Historic Wildfair Estate Opens for Designer Showcase

The historic Wildfair estate in Chester Township, New Jersey has officially opened its doors for the 21st Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens, a premier fundraising event benefiting Morristown Medical Center’s new Proton Therapy Center.

Featuring the creative vision of 38 acclaimed interior designers and 13 leading landscape designers, the month-long showcase transforms the centuries-old property into a stunning exhibition of contemporary design while honoring its rich architectural heritage.

Centuries of History Reimagined

Wildfair’s origins stretch back more than 220 years, beginning as a working farm with a gristmill, sawmill, and workshop for manufacturing millstones before being transformed into an elegant country estate in 1934, according to the Mansion in May website.

When Elizabeth and Harry Bowly Hollins III acquired the property, they commissioned the Philadelphia architectural firm of Willing, Sims & Talbutt to design their vision of a refined country retreat, retaining the original late 18th or early 19th-century stone farmhouse while adding extensive fieldstone additions.

The property underwent further significant renovations in the mid-1990s by architect Hiland Hall Turner and Eberle Builders, Inc., creating the expansive, elegant estate that visitors can experience today at the end of a long, gently curving driveway on the 55-acre property.

Design Excellence on Display

Visitors to Wildfair can explore 38 interior spaces and nine landscape areas, each reimagined by leading design professionals who have spent months preparing their contributions to the showcase, according to Design NJ.

Kathy Ross, co-chair of the event, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s participants, stating, “Mansion in May always attracts prestigious interior designers. We are looking forward to opening the doors to Wildfair and revealing the exquisitely designed spaces from this year’s talented and dedicated professionals.”

The charm of this multi-level house is enhanced by several second-floor balconies, small-pane shuttered windows, gabled and eyebrow dormers, and French doors and bay windows overlooking the terraced pool and millpond beyond.

Fundraising for Advanced Cancer Treatment

Since 1974, Mansion in May has been the signature fundraiser for the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center (WAMMC), amassing nearly $14 million in support of the medical center, as reported by Morris County Tourism Bureau.

This year, proceeds from the event will support the new Proton Therapy Center at Morristown Medical Center’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, an advanced cancer treatment that targets tumors with submillimeter precision while preserving healthy surrounding tissue.

“We are grateful to the Women’s Association for choosing the new Proton Therapy Center for their Mansion in May fundraising event at Wildfair,” said Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, President of Morristown Medical Center, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Visitor Experience and Amenities

Mansion in May welcomes visitors daily from May 1 through May 31, 2025, offering both general admission and private tour options that must be purchased in advance online.

Beyond touring the designer showhouse and landscaped gardens, visitors can shop in boutiques set up on the property and enjoy gourmet boxed lunches on the grounds at the café, making for a complete day of design inspiration and cultural experience.

Tickets are priced at $50 if purchased online during April, rising to $55 in May, with all proceeds supporting the Proton Therapy Center project that promises to change the landscape of cancer care in the region.