Once a Seminary, This Hotel Outside Detroit Gives Its Profits Away

The landscape was a sweep of green, the grass still damp beneath my feet as I made my way across the golf course at Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, Michigan. A deep chime drifted from the bell tower as morning gave way to afternoon, carrying across the grounds. Beyond the fairways, old seminary buildings stood among the autumn greenery, their architecture a sharp contrast to the surrounding suburbs.

Plymouth wasn’t unfamiliar territory. Growing up about 20 minutes down the road, I’d spent years in the surrounding area, yet Saint John’s Resort had escaped my notice until recently. The name change could partially explain it. After the Pulte family bought the property from the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2021, it dropped its old name, the Inn at St. John’s. When I finally stayed at the hotel, not far from Hines Park, it felt like a discovery in my own backyard.

Saint John’s Resort is one of three Humanitarian Hotels owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, which gives 100 percent of the properties’ net profits to educational and humanitarian causes. The hotel works with different grantees throughout the year. Most recently, guests and staff assembled meal packs with jerky, soup, crackers, water, and cookies for St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen. Employees also get 40 hours a year to donate their services, whether that’s folding clothes or volunteering at a local charity during slower seasons.

In a few hallways around the hotel, plaques display the World Peace Prayer, which the late homebuilder William Pulte created with leaders from a range of faiths.

“He would go around, and he’d pass that card out to everybody,” says Kevin Doyle, chief operating officer of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. “To us, that’s part of carrying on that legacy is to share that message.”

Choose your room, suite, or executive apartment

For an overnight visit, Saint John’s Resort has several types of rooms and suites, including the Deluxe King Room, where I stayed, which measures 310 square feet. My room was a comfortable place to unwind after a day exploring the property, and a window overlooking the autumn foliage brought a bit of the season indoors. Rates vary by room type and travel dates, with October through December rates ranging from about $149 to $543 per night as of fall 2026.

For guests planning a longer stay, the hotel also has executive apartments in a private wing of the property. The apartments have a small kitchen with a full-size refrigerator and freezer, generous counter space, and a dishwasher.

Practice your golf swing and picture your dream wedding

You don’t have to leave Saint John’s Resort to fill an afternoon, especially if golf is on your itinerary. The property is home to The Cardinal, an 18-hole championship course; The Little Cardinal, a seven-hole par-3 course; and an 18-hole putting course. I spent part of my visit at The Little Cardinal for a golf workshop, where I learned how to actually play the game rather than simply swinging a club and hoping for the best.

Off the course, much of the property doubles as event space, starting with the chapel. Saints Mary and Joseph Chapel was dedicated in 1955 as St. John Chapel. Wooden beams run overhead, with carved stone and mosaics below. Operated by the Archdiocese of Detroit, the Roman Catholic chapel hosts Catholic weddings, and I could easily imagine a reception in the Garden Pavilion, which spans 5,200 square feet and opens onto views of the golf course. The pavilion also serves a purpose beyond celebrations: Saint John’s occasionally hosts yoga classes there led by local studio White Buffalo Yoga.

The Atrium offers a different kind of setting. It’s an indoor-outdoor concept beneath a glass ceiling that fills the space with natural light, and it can accommodate up to 320 guests. The Monarch, meanwhile, is built for larger gatherings, with capacity for up to 1,500 guests and an elegant setting suited to grand celebrations, conferences, and other major events.

Come hungry for pub grub, steak dinners, and a wine lounge

Doyles Irish Pub

If you’re planning to tackle the menu at Doyles Irish Pub, consider this your warning: you might need a nap afterward. Start with a Bavarian pretzel, served with three dipping options: cheese sauce, stout mustard, and Hatch green chile dip. All three earned their place on the table, so choosing a favorite is entirely your problem.

The rest of the menu stays in pub territory: fish and chips; shepherd’s pie; Irish stew with beef, carrots, and potatoes; and a bowl of elk chili. Doyles stacks its Reuben sandwich, another pub staple, with corned beef, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and sauerkraut between slices of rye and serves it with house-made chips.

