Lake Minnetonka Chapel Reopening This Spring As The Woods Retreat

Lake Minnetonka Chapel Reopening This Spring As The Woods Retreat

Good Times Hospitality, the company behind Chilango, has taken ownership of the property formerly known as Woods Chapel.

The Woods Chapel, a five-acre, 140-year-old property in Orono, is undergoing a major transformation.

Good Times Hospitality, the organization behind Chilango in Minneapolis, purchased the Lake Minnetonka property for nearly $2 million last year and will rename it The Woods Retreat. The company plans to transform the space while paying respect to the space's legacy.

The Woods Chapel has a two-story, 10,000-square-foot chapel, a 350-seat outdoor amphitheater, a 1,500-square-foot guest cottage, and loads of amenities that give it a serene atmosphere.

"I fell in love with the property the first time I set foot on it," says Zach Sussman, General Partner with Good Times Hospitality. "It’s magical, like something out of a fairy tale, and an amazing venue for weddings, corporate and social events, celebration of life ceremonies, and more."

Sussman runs Good Times with Farzad Freshtekhu and Chef Jorge Guzman, who recently left Petite Léon, the Minneapolis restaurant where he earned his most recent of three James Beard nominations.

While the chapel has deep roots in the area, Good Times plans to update the main and lower levels of the chapel. It will also transform the choir balcony and guest cottages into hospitality suites.

"It was less of a business transaction and more of a discussion about stewardship," Sussman says. “The former owner grew up attending the chapel, and when it went up for sale 17 years ago, he bought it to save it from being torn down by developers. As they prepared for retirement, it was important to them that the chapel remain a special place for the community, which was completely in line with our vision.”

The group has already begun renovations that aim to preserve its history and charm while updating amenities. It's far enough along that Good Times has begun accepting bookings for April 2025 and beyond, with plans to have construction completed by the end of March.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News