Acme: Wright Houses and Plank Road

Acme combines an unusual architectural history with local history, therapeutic horseback riding, and outdoor activities in nearby Chestnut Ridge Park. At Wright at Polymath Park, the collection includes two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and two houses by Peter Berndtson. Another historical thread leads to a plank road that was once the main east-west route through Chestnut Ridge. These distinct themes give a stay in Acme more than one possible focus.

Four Houses and Their History

The collection at Wright at Polymath Park brings together houses by two architects: Frank Lloyd Wright and Peter Berndtson. Mäntylä and the Duncan House are also located at Wright at Polymath Park. Both were saved from demolition and relocated here from other states. So this is about more than the architects’ names: it is also about the preservation and relocation of individual houses. Those interested in architectural history will find two different perspectives in these details: the architectural authorship of the four houses and the story of two rescued buildings.

The Plank Road in Chestnut Ridge

The history of transportation routes also gives Acme a concrete historical connection. The main east-west route through Chestnut Ridge passed through Acme and ran along a road made of wooden planks. This is where the name Plank Road comes from. The name directly refers to the material used for the road surface at the time. This makes local history tangible: Acme was part of an important route through Chestnut Ridge, and the planks gave the road its name.

Water and Outdoor Activities Near Acme

Chestnut Ridge Park, near Acme, offers a different focus. It has a 25-acre recreational pool that expands during high water, as well as a boat launch. Activities available in the park include boating, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports. If you want to include water and outdoor activities in your travel plans, you can make these offerings a focus of your trip. The recreational pool and boat launch complement the park’s other activities mentioned here; the pool’s expansion during high water is a distinctive feature.

Horses as Part of Therapeutic Work

Since 2008, the Stoneybrook Foundation in Acme has helped children, adults, and wounded veterans overcome physical, developmental, and emotional challenges through a powerful partnership with horses. It offers therapeutic horseback riding, combining therapy and education through relationships with horses. This focus is quite different from architectural history or outdoor sports: it centers on the people receiving support and the role horses play in this therapeutic and educational program.

A Special Setting for a Meal

The TreeTops Restaurant in Acme has a special feature of its own: private dining in a treehouse-style dining pod. Reservations are required to dine there. Making a reservation is therefore part of planning this particular restaurant visit.

When looking for a vacation rental or vacation home in Acme, you can first consider the main reason for your trip: the houses at Wright at Polymath Park, the history of the Plank Road, or the outdoor activities at the nearby park. This can help you decide what you want to focus on during your stay before choosing your accommodation.

More destinations to help you get oriented: Delmont, Greensburg, Scottdale, New Kensington, Donegal, New Stanton, North Belle Vernon and Ligonier.

For the broader travel overview: Westmoreland.