Want to see Beaufort County’s Frank Lloyd Wright plantation? Here’s your second chance

A few weeks after tickets to tour Beaufort County’s Frank Lloyd Wright creation, Auldbrass Plantation, sold out within five minutes, would-be visitors are being given a second chance.

The plantation is a private estate, owned by Hollywood movie producer Joel Silver, but opens its doors to the public every two years as part of a fundraiser for the Beaufort County Open Land Trust.

Tickets for the 2015 and initial 2017 tours sold out within minutes and caused the Trust’s website to crash. Hundreds of hopefuls were left empty-handed.

Hearing that and sensing the overwhelming interest in the estate, Silver “generously offered to open his house up for a second weekend of tours”, according to Cindy Baysden, executive director of the Open Land Trust.

“This is the first time he’s ever done this,” Baysden said. “He felt bad about it, and it just struck him to give us another weekend.”

“We’re thrilled for all the people who have not been able to get tickets,” she continued. “This will definitely help.”

The two new tours will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 12. A total of about 1,000 tickets will be on sale for $150 starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

But there’s a twist.

Instead of using the Trust’s website, all orders will be handled over the phone. Those interested in buying a ticket can call the Open Land Trust at 843-521-2175 or email your name and phone number to info@openlandtrust.com and someone will call you back. Phone calls or emails sent before 10 a.m. Tuesday will not be considered.

Auldbrass Plantation, located just outside Yemassee, is the only southern Plantation designed by Wright. In keeping with his signature style of organic architecture, Wright designed Auldbrass to exist in harmony with South Carolina’s Lowcountry landscape.

For many years, it was almost a secret tucked away in Beaufort County.

In May 2015, however, “CBS Sunday Morning” featured Auldbrass Plantation and interest in the limited plantation tours exploded.

“We can’t say for certain, but we’re expecting it to sell out again,” Baysden said.

This story was originally published August 18, 2017 at 9:04 AM with the headline "Want to see Beaufort County’s Frank Lloyd Wright plantation? Here’s your second chance."