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Kabir and Ann Cary embraced retirement with a spirit of adventure, trading routines for state park maps and city guides as they explored Wisconsin through the lens of America’s most iconic architect. This December, the couple complete all 200-miles of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail with their loyal dog Flagler at their side.
Their journey began with a chance sighting of a Trail sign in Richland Center. “We were driving through town and saw [it],” Kabir recalled. That moment led them to the A.D. German Warehouse and inspired three more trips to Wisconsin, carefully planned around seasonal site closures and shifting schedules.
Living in Minnesota, Kabir and Ann Cary were able to take advantage of the Trail’s proximity. “We realized we could visit numerous Wright buildings within a day’s drive,” Ann Carey noted. “Each stamp or stop was a milestone,” Kabir added, referencing the Trail’s passport-style Trail Tracker app, accessible on the site’s homepage.
The couple enjoyed the freedom of choosing their own route. “We liked visiting sites in an order that suited our schedule and interests, rather than a defined sequence,” Ann Carey explained.
Rooms That Breathe
Each site offered moments that photos couldn’t capture. Kabir was particularly struck by the timelessness of Wingspread. “I was surprised at how modern it seemed for a home built so long ago.” Ann’s favorite was the SC Johnson Administration Building. “Although I had seen photos and movies, what I experienced far exceeded my expectations,” she explained.
Kabir marveled at Wright’s mastery of space, describing the interplay of tight and open areas as if choreographed. Ann Carey admired Wright’s constant experimentation with materials which reflected his restless creativity.
Recurring themes emerged, like Wright’s innovative use of glass to merge indoor and outdoor spaces. Kabir noted that some techniques weren’t always long lasting but didn’t detract from the overall ambition.
Beyond Architecture
The journey wasn’t just about the buildings. The couple recalled memorable meals and hikes, like a farm-to-table dinner at Reunion in Spring Green and camping near Wingspread. They also appreciated the people they met, including a Wingspread staff member who patiently answered their questions and the Taliesin team that greeted them warmly after becoming the first to complete the Trail on the Trail Tracker.
New Perspectives
Reflecting on the experience, Ann Cary reflects on their Burnham Block tour group unanimously raising their hands when asked if they’d live in a Wright-designed home today. Following this, she looks forward to further pilgrimages, perhaps to Chicago to explore Wright’s Prairie School and Usonian designs.
Kabir was particularly struck on how Wright remains timeless. “One could speculate that some modern technologies like solar power or geothermal heating would have been integrated by Wright had they been available,” noting, “The philosophy is still relevant.”
Reflecting on their experience, Kabir offered, “The journey is its own reward.” Ann Cary adds, “The treasures on the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail need to be experienced first-hand to begin to fully appreciate the depth and breadth of FLW’s genius and his grounding in the beauty of his home state of Wisconsin.”
