The historic Emmaus Homes campus outside Marthasville may soon have new owners who envision a transformational purpose for the property.
Hoffmann Family of Companies last week announced its …
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The historic Emmaus Homes campus outside Marthasville may soon have new owners who envision a transformational purpose for the property.
Hoffmann Family of Companies last week announced its intent to purchase the Emmaus campus on Highway D. The firm is a national entertainment and investment entity with a heavy presence in Naples, Florida.
The Emmaus campus originated as an evangelical seminary in the 1850s, before being operated as a home for adults with developmental disabilities for more than a century. Now vacant, the campus was put up for auction in late 2020, and is changing hands again to the Hoffmann company.
This is the latest in a series of high-profile investments owners Jerri and David Hoffmann have made in the Missouri River valley, focused in and around Augusta. Within the last year, the Hoffmanns have purchased a slew of wineries and vineyards in the area, declaring that they intend to transform Augusta into a destination town.
With the Emmaus campus, the Hoffmans will own nearly 900 acres in the region, according to the company. The firm plans to transform the historic campus into “Martha’s Vineyard and Winery,” which will include event space, wedding venue and tasting room.
The campus will also provide employee housing for an Augusta-area hotel and spa the Hoffmans hope to one day build.
In their announcement of their intent to purchase the Emmaus property, the Hoffmanns said they plan to invest a total of $100 million into the Augusta area, including revitalizing historic buildings and improving the surrounding grounds.
“We’re excited about our growth in Missouri and look forward to our continued expansion of the region,” CEO David Hoffmann said in the announcement. “The Emmaus campus is beautiful and fits in well with our vision, and will offer additional employment opportunities to the area as well as allowing us to take care of our staff.”
Based on previous reporting about the property, it will require major financial investment to revitalize the Emmaus campus. A representative of Trophy Properties and Auction, which helped sell portions of the campus, told The Record in October 2020 that the buildings require a significant amount of “deferred maintenance.” The campus also requires a new sewage system, which will have to be built to meet modern Missouri state standards.
According to the Hoffmann company’s website, the Hoffmans have led revitalization efforts and made significant real estate investments in several cities across the U.S. The Hoffmann Family of Companies includes a number of entertainment, tourism and service businesses in Florida, along with a presence in Illinois and Colorado.
In the local area, the Hoffmanns own Augusta Winery, Balducci Vineyars, Montelle Winery, Mount Pleasant Estates, Knoernschild Vineyards and Washington Vines. The company has also announced plans to purchase the Washington-based Mid-American Coaches and NOA Medical Industries.
