One of the most enchanting things about the Greencrest property (and there are many) is the history. As most good stories go, it all started with a spark of love and the possibilities that the future would hold.
George R. Burt, son of a Michigan lumber baron, came to Battle Creek to pursue a business career. He and his wife, Nellie Zinn, vowed to build a home in their favorite picnic spot overlooking St. Mary’s Lake.
During the process of purchasing the property, Burt tragically passed away. Undeterred by this unexpected and heartbreaking experience, Nellie fulfilled their dream and completed the structure in an authentic French-Normandy style, surrounded by extensive formal gardens.
In the early 1960s, the estate was purchased by the Catholic Church and was used as a seminary for nearly 20 years. The manor was then sold, and subsequent owners allowed the property to fall into disrepair.
In 1987, the estate was purchased by Tom and Kathy VanDaff, who dedicated their lives to returning the property to its former glory. Two years of renovations followed. At last, in the spring of 1989, the property proudly re-opened to the public as a bed & breakfast.
The current owners, Jenn and Dave, immediately fell in love with the property. They felt drawn to share the magic of the property, not just for its beauty, but for its history. They also saw incredible potential. Deciding to purchase the property and continue renovations with a focus for restoration and expansion, was, without a doubt, the most exciting and daunting undertaking they could imagine.
Since Jenn has been in the wedding and event industry for many years, she knew that Greencrest’s unique history, character and charm would enchant others as much as it did her.
One of life’s greatest joys is the process of falling in love and later growing old together. As cliché as it may seem, each day we build our story. As it unfolds, paths emerge before us and we have chosen this one.
Because George and Nellie weren’t able to experience a full life but laid the incredible groundwork for something truly magical, we want to pay homage to that daily.
Creating a magical space that feels full of love, promise and respite is our goal. Being here feels like one of the greatest gifts of life and to be able to share that with others is what we know this property was always intended for.
A getaway for lovers to enjoy being in love.
You can’t walk the grounds of Greencrest without encountering a pear tree. Although we were initially quite taken with their beauty, upon further research, we realized that pears have incredible symbolism.
Pears are part of the rose family and originated in Europe and Asia. The pear is revered in many cultures and is said to symbolize abundance, longevity, fertility, inner peace, affection, promising prospects in life, good fortune, strength and greatness.
We even read that in dreams, if you pick up ripe pears, it means that you will encounter a variety of small surprises to replace your small troubles.
Everything began clicking into place for us, and our vision for the property began to bloom. We have fully embraced the meaning and symbolism of this coveted fruit. You’ll see the pear is woven into our branding and design, as well as our recipes.
And of course, as you walk the Greencrest grounds, you can stop and pick one for yourself.