Fall called for something seasonal, so I ordered a Blake’s Salted Caramel Apple cider from Michigan’s Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill. Beer drinkers have options, too: Doyles can print a custom photo or graphic onto the foam of a Guinness draught using an image uploaded from your phone. I chose something festive, a bat, because Halloween is near.

The two-story restaurant feels especially cozy downstairs, where a crackling fireplace, golfer-themed stained-glass windows, and plaid wallpaper create a lodge-like atmosphere. Guests can enter from either the golf course or inside the hotel, making it an easy stop whether you’re coming off the greens or settling in for the evening.

FIVE Steakhouse

That evening, dinner took an indulgent turn at FIVE Steakhouse, where my group started with the Grand Meridian Plateau, a seafood tower piled with lobster tails, chilled colossal shrimp, oysters, and crab cocktail.

If you’re dining with a group, consider ordering The Cardinal, a 40-ounce, in-house dry-aged prime porterhouse finished with infused tallow butter poured tableside. The shareable steak comes with your choice of two sides, such as crispy balsamic Brussels sprouts and garlic smashed potatoes. Additionally, you have to try the FIVE Lobster Mac and Cheese, which my party of six ordered for the table.

I opted for the day’s special: steak served over garlic mashed potatoes with a side of spinach. I added seared colossal shrimp and duck fat butter. The steak was tender on its own, but the duck fat butter added another layer of richness.

I’ve been on a bit of a crème brûlée kick lately, so when I saw it on the menu, I had to get it for dessert. It was silky smooth, and the toasted black sesame tuile gave it a savory kick. Other dessert options included the Five Mile High Chocolate Cake, layered with dark chocolate ganache and chocolate malt mousse and served with toasted milk ice cream, and the blueberry cookie butter cheesecake. Saint John’s pastry chef, Andrea Spangler, spoke so highly of the cheesecake that I had to try it. One bite made it clear why she was so enthusiastic about it.

The Wine Grotto

Of all the places to dine at Saint John’s Resort, The Wine Grotto had the most memorable setting; beneath the hotel, a former crypt has been transformed into an intimate wine cellar, with rows of arches and moody lighting that give the space an old-world feel.

A glass of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon felt right at home here. For the table, we ordered three flatbreads: mushroom, fig and prosciutto, and margherita. The mushroom and fig-and-prosciutto versions were my favorites, both featuring Boursin cheese that added a creamy, tangy contrast to the toppings.

The flatbreads weren’t the only dishes worth exploring. Chef Terence Tarver praised the Wagyu meatballs. Other options include the honey Aleppo shrimp, mussels arrabbiata, and a deconstructed Wellington.

Dessert called for something to share, so we ordered the chocolate charcuterie: an assortment of truffles, pretzels, and strawberries served with ganache for dipping. To finish the evening, I ordered a French press of coffee, served in a Le Creuset French press.

Before you leave, detour to a cider mill

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A post shared by Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill (@parmentersnorthvillecidermill)

For a taste of fall beyond the hotel grounds, head about 10 minutes down the road to Parmenter’s Northville Cider Mill, a longtime favorite of mine whenever I return home. The trees were bursting with shades of orange, red, and yellow, their leaves drifting to the ground as the steady rush of water ran along the Rouge River. You might find children feeding ducks as they pass by.

My usual order is a half-dozen spiced cake donuts, which are wonderfully moist and dangerously easy to keep eating, paired with my absolute favorite: an apple cider slush. Just take your time with the slush if, like me, you’re prone to brain freeze.

How to get to Saint John’s Resort

Saint John’s Resort is located in Plymouth, Michigan, about a 20-minute drive from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW). I flew Delta nonstop from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and returned home to Charlotte, North Carolina, and found getting to the hotel straightforward. DTW is served by several major airlines, including Delta, American, United, Southwest, and JetBlue. Renting a car or arranging a ride from the airport is a convenient way to reach the hotel and explore nearby attractions during your stay.

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