Wright-Inspired Kittatinny Manor Is “Nature Lover’s Paradise”

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WrightIt’s not uncommon to find a midcentury modern, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home that embraces nature — after all, that was pretty much Wright’s forte. And this week’s historical shelter definitely embraces that yen for nature the famous architect’s work inspires.

And even better, it belongs to a SecondShelters.com reader. Pat Wood wrote us this month to tell us about her home — Kittatinny Manor, located along Eastern Pennsylvania’s Kittatinny Ridge, which is part of the Appalachian mountain range.

“Our home is a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced, environmental, and eco-friendly poured concrete home on 15 wooded Clean and Green acres,” Wood said. “This is a nature lover’s paradise or for someone looking for some seclusion.”

And that Clean and Green designation from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture can mean some real savings when the taxman comes ringing.

“Clean and Green is a preferential tax assessment program, that bases property taxes on use values rather than fair market values,” the agency explains. “This ordinarily results in a tax savings for landowners.”

The distinction is given to land designated for agriculture, agriculture reserve, or forest reserve.

Built into the top side of the mountain, the home embraces all the hallmarks of Wright’s oeuvre, including local stone on the facade of the home, and Pennsylvania slate flooring in the interior, hardwood ceilings throughout, and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring the outside in.

And what an outside it is, too. In addition to the 15 acres Kittatinny Manor sits on, the property is surrounded by more than 200 acres of private woodland, complete with hiking trails, wildflower gardens, deer, more than 100 species of birds, and lots of butterflies.

“This remarkable property offers unparalleled privacy, yet you’re only 10 minutes from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and Pennsylvania State game lands,” listing agent Anne Lusk of Lusk & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty said. “

Inside, the home has 3,600 square feet of living space, with five bedrooms, three full baths and two additional baths roughed in.

“Your cook will love the large, open eat-in kitchen with one of the home’s three wood-burning fireplaces, three ovens, two cooktops, wet bar, and a dumbwaiter provides service to the outside deck, which has a sink and refrigerator,” Lusk said.

The home surrounds a central courtyard that provides both entertaining space and a quiet space for relaxation, too.

“Sliding glass doors on all sides lead to a central courtyard and stairs to the upper 1,400 square foot covered patio,” Ford said. “There are two ornamental ponds on the property for a serene reflection.”

Two common areas provide the yin and the yang — a living room with a wood-burning fireplace gives a great conversation spot or a quiet place for reading, and the spacious great room with a vaulted ceiling offers space for entertaining, and includes a private patio.

“The owner’s suite is a quiet retreat with a wood burning fireplace and wall to wall Anderson windows to take in beautiful garden and wooded views,” Lusk said. “The deck roof of Kittatinny Manor was even designed with steel bridge beams as a concept plan to support a helicopter pad!”

“This is an excellent second home or vacation home in Pennsylvania,” Ford said. “Our home is great for entertaining or quiet, peaceful retreats.”

Ford added that if quiet communing with nature ever got old (although we doubt you’d really want to leave a property as gorgeous as this), the home is minutes from shopping and restaurants, and Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Harrisburg, and several other major cities are easily accessible.

“For those who dream of their own private oasis, this distinctive property is the perfect find — a home that you’ll treasure in a quiet, secluded setting,” Lusk agreed.

The home is listed for $695,000.

Bethany Erickson

Bethany Erickson

1 Comment

  1. Pam Nelms on July 29, 2018 at 10:29 am

    Thanks Bethany – always love your home finds.

    Pam Nelms
    Senior Broker Associate
    Coldwell Banker – Global Luxury Office – Dallas