Saint John Resort Review: Exploring a Historic Gem near Detroit

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Travel 25 minutes west of Detroit and you’ll find a green oasis sprinkled with historic brick buildings. An old clocktower, several ballrooms, a chapel, and a cozy Irish pub are woven together with golf courses and tree-lined roads. This is Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan.

Now a popular golf destination, this resort bears a rich history. It was built on the grounds of a former seminary which dates back to the 1940s. Many of the original architectural features, including the clock tower and chapel, remain intact, nearly 80 years later.

A view of the inside of the Saint John Resort's chapel — A historic chapel at Saint John’s Resort. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Of course, Saint John’s has expanded significantly since its days as a seminary. The resort currently boasts 118 guest rooms and suites, three on-site restaurants, several golf courses, a fitness center, and an indoor pool. There is an 18-hole championship golf course, a seven-hole short course, a putting course, an onsite beverage bar, and a snack shack for golfers.

Saint John’s also serves as a community hub and an events venue. The resort’s calendar brims with wine tastings, yoga classes, concerts, outdoor festivals, and holiday markets that attract both locals and tourists. Every weekend, there are weddings, business luncheons, and fundraisers happening alongside public events.

I spent two nights at Saint John’s this fall. Leading up to my stay, I worried that I—who didn’t know the first thing about golf—was perhaps not the right fit for this resort. I quickly learned that my affinity for wine, chocolate, nature walks, and plush hotel beddings made me more than at home at Saint John’s. Here’s what I learned about the resort:

Pros and Cons

A water fountain and blooming trees on the hotel grounds — The well-tended gardens on the property. Photo credit: Courtesy of Saint John’s Resort

I’ll go into detail about all things Saint John’s Resort in a moment, but here are my overall pros and cons:

Pros:

The food!! I over-ate at every meal because I had to try a couple of appetizers, an entree, and a dessert (plus drinks). I was thoroughly impressed by all three dining options at Saint John’s Resort. Plus each restaurant had equally tasty health options, in addition to steaks, midwest comfort food, charcuterie boards, and wine.
The humanitarian mission. 100% of hotel profits go to a charitable foundation. It’s always nice to know that your money is well spent!

Cons:

No spa. While there is a small indoor pool and guests can book an in-room spa treatment, there is no real spa at Saint John’s. The resort is undergoing construction, and there are discussions about adding a spa but don’t expect a full-service spa in the near future.
Not very family-friendly. Unless your kids enjoy golfing, there aren’t many family-friendly amenities at Saint John’s. If you are traveling with kids, try to travel closer to the holidays, as there seems to be more kid-friendly programming around that time.

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Giving

The Saint John Resort lobby with armchairs, couches and a fireplace — The Saint John’s Resort Lobby. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Saint John’s Resort is one of few American hotels that can truly call itself a “Humanitarian Hotel.” That’s because 100% of net profits go to The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation to support charities around the world.

Founded by William J. Pulte, a real estate developer and philanthropist, the foundation supports over 200 nonprofits that focus on healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, hunger relief, and providing resources to marginalized communities.

The Pulte Family purchased the hotel in 2021, and ever since, its profits have been used to drive positive change within the community and beyond. To further support its mission of giving, the hotel also hosts charitable programs and activities.

In 2023, Saint Johns Resort donated over 12,200 lbs of leftover food from banquets and restaurants to local soup kitchens. The resort also employs a dozen individuals with developmental disabilities and provides housing, training, and ESL classes to refugees. The resort is currently undergoing a transformation that will add additional refugee housing.

Golfing

The writer, Adina Keeling, posing on the golf course — My first golf lesson. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Saint John’s Resort is heaven for a golfer. There’s an 18-hole par 72 championship course, a 7-hole par 3 course, and a 2-acre putting course. Golfers can order a drink at “The Daq Shack,” a beverage bar serving frozen drinks, or grab a snack at “The Nest,” an on-course snack shack.

There are golf clubs available to rent, and a pro shop with clothing and other supplies for purchase. Take your golfing to the next level by booking a private lesson with PGA-certified instructor Chris Johnson.

I took my first ever golf lesson with Chris and it turns out I’m not that bad! Still, I think I’m going to stick with mini golf.

Staying

A kind-sized bed in the middle of a room at Saint John's Resort — My Deluxe King room at Saint John’s Resort. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Rooms at Saint John’s Resort are clean, modern, and comfortable, and come fully equipped with everything guests may need. I stayed in a deluxe king, which featured a large flat-screen TV, a fridge, a comfortable desk, Egyptian cotton bedding, and Molton Brown toiletries. Perhaps best of all was the easy-to-use Nespresso VertuoPlus that sat on my desk.

