Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about Manitoga. Clicking on the question will take you directly to the answer, without having to scroll. Have a question not found below? Send us an email at info@visitmanitoga.org and our staff will be happy to help.

THE HOUSE, STUDIO, DESIGN GALLERY & ART / DESIGN INSTALLATION

• How can I see the House, Studio, The Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery or the Art + Design Residency Installation?

• Can I walk around the outside of the House without a tour?

• How can I apply for the Art + Design Residency Program?

• What is the size of the House / Studio / Design Gallery?

TOURS & PUBLIC PROGRAMS

• How do I get tickets for a tour?

• I don’t have reservations. Can I buy tickets in person when I arrive?

• Do you offer discounted / complimentary / reciprocal admission?

• There are so many options! Which tour should I take?

• What if I need to cancel or reschedule my reservation?

• Is there a self-guided tour option?

• Are group tours available?

ACCESSIBILITY & SITE GUIDELINES

• I have limited mobility and use a cane, walker or wheelchair. Can I tour the site?

• How can I get to Manitoga without a car?

• Can I bring my pet, emotional support / therapy animal?

• Can I bring my children / infants?

• Is photography / videography allowed?

• Do you have a cafe or food/drinks for sale on site?

SITE USE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS & RETREATS

• Does Manitoga offer private rentals for weddings or other events?

RUSSEL WRIGHT PRODUCT INQUIRIES & DONATIONS

• How can I donate my Russel Wright object(s) to Manitoga?

• Can you appraise or authenticate my Russel Wright object(s)?

DONATION REQUESTS

• Can Manitoga make a donation to my fundraiser?

THE HOUSE, STUDIO, DESIGN GALLERY & ART / DESIGN INSTALLATION

The House, Studio and Design Gallery are accessible by guided tour only. Without a guided tour, visitors may view the structures only from a great distance on the hiking trails. Barriers and signage are in place to indicate the restricted areas, which are also monitored by video surveillance cameras and by staff to prevent trespassing.

No, the area where the House and Studio are located, including the Landscape surrounding the House within the Tour Path, is off limits without a tour.

The Art + Design Residency program is by invitation only.

Artists / designers are vetted by the Executive Director, Board of Directors and the Art + Design Residency Host Committee before being invited, and residencies are planned two to three years in advance. The invited artists spend time at Manitoga, get inspired and create site specific work that is then displayed at the historic site and celebrated at our annual opening celebration, and a performance/concert usually takes place towards the end of September each year. Artists and musicians who express interest in residencies at Manitoga are encouraged to visit Manitoga for a tour and attend our events to get a sense of the programming we offer and network with current and previous resident artists as they are generally in attendance.

Wright built Dragon Rock’s House and Studio directly into the south-facing side of the quarry. Each building is independent and connected by a vine-covered wooden pergola. The structures recall Japanese temple architecture and an Asian sensibility in hand-crafted details and in their deference to nature. The scale and footprint of each building are modest: the House is 2,623.29 sq. ft. and the Studio is 678.41 sq. ft. In 2021, the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery opened to the public within the historic House. The Design Gallery is a 400 sq. ft. state-of-the- art exhibition space, retrofitted from the former bedrooms of the House and displaying over two hundred of the Wrights’ designs for the American table in ceramic, metal, wood, glass and plastic.

TOURS & PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Tickets can be purchased online at our website at visitmanitoga.org. Advance reservations are highly recommended as we frequently sell out, particularly on weekends and during peak season (June, October and November).

While we do our best to accommodate everyone on our tours, however we cannot guarantee availability for walk-ins.

Complimentary / discounted admission for Public Programs is not available at this time, however we are pleased to offer student group tours for a discounted rate and will begin offering community free options several times throughout the season.

Manitoga is delighted to offer a host of experiences suited to various interests and schedules. 

• Manitoga: Design • Art • Nature Tours are the standard public tour and are offered most frequently. This 90 minute tour includes the Woodland Garden / Quarry Pool Path, the House, Studio and the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery. Offered weekly Thursdays through Sundays and select holidays / Mondays.

• Manitoga In-Depth: Design • Art • Nature Tours are a 2 hour expanded version of the standard weekly tours, including additional time on site with senior staff and access to the historic Entry Court and viewing of Homescape.

• Manitoga: Sunset at Dragon Rock tours provide an in-depth, late afternoon version of the Design • Art • Nature Tour, complete with a wine and charcuterie spread at the main House in the late afternoon golden light.

• The Manitoga in Focus series of experiences provide extended, curated experiences of the site.

  • Manitoga in Focus: The Russel & Mary Wright Design Collection is perfect for design enthusiasts and those who collect the Wrights' work. This 2 hour tour includes all of the standard tour information with additional time and emphasis on the Design Collection and a special presentation by our Collections Team. Offered on select Saturdays.

  • Manitoga in Focus: All Four Seasons was designed for those seeking “the full Russel Wright experience,” with an extended seasonally themed walk through the Woodland Garden in addition to the interior tour. These 2-2.5 hour tours include hiking in addition to the standard tour path, and seasonal curated refreshments.

• The Manitoga: In the Landscape series includes various themed guided hikes through Wright’s Woodland Garden, great for nature enthusiasts, and does not include the structures or interiors.

• Private and Group tours are available by advance appointment and allow exclusive access for small to medium sized groups outside of Public Program dates and times.

