seth peterson cottage

You have to book this cottage well in advance if you want a weekend in the warmer months. We booked our stay in July of 2013. We stayed in September of 2014. Usually they want you to book 2 nights minimum, but there was only one night available so they let us book the one night. We got lucky and upon check-in they informed us that the people staying Saturday and Sunday had canceled. So we booked Saturday night as well. I'm so glad we did! A one night stay would only be from 3:30pm to 10am the following day. Too short!The place is secluded. Only 5 minutes from the southern part of Wisconsin Dells. Long winding road going back to the cottage. The cottage is gorgeous. My sister and I love Frank Lloyd Wright designs, so staying in one was surreal. How many people get to say that they stayed in a FLW designed home? Small kitchen with a stove top, small oven/microwave, large refrigerator and a small sink. The 1 bedroom contained a full size comfortable bed (cozy for 2 people), but there is a queen size pull out bed in the north end of the couch. The pull out is not as comfortable, but it will do. You can open up many of the windows and there is a terrific breeze. Lots of windows let a lot of light in. There is also a porch with some chairs to sit on. You can see a small view of Mirror Lake. The shower stall is small and a bit difficult to shave your legs in. Be prepared for all of the bugs that can get into the cottage. With all of the windows and doors, they seem to find their way in. All small complaints for what this place is. I loved waking up two mornings in the gem. There is nothing quite like it. I look forward to staying again!

I have toured a large number of FLW homes and buildings over the years, But Nothing has matched this! My girlfriend knowing my love of his work, booked a stay at the Seth Peterson Cottage and I was elated! The cottage is an incredibly beautiful place and the grounds overlooking Mirror Lake are picturesque. Even if you don't get the opportunity to stay in the cottage- You MUST take the tour, it is amazing how functional this 880 SF cottage actually is.

We rented the cottage to stay in it, though it is possible to just take a tour on certain Sundays. This is the 3rd Frank Lloyd Wright property we have stayed in and this one is very special because it really is a very private little hideaway. For a few days you are the one waking up and passing the day in this very special place. No matter where you sit or what angle you look at the place is stunning! I enjoyed the canoe and the fireplace. It is said to sleep 4 and that is a real stretch. There is 1 double bed and very long sofa. The sofa is NOT a good night's sleep and there were not adequate pillow cases for the available pillows. I think there were 6 pillows and 3 pillow cases. The kitchen is fairly well stocked. There cabin was clean.

My wife and I absolutely and without equivocation most thoroughly enjoyed a September 13-15 weekend at the Seth Peterson Cottage on Mirror Lake. Notice a lot of superlatives? It was. As many will know, this 880' cottage was designed by the world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Staying in this historic cottage was a fantastic experience, if not an honor. Every aspect of our stay was handled professionally and efficiently by the folks at Sand County Service Company, the property management company. They were friendly, personable, and very accommodating. Anyone looking for an exceptional experience should check out Seth Peterson Cottage ... and, for that matter, any of the properties managed by Sand County.

A cottage built in the 50's I believe by FLW for Seth Peterson. It was abandoned. Recently rebuilt at a cost of over a million dollars through donation (this is only a 800 sq ft cottage!). Wonderful use of space inside. Typical Wright design but on a small scale. Hearth is center of building. You enter from a low ceilinged entry and step into a great room with high ceilings. Wonderful wood and great views. A real gem!

Inspiring! Once a month it is open to the public for tours. Worth a trip. Every detail is inspiring. Loved the chain downspouts, benchs, fireplace, use of space all of it.Located in a beautiful setting on the lake surround by the Wisconsin fauna. The cabin is available for over night stay, which would be a wonderful experience.

we were there for a tour. the work they put into restoring this place is excellent. would love to stay there for a night or two in the summer or winter...maybe someday.

