do you have to take a tour? Are the grounds open to the public and one can just walk them?

The grounds are open but, if you want to go inside the houses, you need to pick up a shuttle down the street at the visitor center and then go as a group, on a tour

Hello! Access into the historic homes and Stone Library are by guided tour only. The grounds surrounding the homes are open and available for anyone who wishes to walk around on their own. I hope this helps!

You may walk the grounds but to enter the homes you must br on a guided tour.

Grounds are open.