My mother Sandy and late father, Duane, transformed the 19th century, crumbling farm into a gathering place for their family and friends that rivaled no other.  Their eye for detail and love for the natural surroundings enabled them to retain the charm and grace of the estate.

In 1996, my father Duane passed away rather suddenly and his wish was to rest on the property which he adored. Our family’s goal was to create a family cemetery on our farm but the county initially denied us that option. Soon after, a rumor spread that what we needed to gain approval for our cemetery was to have a church on site. It wasn’t long before a knock came to the door and a member of a neighboring church, St. John’s, told us their country church needed a home. The congregation had built a new church and could no longer afford to keep up the old one. Their suggestion was to “take the church and answer all our prayers”.

Our dream was becoming a reality and the county ultimately issued us a permit for our family cemetery. We moved St. John’s church to Oak Hill and placed my father in his final resting ground. My husband Doug and I were the first to be married in the newly restored church and from there we’ve invited many to share in our joy and experience Oak Hill for themselves. The last 25 years of our lives have been touched by the many couples who have been captivated by the magic of Oak Hill. We invite you to do the same. –Becky Riedl