Price Tower In Bartlesville Closes Due To Financial Struggles, Future Uncertain

The owner of the Price Tower in Bartlesville says the hotel inside the tower is closing because of financial problems.

Last month, Cynthia Blanchard, the owner, sold some of the artifacts inside the tower in an effort to keep the doors open, but she says that wasn’t enough.

Related: Owner Of Price Tower Clearing Up Rumors About Selling Some Of The Tower's Artifacts

Blanchard says this is a temporary decision, and she isn’t sure what the next steps are, but some tenants are already looking for an exit plan.

Keith and Christy McPhail are the managing editors of B Monthly Magazine, and their office has been in the Price Tower for seven years.

The agreement was instead of paying rent, they would give the Price Tower a full advertisement in their magazine each month.

The McPhails got an email from the owner last week, saying they would have to start paying rent instead of doing the trade.

“We decided that we’re going to move on,” said Keith McPhail. “The Price Tower is moving on, so we’re going to move on a different direction, too.”

Blanchard owns the Price Tower and says the hotel inside the tower will be closed temporarily, and she’s not sure if it will re-open.

Blanchard sent a statement to News On 6 that says in full:

“We have had to make a difficult decision based on negative unfounded, and untruthful series of articles that have come from the local press. It has tremendously hurt our business to the point that we could not support current staff, and decided to temporarily close the hotel because we could not have the staff to support our guests. I do not know what tomorrow brings. We have tried so hard to make this all work and our team is incredible. Everyone has sacrificed and I wish I could stay with conviction what tomorrow is going to bring but we just don’t know yet. But I do know is that our team has gone above and beyond and sacrificed greatly to try to make this work and I’m very very proud of them.”

Blanchard talked to Bartlesville Radio Friday afternoon.

"We have had to scale back tremendously because we don't have the business now. I didn't know the employees were saying we're closing the doors. We've had to let staff go,” Blanchard told Bartlesville Radio.

Blanchard also acknowledged the landmark is expensive to keep running.

"The Price Tower might be for sale. We've had offers and if it's the right situation because I can't maintain this,” said Blanchard.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy group was critical of Blanchard for selling off some items made for the tower by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Blanchard says it was needed to keep the tower open.

Barbara Gordon, the Executive Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy group, sent News On 6 a statement that says in full:

“Today is a sad day for Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and a troubling one for everyone who believes in the value of preserving Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy. The closure of Price Tower brings an end to a challenging chapter in the history of this landmark, but also creates an opportunity. Price Tower needs a dedicated new owner immediately. They must be experienced at building and executing a business model that can reopen and sustain the building and infuse much-needed resources into its preservation and maintenance. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy holds a preservation easement on the Price Tower that includes the exterior, certain interior spaces and the museum collection. We look forward to working with a qualified buyer ready to take on the challenge of reviving this significant building.”

The McPhails hope people in Bartlesville will come together and figure out a way to save the tower.

“Just to focus on, what we can do,” said Christy McPhail. “Not what’s been done. Or who made mistakes or didn’t do the right thing. Based on what you think. But what can we do now, just to move forward.”

News On 6 tried to get into the building and the doors were closed, and it’s not yet clear if or when the doors might open.

Click here to listen to the Bartlesville Radio story.