Historic Frank Lloyd Wright Design Could be Turned into Inn

Historic Frank Lloyd Wright Design Could be Turned into Inn
It was more than 50 years ago that Frank Lloyd Wright designed a farmhouse in far west suburban Plato Township for Robert Muirhead and his family.

Now, the farm is becoming a forest preserve. And the farmhouse, still owned by the Muirhead family, is being converted into a bed-and-breakfast.

"This will truly be a national bed and breakfast destination," Mark VanKerhoff, Kane County building and community services director, told members of the county board's development committee Tuesday.

Many buildings that claim direct lineage to the great architect actually were done by students, but this was done by Wright himself.

Owners need the zoning change to make the house a residence again. Because it was an owner-occupied building on a farm, it sat on regular farm zoning.

But now it will be classified as rural residential and needs the zoning change for that classification. It also will get a special use permit for a bed-and-breakfast.

It's been more than 50 years since Frank Lloyd Wright designed a farmhouse on Rohrsen Road in Plato Township.

At the time, the house was for Robert Muirhead and his family. The Muirhead family still owns the house, but the farm is on its way to becoming a forest preserve.

And the farmhouse is on its way from being a historic footnote to a palace, a paean to the past. Descendants