Villa Maria

Township planning commission plans meeting on Villa Maria

Dec 11, 2024

With the Villa Maria headed for a sheriff’s sale, the Florence Township Planning Commission is planning a public information session and workshop entitled “Commercial Recreational Zones and the Future of the Villa Maria.” According to a public notice appearing in this week’s Shopper and Graphic,...

Villa Maria headed for sheriff’s sale, owner plans condos, subdivision

Nov 27, 2024

Villa Maria, the former convent and girls’ school in Old Frontenac, will be sold in a Goodhue County Sheriff’s auction on Dec. 18, but the current owner is moving ahead with plans for the property. “I’m optimistic there’s not a problem here,” owner John Rupp said. “The property is worth...

Memories of Camp Glengarda

Sep 6, 2023

Much has been written about Villa Maria Academy in Old Frontenac, Minn., its Ursulines, and the girls who received superlative education there; however, little mention is made of the Ursulines’ summer camp located across the road from the Villa. In 1969, Camp Glengarda’s dormitory roof collapsed...

Villa Maria guest rooms opening in 2023

Nov 30, 2022

The Villa Maria has announced that 30 guest rooms will become available for overnight stays in 2023. The event and wedding venue at the former convent and girls school in Old Frontenac opened this year. More information about Villa Maria is available at villamariamn.com.-Graphic file photo

Walking group explores Villa Maria

Jul 27, 2022

The Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group walkers met at the Villa Maria in Frontenac on July 20 for a walk around the beautiful grounds of this historic space. Pernille Flesche and Margaret Peterson, Lake City day students who both attended and graduated from the Villa Maria, joined the group and were...

Villa art exhibit runs through Oct. 19

Sep 26, 2019

Frontenac’s 160th anniversary celebration has come and gone, but people can still see an art exhibit at the Villa Maria arranged by Red Wing Arts to coincide with the event. “Old Frontenac on Lake Pepin” features “artworks that tell the story of life in Old Frontenac and showcase the beauty of the...

Villa Maria hotel project advances

Oct 18, 2018

Plans to convert the former Villa Maria Retreat Center in Florence Township took a major step forward recently with approvals of rezoning and conditional use permits from Goodhue County and Florence Township. Goodhue County commissioners approved a conditional use permit allowing a resort facility...

New owner announces plans for re-invented Villa Maria

May 9, 2018

Commonwealth Properties, a St. Paul real estate and hospitality company with a special niche in restoring and revitalizing historic properties, announced plans to reinvent the 63-acre Villa Maria property as a “romantic boutique country hotel complex.” “There is no other place in the region that I...

Villa Maria Sold to St. Paul Company

Apr 4, 2018

Villa Maria has a new owner. St. Paul-based Commonwealth Properties purchased the former convent, Catholic school and retreat center in Florence Township on March 2, according to Susan Whelan, director of communications for the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province, which sold the property....

Letter: Did (mis)management lead to Florence Township write-ins?

Mar 29, 2017

To the editor: I wonder if the Florence Town Board management history had a lot to do with the write-in vote for a new supervisor. Some examples: The town board initiated a legal case to register shoreline and they kept it all a secret. A taxpayer couldn’t get information, so they counter-sued....