Our Project
If you've found us through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube, whether you live around the corner or somewhere around the globe, thank you so much for following this dear project. You're already part of the story. Mansion on Waverly Hill is a once-in-a-generation restoration of a 1927 estate, documented step by step for a community of followers around the world. What began as the rescue of a long-neglected, water-damaged landmark has become a full revival: returning the mansion to life as an elegant, whimsical, joyful destination for families, friends, colleagues, and celebrations. When the doors open in 2027, we hope you'll be part of the next hundred years.
The timeline below traces the full journey, from the estate's earliest vision to the restoration unfolding today.
Paul Belin & Charles Wellford Leavitt
In 1927, Paul Belin, the illustrious benefactor of Waverly, Pennsylvania, set out to create more than a private home. Working alongside Charles Wellford Leavitt, one of the preeminent landscape architects of his era, Belin helped shape an estate that reflected both ambition and artistry. Leavitt, known for his work across grand estates, civic landscapes, and early 20th-century planning, brought a sweeping vision to the grounds: formal, graceful, and deeply connected to the land. Together, Belin and Leavitt created the original mansion structure and magnificent landscape plan whose bones can still be traced today, including in the ancient scroll that continues to document the estate’s earliest vision. What remains is not just a house, but the imprint of two extraordinary men who imagined Waverly Hill as something enduring, elegant, and alive.
Paul Belin & Charles Wellford Leavitt
In 1927, Paul Belin, the illustrious benefactor of Waverly, Pennsylvania, set out to create more than a private home. Working alongside Charles Wellford Leavitt, one of the preeminent landscape architects of his era, Belin helped shape an estate that reflected both ambition and artistry. Leavitt, known for his work across grand estates, civic landscapes, and early 20th-century planning, brought a sweeping vision to the grounds: formal, graceful, and deeply connected to the land. Together, Belin and Leavitt created the original mansion structure and magnificent landscape plan whose bones can still be traced today, including in the ancient scroll that continues to document the estate’s earliest vision. What remains is not just a house, but the imprint of two extraordinary men who imagined Waverly Hill as something enduring, elegant, and alive.
The Hemmelrights
The eventual passing of the torch from the Belins to Hemmelrights happened in the 1950s.
The Hemmelrights
The eventual passing of the torch from the Belins to Hemmelrights happened in the 1950s.
The Todaros
Dr. Todaro’s chapter in the mansion’s history marked what we think of as the home’s Second Bloom, a period of expansion, imagination, and family life that left a lasting imprint on the property. A beloved doctor in the Waverly area, Dr. Todaro and his family didn’t simply own the mansion; they lived in it deeply. Inspired by their travels through Europe, and Italy in particular, they brought a Tuscan flair to the exterior and several areas of the home, adding warmth, romance, and a distinctly personal layer to the estate’s original 1920s bones. Their most dramatic contribution was the great expansion of the property, essentially adding the equivalent of an entirely new home onto the original structure. This included the now-iconic ballroom, styled with inspiration from The Sound of Music, which transformed the mansion from a grand residence into a place capable of hosting unforgettable gatherings. For years, the Todaro children grew up within these walls, filling the mansion with the energy of family, celebration, and everyday life. Though the family eventually parted ways with the property, their contribution remains inseparable from the mansion’s story. They gave the home its second great era, a bold, heartfelt expansion that helped shape the Mansion on Waverly Hill as we know it today.
The Todaros
Dr. Todaro’s chapter in the mansion’s history marked what we think of as the home’s Second Bloom, a period of expansion, imagination, and family life that left a lasting imprint on the property. A beloved doctor in the Waverly area, Dr. Todaro and his family didn’t simply own the mansion; they lived in it deeply. Inspired by their travels through Europe, and Italy in particular, they brought a Tuscan flair to the exterior and several areas of the home, adding warmth, romance, and a distinctly personal layer to the estate’s original 1920s bones. Their most dramatic contribution was the great expansion of the property, essentially adding the equivalent of an entirely new home onto the original structure. This included the now-iconic ballroom, styled with inspiration from The Sound of Music, which transformed the mansion from a grand residence into a place capable of hosting unforgettable gatherings. For years, the Todaro children grew up within these walls, filling the mansion with the energy of family, celebration, and everyday life. Though the family eventually parted ways with the property, their contribution remains inseparable from the mansion’s story. They gave the home its second great era, a bold, heartfelt expansion that helped shape the Mansion on Waverly Hill as we know it today.
Dr. Kevin Olsen & The Karnoffs
In more modern times the Karnoffs entered and added some more modern twists on the existing structure, updating the pool, kitchen fixtures and added their famous K to the gates and signage.
Dr. Kevin Olsen & The Karnoffs
In more modern times the Karnoffs entered and added some more modern twists on the existing structure, updating the pool, kitchen fixtures and added their famous K to the gates and signage.
Various Owners
The home began to fall more deeply into disrepair and it was unclear if it would make it to another high period.
Various Owners
The home began to fall more deeply into disrepair and it was unclear if it would make it to another high period.
