ESD announces start of construction on new visitor center for Frank Lloyd Wright's Historic Graycliff

Visitor center expected to be complete by 2026, in time for 100th anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s beautiful lakeside property

Empire State Development Press Release and Rendering

Empire State Development (ESD) announced the Graycliff Conservancy has broken ground on a new visitor center at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Graycliff estate to complement the recently renovated historic home and surrounding property. The $4 million project will be managed by LeChase Construction. Once completed, the new 4,400-square-foot facility will increase Graycliff’s capacity to offer additional and year-round programming, events and amenities for the thousands of visitors it hosts each year from around the world

“Each year, millions of travelers visit America’s historic places like Graycliff to experience locations that authentically represent the stories and people of the past. Gov. Hochul is committed to investing in heritage tourism because it adds to the number of sightseers visiting New York while also creating jobs, protecting unique cultural assets, and improving the quality of life for residents,” said ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “When the new Graycliff Visitor Center opens, it will help tourists become immersed in the architectural history and unique traditions associated with one of Frank Lloyd’s Wright’s most stunning designs.”

Graycliff was designed in 1926 by Frank Lloyd Wright, and built between 1927-29 for Isabelle R. Martin, wife of industrialist Darwin Martin, as a summer home for the family on the bluffs above Lake Erie. The 8-and-a-half-acre Graycliff property, located at 6472 Old Lakeshore Road in Derby, now looks as it did when it was enjoyed by the Martin family in the 1930s.

The newly designed visitor center will help tell the story of the remarkable historic site. It will include an expanded gift shop, ticketing and welcome area for guests and tour groups, rotating exhibit space, versatile space for year-round mission-related programming and events, and an administration area that includes a docent lounge and restrooms.

Extending outward from the original visitor center structure, an open, light-filled lobby space will create a new face for the building and center for rotating exhibits, workshops, lectures, presentations, special events, and meetings. In addition, technology and media will be included for proper interpretation of, as well as increased accessibility with Graycliff’s layered history.

The plan is to have the new building complete in time to celebrate the 2026 centennial anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design for the property.

Graycliff Executive Director Anna Kaplan said, “What better way to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1926 design for Graycliff than by unveiling a proper visitor center? This project is essential to Graycliff’s growth and sustainability, and it will significantly impact the tourism economy of Western New York. It will also enhance our ability to showcase this remarkable regional treasure and become a dynamic community partner. We are beyond excited to begin construction on this transformative project.”

The visitor center is the first phase in a larger project that includes not only the building itself, but the approach to the historic site, including revitalization of what is known of the historic plant life. The landscaping plan includes restoring an orchard and vegetable garden and providing landscaped pathways from the parking lot to the visitor center. The parking lot would be interspersed with shrubs and plants. Designers intend the planned visitor center, with its seamless starting point to enter the estate, to encourage people to stay longer.

The visitor center project has come together with extensive state support from a variety of sources, including $1.275 million from the New York State Council on the Arts, $1 million from Empire State Development and more than $1 million from the New York Power Authority. New York state previously helped set the stage for the new visitor center by investing in the renovation of the house and grounds.

New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “We are grateful to Gov. Hochul and the Legislature for their support. These projects are essential to the prosperity and well-being of our creative industry and our communities, especially as we continue to navigate the recovery of our creative sector. This support will help stimulate local economies, catalyze investment in our communities, and help to ensure the vibrancy of our cultural organizations for now and for the future. Congratulations to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff; NYSCA is a proud supporter of your contributions to New York’s arts and culture.”

NYPA Chairman John R. Koelmel said, “Western New York is home to dozens of architectural marvels, all of which contribute to the region’s distinct history and cultural heritage. NYPA’s support for the new Graycliff visitors center will help stimulate the local economy and ensure that the estate has the capacity to welcome even more visitors to this important American treasure on the banks of our beloved Lake Erie.”

Photographs of the Graycliff Estate restoration project can be seen here.

Chris Kulik, regional operations manager at LeChase Construction, said, “At LeChase, we take special pride in projects that enhance the communities where our people live and work. This expanded visitor center will help drive awareness and interest in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff and its history, and we are honored to play a role in that effort.”

Graycliff Conservancy Board President Charles LeFevre said, “This project has been in the works for over six years, and it’s incredible to finally see it coming to fruition. Our current facilities, adapted over 20 years ago, have outlived their usefulness, relying on creativity and patience. The new visitor center will not only support our staff, volunteers and visitors, but will be a well-designed space that harmonizes with Wright’s genius.”

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan said, “Architectural tourism is a key driver of our local economy, and Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff is one of Western New York’s most beloved historic cultural assets. The new visitor center will help Graycliff provide an even more memorable experience to the estate’s many visitors each year. I was proud to support this project in its early days and look forward to the new center opening its doors."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “Graycliff is a unique and irreplaceable architectural tourism destination and we are fortunate to have it here in Erie County. Now nearing its centennial, this historic site will be poised to welcome even more visitors with this new visitor’s center, the first stop on an immersive tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s vision for the Martin family’s summer home. Erie County is proud to stand with committed partners in support of Graycliff, preserving and enhancing this treasure for future generations.”

Minority Leader and Erie County Legislator John Mills said, "I was pleased to provide $250,000 in county funds for Graycliff and the visitor's center. Graycliff is not only a jewel here in Western New York, it is truly a national treasure. It is important we do all we can to not only preserve it, but add to the amenities that will allow generations to enjoy Graycliff's beauty and history. I thank the many tremendous people who have worked for years to bring Graycliff back to its glory, and to enhance the grounds and the offerings so tourists from all over the world will be able to enjoy it."

To experience Graycliff in its fully restored glory and to reserve your place on a tour, visit http://www.experiencegraycliff.org/ or call 716-947-9217.

About Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright is internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in 20th century architecture and design. His genius is marked by his vision to create a new form of American architecture based on the open landscape of the Midwestern Prairie. Wright redefined traditional concepts of space by physically and spiritually connecting the built environment to the natural world. He is best known for his “prairie-style” homes, efficient office buildings, and innovative furniture and decorative designs.

About Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff

The nonprofit Graycliff Conservancy, a 501(c)(3), is dedicated to the preservation of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures and grounds, along with the Ellen Biddle Shipman-designed gardens and landscape, that comprise Graycliff, the summer retreat of Isabelle and Darwin Martin of Buffalo (designed in 1926 and built between 1927 and 1931). Graycliff is located 20 minutes south of downtown Buffalo at 6472 Old Lake Shore Road, Derby. For more information, visit www.experiencegraycliff.org and find it on Facebook and Instagram @flwgraycliff.