terraces, which total more than 4,000 SF, extend the living space of the house to the outdoors.

Like many of FLW’s projects, his vision exceeded what building technology of the day could deliver. Fallingwater has been under constant repair since it was completed. Unfortunately, the concrete terraces were either under-engineered or improperly constructed. The terrace on the first floor settled more than 1.5 inches as soon as the forms were removed. By 1980, the terraces had sagged 7 inches.

The newly built house also leaked in dozens of locations. Leaks and concrete are being repaired during a 7 million dollar renovation, which is still underway. Fallingwater is not unique in this regard, as many FLW-designed houses leaked. He was known to have told more than one client who complained about roof leaks to “put a bucket under it“.

The interior space has an open feel and the view to the outdoors is available throughout the living space.

One of the more interesting details of Fallingwater are the windows. Can you imagine having operable windows that didn’t have screens? Keep in mind that this house is in the middle of the woods and sits over a stream and above a waterfall. FLW would not allow screens to be installed because they impeded the view of the outdoors. The Kaufmann’s added screens shortly after moving in.

Despite all the issues mentioned, this unique house is well worth a visit as a stunning example of FLW’s “organic architecture” philosophy and the incorporation of design into nature.

Fallingwater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, manned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. There is dedicated parking for 8 RVs. The home is open from 9:30-3:30 every day except Wednesday. Tickets are available at the Fallingwater Web Site.