Redevelop Nims Mansion in Bee Tree Park

On the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, commanding a view up and down the river and across to the Illinois Palisades, sits an underutilized Oakville estate completed in 1929 for Southwestern Bell executive Eugene Nims and his wife, Lotawanna. Washington University alumnus Maritz and Young built the home. They were one of the most prolific and influential architectural firms in the St. Louis region during the first half of the 20th Century. Both the Tudor Revival style mansion— featuring stone from a quarry less than 2-miles away, a multi-color slate tile roof, timbered lead paned windows, arched doorways, and massive chimneys — and the 192 acres of land were donated to the St. Louis County Parks Department in 1968 to become Bee Tree County Park.

Nims Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural significance and has sat vacant on public parkland for the last 25 years.

The Foundation is pioneering an effort to Redevelop Nims Mansion, a jewel in the county park system that, once fully rehabilitated, will bring about considerable neighborhood economic and community development. The overarching goals of the Nims Mansion Redevelopment are to: 
 
1) Convert Nims Mansion from an underutilized, vacant space to a premier historic venue for private events, community programming, and tours. 

2) Establish Nims Mansion as one of the top heritage tourism destinations in its South County District.  Although Martiz & Young's portfolio includes over 150 prestigious homes in St. Louis, many commissioned by elite families whose descendants continue to live in the structures to this day, Nims Mansion will be the first and only Maritz & Young home open to the public for tours and educational programs which will attract a broad array of visitors.