Kentuck Knob
The Progress Fund had helped us build our visitor’s center and purchase an adjoining piece of land. Because the folks there made it so easy to work with them, I thought even if we’re buying a new or used shuttle bus, no matter what, they could get us a better interest rate on a loan.
People
Two decades after Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater, his genius again touched Southwestern Pennsylvania with the construction of Kentuck Knob just seven miles away. Its native sandstone walls, expanses of glass, cantilevered overhangs and copper roof emerge from a mountain’s crest. Its hexagonal living spaces and built-in furniture attract Wright fans from across the world, who rely on the shuttle bus to climb the 2/3-mile driveway. When the bus failed, manager Timothy Fischer booked a rental, but the costs ate into the privately owned facility’s budget.
Progress
The Progress Fund had supported Kentuck Knob’s purchase of land and development of a visitor’s center. A shuttle bus dealer told Timothy there was “no way he could beat” The Progress Fund’s vehicle loan terms. Timothy finalized the loan and Kentuck Knob bought a bus.
Impact
Timothy expects the Econoline to keep climbing that driveway for at least a decade–Kentuck Knob’s eighth. For three decades it was home to the family that owns Hagan Ice Cream. Lord Peter Palumbo bought it in 1985 and opened it to tours in 1996. Since then, the house has been the perfect complement to a Fallingwater pilgrimage or extra stop on a vacation including Ohiopyle and other Laurel Highlands attractions. “It’s a multiplier,” said Fischer. “If you’re coming to do one thing, it becomes this amazing second opportunity to enjoy the region.”
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