Where Every Story Finds Its Setting

"The moment I walked into Mabelle Estates, the vision was clear: a wedding and event venue, an Airbnb, and a horse academy, all in one place."

Even the way the house was laid out felt like an architectural choice made for weddings. The rooms that are now Silvana’s Bridal Suite and the Villafan Groom’s Lounge sit on opposite sides of the house, and the groom’s suite even has its own private entrance. The kitchen has its own door for the caterer and is large enough to work in comfortably. There are multiple living spaces for getting ready and gathering, and an upstairs made for overnight stays. And out on the property stood a barn with an “M” already engraved at the entrance.

Mabelle is my middle name, and it means “my beautiful.” When I saw the beauty of this estate, I knew she had to be mine, and I was set on the name: Mabelle Estates. That “M” waiting at the barn entrance only confirmed it. She would be the setting of many stories to come. She had been forgotten, and I was the one who was going to bring this diamond in the rough back to her full beauty and glory.

The Mansion Curse

I love a challenge. Doing hard things, things most people would never even think to attempt, is how I live. But restoring Mabelle was, even for me, biting off more than I could chew.

It was a 14-month journey, and I wanted to give up more times than I can count. But there was no way out, only through. I sacrificed my health, my finances, my sleep, and my overall well-being to make this happen.

We even had a name for it: “The Mansion Curse.” Everyone who set foot in the house to work on something, whether it was the electrician, the pool guy, or the plumber, ran into problems that left them dumbfounded. Equipment broke. Machinery got stuck. Mysteries were never solved. Even the most confident general contractors came close to walking away. It was as if the mansion had a soul of her own.

Then, once the mansion and her soul understood that she was finally back in her full glory, everything shifted. Guests began arriving and admiring her breathtaking beauty, and she started welcoming them in, becoming the home of beautiful events and retreats.

The Queen’s Gambit

Watching Mabelle come together has been unreal. A boarded-up, abandoned house taken over by vines became a beautiful, magical, enchanting place that no one doubts is a wedding venue.

It wasn’t always that way. When I first started, people questioned my sanity and my vision for days on end. To keep Mabelle, I gave up one of my high-income-producing properties.

In chess, the Queen’s Gambit is an opening move where you deliberately offer up a piece early to gain control of the center of the board. To anyone watching, it looks like a loss. It’s actually a strategy: a sacrifice made on purpose, for a stronger position in the game that matters. Letting go of that property was exactly that. It was my Queen’s Gambit.

Our First Wedding

We recently booked our first wedding. Seeing this dream come true is the most satisfying feeling in the world. Since then, the bookings haven’t stopped: Mabelle Estates is now booked through the rest of the year and all the way until March 2027.

Mabelle has waited a long time to welcome people again, and this is only the first chapter. If you’re dreaming of a wedding, event, or retreat at a historic Southern mansion on 14 acres in the woods, just 15 minutes from downtown Gainesville, we would love to show you around. Now booking spring 2027 and beyond. Schedule a tour and come see where your story could begin.