FROM THE NOMAD ARCHITECT (thenomadarchitect.blogspot.com)This past weekend I happened to watch the Ken Burns Documentary Film on America's greatest architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Though I have read virtually every book by and about Wright and visited numerous houses and buildings designed by him, after watching this compelling documentary chronicling the life of this flawed genius, I decided to post about one of the most unique places we have ever stayed - The Seth Peterson Cottage in Mirror Lake Wisconsin.First, a little history. This small 850 square foot gem was one of the last houses designed by Wright in 1958 when he was ninety. William Wesley Peters, Wright's son in law and trusted apprentice at Taliesen Fellowship and Studio, said the cottage "contained more architecture per square foot than any other building he knew". Sadly, this architectural work of art was never seen by Wright or Seth Peterson. Both died before it was finished. The cottage embodies all of the "organic" design principles espoused by Wright over his seventy plus year career. It is an amazing accomplishment, by America's greatest architect, that he even had time to design this small intimate cottage in the Wisconsin woods while designing major projects in the US and Europe.Unfortunately, the house was sold, later abandoned and fell into disrepair. Fortunately, in the late 1980's, the run down building was discovered by a lover of architecture, Audrey Laatsch, who started a grass roots campaign to restore this work of the master architect. The full restoration was completed in 1992 at a cost of $300,000. The original 1958 budget was $15,000! The Seth Peterson Cottage Web Site has the complete, fascinating story of the history of this amazing little house. It also has reservation information. It is one of only a hand full of Wright designed houses you can actually stay in.Upon visiting any Frank Lloyd Wright designed house, you come to realize that it transcends what any writer, critic, historian or architect can say about this amazing architect's work. My take, as an architect, is simple. Wright houses are ancient and modern at the same time, cave like but with intense light - structure and space so "organically" rendered that you just want to stay and enjoy the serenity of stone, wood and glass assembled to make a work of art. The Seth Peterson Cottage embodies all of these elements. Built on a bluff overlooking rural Mirror Lake in the Wisconsin Dells, it provides the perfect romantic getaway - an easy three hour drive from Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Another note here - I highly recommend making reservations for the cottage at least a year in advance. Enough history, let's get on with the trip. After landing at O'Hare, we picked up the rental car and headed north to rural Wisconsin. Since the cottage is in a fairly remote area and restaurants are few and far between, we purchased enough food and wine for our three day stay at a local grocer and wine store near Mirror Lake. There are numerous options in the area, including a local Walmart that caters to Mirror Lake State Park visitors. The staff at the check in center have loads of information on this and other stores in the area. After picking up the key and getting directions to the cottage we enjoyed the beautiful spring day as we drove through the pastoral Wisconsin countryside. Upon arriving at the Wright designed private gate to the cottage, there it was in the distance. This architectural masterpiece, by the greatest architect America has ever produced, was going to be ours for the next three days and nights. The massive stone fireplace and vertical core of the house, like so many designed by Wright, make the house appear as though it has been there since ancient times, yet it blends the flowing, horizontal stone forms that give it a modern, timeless quality. After entering the rather small doors (Wright was very small in stature), you see what William Wesley Peters was talking about. Every square inch of this intimate house is detailed as one flowing organic spacial composition. From the stone floors to the south facing glass wall to the sweeping built in sofa, it's all in order. The mahogany ceiling of the main Living Space, with the massive stone fireplace at it's core, soars from a low of seven feet at the sofa to a height of twelve feet at the glass wall containing fretted mahogany frames and a continuous row of mahogany casement windows - all designed to let you enjoy the light and breeze from your seat on the sofa or one of the Wright designed plywood chairs around the fireplace. The Bedroom, with seven foot ceilings and eye level transom windows is like a small cocoon with views of the woods beyond. The only "modern" element of this restored gem is the stainless steel walled rain shower in the more than ample Bath. The small Kitchen is also well equipped with high end appliances and all the dinnerware, flatware and utensils you need to be your on gourmet. There is also an outdoor gas grill for the steaks.In addition to the amazing interior, there is also a large stone terrace overlooking placid Mirror Lake a hundred feet below - the perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee with nature while sitting in the shadow of a modern classic. And you will not run out of things to do. There are ample outdoor activities in Mirror Lake State Park - hiking, canoeing and swimming in spring, summer and fall and cross country skiing in winter. It's also very cool knowing that you can enjoy the idyllic bliss of the Wisconsin countryside from your little house of stone, glass and wood by the one and only Frank Lloyd Wright. Staying in a work of art is something every Nomad should experience at some point in their travels. The Seth Peterson Cottage delivers on its promise as one of the truly unique sleeping experiences available to the vagabond wanderer looking for those Places To Sleep Before You Die.I would be remiss if I did not mention the mandatory visit to Taliesen East, The Frank Lloyd Wright Estate in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This sprawling complex of Wright's family home, studio and school with barns, courtyards and other out buildings was built over many years by Wright and Taliesen apprentices to support a utopian vision of agrarian self sufficiency. Whether or not it worked is a subject for another day on another blog. But it is a must see for Wright aficionados. And one last note - if you want to hang out in Chicago, the best big city in the USA, then by all means, stay at The James, a thoroughly cool hotel only steps away from the Magnificent Mile and a short cab ride to The Theatre District and The Art Institute of Chicago. The rooms are plush and completely modern with all amenities and the staff is amazing. The Joel Ross Room 28 Suitcase Sculpture in the lobby, featuring stacks of old vintage suitcases filled with all of the materials deconstructed from a motel room outside of Austin, Texas, is worth the price of admission. The other great piece of The James is The David Burke PrimeHouse Restaurant next door which serves Angus steaks from steers all sired form one bull. His name - you guessed it - Prime!So, there you have it. If you want to take the one you love to one of the most fascinating and romantic places in a setting of unparalleled pastoral beauty, you will not go wrong with the Seth Peterson Cottage and you will always be secure in the knowledge that you have indeed slept with genius. DLSthenomadARCHITECT