Auldbrass Plantation

November 2021

Auldbrass Plantation is located near the town of Yemassee in Beaufort County, South Carolina. This is in the region known as the Lowcountry or Low Country. The main house, stable complex, and kennels were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by his client C. Leigh Stevens from 1940–1951. Stevens, a Michigan industrialist, asked Wright for a plantation that would reflect contemporary use and economics while remaining true to its southern roots. Thus, in addition to the main house, stables, and kennels, Wright designed a guest wing connected to the main house, a lake, a boat house and dock for the lake, a party boat, and multiple cottages for plantation staff. Thus, fewer than half of Wright's designs for Auldbrass were built during his or Stevens' lifetimes.

In 1986, Auldbrass, in a state of serious decline, was purchased by Joel Silver, a Wright enthusiast and a film producer known for many successful film franchises (e.g., Lethal Weapon, The Matrix, Die Hard). Mr. Silver has done an outstanding job restoring the structures that were originally built and has built a number of the originally unbuilt structures (e.g., swimming pool, lake, boat house, dock, and staff (now guest) cottages). Mr. Silver has plans to build the remaining Wright designs (e.g., the guest wing addition to the main house, the party boat). He has been assisted by Wright's grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright, in this endeavor.

Auldbrass Plantation is open to the public for tours once every two years. Proceeds from the tours benefit the Beaufort County Open Land Trust.