(Editor’s note: Lacey Sikora is the Journal’s real estate reporter. She and her husband are the new owners of the Gustav and Ethel Babson II House which they are currently renovating. It is one of the houses in this year’s Wright housewalk.)
For over 50 years, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust has been welcoming visitors to Oak Park from around the world to offer interior access to the private homes of Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries during the spring Wright Plus housewalk.
This year, 8 private homes will be open to ticket holders, as well as Wright’s Home and Studio and Unity Temple.
The Trust recently opened ticket sales to the public. Tom Pierce, development director, says, “We opened ticket sales on Jan. 1, and there’s been a big splash. We’re on track to sell out again.”
This year’s walk features two homes designed by Wright.
The Arthur and Grace Heurtley House on Forest Avenue was designed by Wright in 1902. It is considered one of the earliest examples of Wright’s Prairie Style.
Wright designed the Oscar and Nonie Balch House on Kenilworth Avenue in 1911. The home was last on the walk in 2021. The home recently underwent a significant, sustainable restoration.
One of four houses on this year’s walk on the 400 north block of Euclid Avenue, the Charles and Cleantha Roberts House was designed in 1885 by Burnham & Root and remodeled by Wright in 1896. The house was last on Wright Plus in 2018.
Down the street, the Hermann and Ellen Mallen House on Euclid Avenue was designed by George W. Maher in 1905 and was last on the walk in 2018.
Previously on Wright Plus in 2000, the William and Wilhelmina Thoms House on Oak Park Avenue was designed by Worthmann and Steinbach in 1904.
Charles and Cleantha Roberts House (Burnham & Root, 1885; Frank Lloyd Wright, 1896 remodel) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield 
Herman and Ellen Mallen House (George W. Maher, 1905) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield 
William and Wilhelmina Thoms House (Worthmann & Steinbach, 1904) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield
The Gustav and Ethel Babson II House was designed by Tallmadge and Watson on Linden Avenue. The home was last on Wright Plus in 2005.
This year’s walk includes two homes that have never been featured before on Wright Plus, both on Euclid Avenue.
The Paul and Frances Blatchford II House was designed by Pond & Pond in 1897.
The Calvin and Juliette Hill House was designed by Patton & Miller in 1903.
Paul and Frances Blatchford II House (Pond & Pond, 1897) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield 
Gustavus and Ethel Babson II House (Tallmadge & Watson, 1913) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield 
Calvin and Juliette Hill House (Patton and Miller, 1903) | Courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright Trust/James Caulfield
Pierce notes that the walk is very concentrated this year, with most homes centered on or near Euclid Avenue and Chicago Avenue.
“It’s great to be back in this area,” he says. “We concentrated on the 400 and 300 North blocks of Euclid in 2018, and we’re back in the neighborhood but still able to feature homes that have never been on the walk. The fact that we’re able to return to a familiar neighborhood and still see something new is very exciting.”
Pierce says that as of press time, there are still tickets to all Wright Plus packages available. Those joining the Ultimate Plus weekend will enjoy a Friday excursion to the South Side, where they will have a private tour of Wright’s Robie House, as well as an exclusive tour of the Wright-designed H. Howard Hyde House, a Chicago landmark and American System-Built Home in Beverly.
Ultimate Plus and Ultimate Saturday ticket holders will be guests of the owners of Wright’s Avery Coonley Home in Riverside, where a private chef will prepare dinner the evening of the walk.
Plan your visit
Wright Plus takes place on Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets to Wright Plus 2026 are available on the Trust website: flwright.org/wright-plus
Tickets for the walk cost $135 or $100 for Trust members.
For those interested in skipping the line, a limited number of fast pass tickets are available for $600 or $565 for members.
Ultimate Plus weekend tickets are available for $2,675 or $2,525 for Trust members. The package includes three-nights of accommodations, an exclusive Friday excursion and a gourmet dining experience at Wright’s renowned Avery Coonley House in Riverside.
Ultimate Saturday experience tickets are available for $1,375 or $1,225 for Trust members and include a selection of highlights from the Ultimate weekend including fast pass entry to the housewalk, a private lunch at the Nineteenth Century Club the day of the walk and inclusion in the gourmet dinner at the Coonley House in Riverside.
