In a compelling twist of architectural fate, Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized skyscraper—the iconic Price Tower (left) in Bartlesville, Oklahoma—has found new life under the stewardship of the Snyder family, renowned for their restoration of Tulsa’s historic Mayo Hotel.
The 19-story Art Deco-ish, Wright-ish tower, completed in 1956 and often dubbed “the tree that escaped the crowded forest,” was acquired on May 5, 2025, by McFarlin Building LLC for $1.4 million.
This acquisition followed a tumultuous period marked by financial mismanagement, bankruptcy, and the controversial sale of protected artifacts.
The previous owners, Copper Tree Inc. and Green Copper Holdings, had purchased the tower in 2023 for a nominal $10 but failed to fulfill their $10 million restoration commitment, leading to the building's closure and mounting debts exceeding $2 million
The Snyder family, led by John Snyder and his daughter Macy Snyder-Amatucci, (pictured above in the lobby of the Price Tower) brings a proven track record in historic preservation. Their revitalization of the Mayo Hotel transformed a decaying Art Deco landmark into a vibrant boutique hotel and event space, catalyzing downtown Tulsa's resurgence.
Their plans for Price Tower are equally ambitious, envisioning a $10 million investment to restore the building's structural integrity and revive its mixed-use functionality, including a boutique hotel, residences, and public cultural spaces
The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, which holds a preservation easement on Price Tower, has expressed optimism about the Snyder family's acquisition. The Conservancy is actively collaborating with the new owners to ensure the restoration respects Wright's original design and the building's historical significance
As the Snyder family embarks on this restoration journey, Price Tower stands poised to reclaim its status as a beacon of architectural innovation and cultural vitality on the Oklahoma prairie.
Sources: .Architect Magazine+10Designboom+10Artnet News+10Architectural Digest; Facebook+3Architectural Digest+3Designboom+3CoStar+1m.bartlesvilleradio.com+1; Architect Magazine+10Architectural Digest+10Designboom+10News On 6+5Architectural Digest+5Wikipedia+5 and Wikipedia+6Designboom+6Designboom+6
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