Saint John’s is chosen as top resort and hotel in Michigan
The former seminary was established by the Catholic bishops of the region in 1948 to train candidates for the priesthood before it was transformed into a humanitarian-focused luxury resort. The seminary officially closes on June 7, 1988 due to a declining number of seminary candidates, according to officials records. The property, which had been dormant for several years, was revived by Cardinal Adam Maida as a center for diocesan youth and families in 1994.
The main seminary buildings were repurposed and opened as the St. John's Golf & Conference Center in 2000 and the property became a popular venue for corporate events, social functions, and Catholic celebrations. The 118-room luxury hotel and the restaurants were added to the property in 2006 and it was renamed Saint John’s Resort.
In 2021 the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation acquired the property from the Archdiocese of Detroit and began a multi-million-dollar renovation and expansion. The property was officially rebranded as Saint John's Resort. According to the website, The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation operates the resort as a "Humanitarian Hotel," donating 100 percent of net profits to educational and humanitarian charities in the Metro Detroit area and globally.
The multi-year, $50 million transformation included a complete redesign of the golf facilities by architect Ray Hearn. The new courses include the 18-hole Cardinal course and the 7-hole Little Cardinal short course. The Cardinal recently hosted the LIV Golf Team Championship.
In June 2025, Saint John’s unveiled the crown jewel of the renovation: the Monarch Ballroom. The 24,000 square foot event space features indoor and outdoor areas with sweeping glass walls and capacity for up to 1,500 guests.