Reservations can be canceled and refunded in full up to 24 hours in advance of the tour date and time by clicking on the “Cancel Booking” link beneath the photo in your confirmation email. You can also reschedule your tour up to 24 hours in advance using the “Change Booking” link, also located beneath the photo in your confirmation email. Please note that rescheduling is only permitted within the calendar year / current tour season. Cancellations and reschedule requests within 24 hours of your reservation will not be permitted.

There are no self-guided tour options at this time, however a digital guide will be available via the free Bloomberg Connects app on any phone in the coming months.

Yes. Manitoga offers tours for small to medium sized groups outside of Public Tour dates and times. Group tours must be arranged at least 2 weeks in advance with the Public Programs Manager.

ACCESSIBILITY & SITE GUIDELINES

Due to the historic, hand-built nature of the site which includes multiple steps and staircases (some with and some without handrails) as well as Russel Wright’s design in the Landscape, significant portions of the site are not accessible for individuals who use wheelchairs, walkers, or have other mobility needs. Walking sticks and canes are permitted so long as they do not have sharp metal pointed tips, which may damage the original flooring of the interiors. A full overview including photographs and descriptions of the terrain, including the Tour Path as well as inside the structures, can be viewed online in the Terrain section of our website. The staff and board at Manitoga have been carefully considering various options and ways to make the site more accessible without eradicating Wright’s original design and intended experience by adding simple hand-rails where possible, evaluating abbreviated experiences and providing more digital resources. We are delighted to partner with Bloomberg Connects to provide a fully digital guide to give access to all, both on and off site. 

At this time, the best method of transportation to Manitoga is by car due to limited local taxi and car service. Guests are encouraged to utilize Uber’s advance scheduling feature. Please refer to Metro North’s real-time website for the current status if you intend to travel by train.

The Cold Spring Trolley is available seasonally and only on weekends for a limited time. Guests may use the Trolley to get to Manitoga from the Cold Spring Metro-North Train Station as well as other locations along the Trolley route. Please call ahead (845-878-RIDE) to be sure it is operating and heading towards Manitoga during your planned visit and be sure to check the Metro North schedule to coordinate between the two if need be. The Trolley is provided by Putnam County, and Manitoga is available as a requested stop on the Trolley schedule. For more information, please call 845-878-RIDE.

Pets, emotional support animals, comfort animals, or therapy dogs are not permitted on site, which includes both the tours as well as the hiking trails. Only ADA Title III service animals are permitted. Please review the ADA’s service animal regulations for clarification and guidelines. There are a host of nearby options for hiking with your pet - click here to see our staff picks.

While Manitoga welcomes families and children of all ages, children must be at least 10 years of age in order to participate in a tour due for safety reasons in the Inner Landscape and the interiors of the House. Families with children under 10 are encouraged to experience Manitoga’s Public Trails, the picnic area in Mary’s Meadow, and are welcome on most of the In the Landscape / Guided Hike experiences.

Personal photography is permitted on site, including while attending public programs. We do ask that guests allow experience of the site to take precedence over photography. Commercial photography is not permitted without express written permission from Manitoga’s Executive Director in advance. To request information about commercial photography on site, please contact us at info@visitmanitoga.org.

There is no food or drink available for purchase on site at this time. A water cooler is available in the Guide House during public program days and times. There are a host of fantastic restaurants, all within a 10+ minute drive from Manitoga. To view our staff’s local picks of where to eat, click here.

SITE USE FOR PRIVATE EVENTS & retreats

Manitoga is pleased to offer a limited number of retreats / curated experiences per year for small to medium sized groups outside of Public Tour days and times and must be arranged at least 4 weeks in advance. Weddings and large-scale seated meals are not permitted. Pricing and options depend upon the type of event / experience, including the length of time on site, number of guests, food & drink needs, guided experience (tour), and what would be needed on site for the event.

Retreats typically range between $5,000 to $10,000, and allow exclusive access to Manitoga (featuring the Quarry Pool Path, House, Studio and the Russel & Mary Wright Design Gallery), with a curated guided experience that can be tailored to the group's interests and/or needs and the potential for refreshments (either a light spread or a seated meal for an additional fee). Additional needs, such as music, presentation / technology, etc. are considered on a case by case basis and impact the overall fee. 

RUSSEL WRIGHT PRODUCT INQUIRIES & DONATIONS

Please contact info@visitmanitoga.org and be sure to include the object(s) you are looking to donate with a complete description including quantity and measurements as well as photographs, including the underside where any signature stamp would be located. Our collections team will happily evaluate if we are able to accept your donation into Manitoga’s Design Collection.

We are not able to officially authenticate or provide any appraisal information, however our knowledgeable staff can make recommendations for places to seek additional resources.

DONATION REQUESTS

We are delighted to further our mission of sharing Manitoga’s nationally landmarked buildings and landscape through extraordinary programs by donating admission to experiences at Manitoga to fellow not-for-profit educational and cultural organizations seeking to meet fundraising goals. Due to the volume of requests, priority is given to those in our immediate community, including local schools and arts-related non-profit organizations. We cannot donate to for-profit institutions, events benefiting individuals, and religious or political groups. 

Requests should include your name, the organization name, an overview of your mission and / or the event the donation is requested for, how Manitoga will be recognized at the fundraising event (if applicable), and explicit instructions including deadlines and required paperwork.

Please consider supporting this magical place:

Photo: Rick Darke, Sunset Osio at Manitoga