The Ariel Era Begins
In 2022, after multiple inspections and more than a few warnings about water damage, we were handed a bag of keys and officially became the next stewards of this fabled Mansion. We knew we were taking on a historic 1927 estate with grand bones, deep character, and real issues, but the exact extent of what was hiding behind the walls, ceilings, and old systems was still a mystery. What we did know was that this place had a soul. Beneath the damage and uncertainty was fifteen thousand square feet of possibility: secret rooms, bunkers and even a water tower. A mansion waiting to be restored, reimagined, and brought back to life as a welcoming, whimsical, elegant place for a new generation.
The Ariel Era Begins
In 2022, after multiple inspections and more than a few warnings about water damage, we were handed a bag of keys and officially became the next stewards of this fabled Mansion. We knew we were taking on a historic 1927 estate with grand bones, deep character, and real issues, but the exact extent of what was hiding behind the walls, ceilings, and old systems was still a mystery. What we did know was that this place had a soul. Beneath the damage and uncertainty was fifteen thousand square feet of possibility: secret rooms, bunkers and even a water tower. A mansion waiting to be restored, reimagined, and brought back to life as a welcoming, whimsical, elegant place for a new generation.
Demolition Begins & The Dreaded Roof Replacement
Principal demolition began with two realities staring us in the face. First, the mansion needed an entirely new roof, a $200,000 problem before we could even begin to think about the more beautiful parts of the restoration. Second, the home itself had become a puzzle. The original 1920s estate had been expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, but those additions didn’t always honor the elegance, proportion, or spirit of the original mansion. So demolition wasn’t just about tearing things out. It was about finding the honest version of the house again. We had to peel back decades of decisions, understand what belonged, and make room for a design language that could feel elegant, whimsical, and true to the soul of the property. At the same time, we weren’t simply restoring the mansion as a museum piece. We had a vision for a new kind of bed and breakfast, one designed for families, friends, colleagues, and groups to stay together in a way that felt private, luxurious, and connected. That meant major changes to the second-floor layout, rethinking how rooms flowed, how suites could function, and how this 15,000-square-foot home could become both historically grounded and completely new.
Demolition Begins & The Dreaded Roof Replacement
Principal demolition began with two realities staring us in the face. First, the mansion needed an entirely new roof, a $200,000 problem before we could even begin to think about the more beautiful parts of the restoration. Second, the home itself had become a puzzle. The original 1920s estate had been expanded in the 1970s and 1980s, but those additions didn’t always honor the elegance, proportion, or spirit of the original mansion. So demolition wasn’t just about tearing things out. It was about finding the honest version of the house again. We had to peel back decades of decisions, understand what belonged, and make room for a design language that could feel elegant, whimsical, and true to the soul of the property. At the same time, we weren’t simply restoring the mansion as a museum piece. We had a vision for a new kind of bed and breakfast, one designed for families, friends, colleagues, and groups to stay together in a way that felt private, luxurious, and connected. That meant major changes to the second-floor layout, rethinking how rooms flowed, how suites could function, and how this 15,000-square-foot home could become both historically grounded and completely new.
The Mansion On Waverly Hill is Born
2025 was the craziest year yet at the mansion, the year the story truly came alive. Our social media launched and immediately took off. Suddenly this wasn’t just our renovation anymore. It became something we were sharing with all of you. Together, we chose the name Mansion on Waverly Hill, shaped the identity of the home, and even selected the logo that would carry this next chapter forward. And after years of hidden work, the progress finally started to show. Rooms began to transform. The vision became easier to see. We found our caretaking family, the Finans and along with Frances, the Mansion started feeling less like a construction project and more like the elegant, whimsical, joyful destination we always believed it could become. Then came one of the biggest milestones of all: we opened the 100-year-old pool. It was chaotic, emotional, surprising, and completely unforgettable. In every possible way, 2025 was an insane year, and it was the year Mansion on Waverly Hill became ours, yours, and something much bigger than we ever imagined.
The Mansion On Waverly Hill is Born
2025 was the craziest year yet at the mansion, the year the story truly came alive. Our social media launched and immediately took off. Suddenly this wasn’t just our renovation anymore. It became something we were sharing with all of you. Together, we chose the name Mansion on Waverly Hill, shaped the identity of the home, and even selected the logo that would carry this next chapter forward. And after years of hidden work, the progress finally started to show. Rooms began to transform. The vision became easier to see. We found our caretaking family, the Finans and along with Frances, the Mansion started feeling less like a construction project and more like the elegant, whimsical, joyful destination we always believed it could become. Then came one of the biggest milestones of all: we opened the 100-year-old pool. It was chaotic, emotional, surprising, and completely unforgettable. In every possible way, 2025 was an insane year, and it was the year Mansion on Waverly Hill became ours, yours, and something much bigger than we ever imagined.
The Grand Opening!
Pretty soon, these doors are going to open to the public and we want to you to continue to be part of this story for the next hundred years!
The Grand Opening!
Pretty soon, these doors are going to open to the public and we want to you to continue to be part of this story for the next hundred years!
The Legacy Lives On
Today, every corner of the Mansion whispers tales of its past, inviting guests to become part of its continuing story. We are merely custodians of this grand legacy, preserving its spirit while infusing it with modern luxury.
"To stay at Waverly Hill is to walk through the pages of history."