In addition to deluxe king or double queen rooms, guests can book suites, which have separate sleeping and living spaces. The largest suites also come with a kitchenette, and the 4-person presidential suite has a balcony.

Dining

A red couch and arm chairs inside the Wine Grotto — The Wine Grotto. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

There are three dining options at Saint John’s Resort, each completely different from the next. There’s a high-end steak house, a casual Irish pub, and an intimate wine bar.

We’ll start with my favorite—the Wine Grotto. This wine bar is located in a cavern under the hotel. It’s romantic and sophisticated, with low light, arched ceilings, and plush furniture, including couches, loveseats and low-set armchairs. With over 150 different wines, from Michigan and across the globe, the wine list will serve any wine-lover’s pallet.

A platter full of chocolate, truffles and strawberries — The mouth-watering Chocolate Charcturerie board at Saint John’s. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

What goes better with wine than cheese and chocolate? The bar’s charcuterie menu has a build-your-own-board option, allowing guests to customize their cheese and cured meats selection. And best of all, there’s a to-die-for chocolate charcuterie option, with truffles, pretzels, chocolate strawberries, and wafers dipped in ganache.

For a more casual dining experience, grab a bite to eat at Doyles Irish Pub. Located right outside the golf course, this pub is a popular breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot for hotel guests, golfers, and locals. There is seating across two floors, and there’s even an outdoor bar with some fire pits.

An outdoor bar with stools and an umbrella outside Doyles Irish Pub — The outdoor bar outside Doyles Irish Pub. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Doyles Irish Pub is welcoming and cozy, with dark wood paneling, Tiffany lamps, and vases with fresh flowers on each table. Choose between Irish staples and pub favorites, like fish & chips, pot pie, and Irish stew, or go with Midwestern classics, like the Reuben, superior whitefish, or mac & cheese.

A bowl with diced onions, tomatoes, apples, chickpeas, sweet potato and cucumbers — The Revitalize Bowl at Doyles. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Craving steak? Head to Five Steakhouse, a high-end restaurant next to the hotel lobby. The menu features an impressive selection of prime cuts, from prime ribeye to filet mignon to short rib. Vegetarians haven’t been forgotten either—there are sandwiches, salads, vegan lasagna, and a selection of delicious slides.

I recommend the prime reserve filet mignon with a side of truffle fries and sauteed mushrooms. If there’s space for dessert, be sure to order the (aptly named) five-mile-high chocolate cake.

A filet mignon with potatoes and a sauce — The prime reserve filet mignon. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

Event Spaces

A couple getting married in the Pavilion — A wedding at the Pavilion. Photo credit: Yana Benjamin, courtesy of Saint John’s Resort

Ballrooms, outdoor pavilions, and office spaces are plentiful at Saint John’s Resort. There’s an atrium with glass ceilings, a mosaic ballgown, an indoor-outdoor pavilion, and even a chapel. Weddings, luncheons, private parties, and networking events can all be hosted here.

In fact, the resort is so large, that seven weddings were hosted there the weekend that I visited. According to Marketing Manager Sarah Carr, the venue is laid out in such a way that “the brides never run into one another.”

Chairs and flowers set up inside the Provincial Ballroom — Setting up for a wedding in the Provincial Ballroom. Photo credit: Ray Anthony Lavasile, courtesy of Saint John’s Resort

The resort’s ongoing construction project is scheduled to wrap up in the Spring of 2025. After that, Saint Johns Resort will boast a new ballroom, a private courtyard, a catering kitchen, new bridal dressing rooms, new bridal suites, and sales offices.

In addition to providing wedding venues, Saint John’s Resort also has on-staff wedding planners and works with a list of vendors—from makeup artists and photographers to florists—to help couples plan their special day.

Other amenities

An indoor pool area with a small waterfall and jaccuzi — The Indoor Pool. Photo credit: Adina Keeling

What else does Saint John’s have? Well, there’s a small indoor pool with a current, a tiny waterfall feature, and a jacuzzi. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes, treadmills, ellipticals, and a weight rack. For some fresh air, go for a walk on the hotel grounds, which are decorated with flower gardens and tree canopies.

The surrounding area

At Saint John’s, guests are conveniently close to Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Plymouth. Drive 25 minutes east and you’ll reach Detroit, known for its vibrant arts scene, lively Eastern market, and historic architecture. Stay through the evening to experience the Detroit nightlife.

Head 25 minutes in the opposite direction and you’ll end up in Ann Arbor. This high-energy college town has museums, year-round events, and a bustling downtown area with breweries, coffee shops, and independent bookstores.

Or stay closer to home and spend the day browsing Plymouth’s quaint downtown areas, sprinkled with boutiques and cozy cafes. For a day in nature, take your pick of nearby parks including Kensington Metro Park, Island Lake State Park, Maybury State Park, and Hines Park Trail.