When the Walls Must Fall to Rise Again: A Hard Truth, a Deeper Vision, and the Next Step Forward

There are days that hold both heartbreak and forward motion. Where clarity doesn’t come with ease, but with quiet surrender. Today was one of those days.

This afternoon, I walked the full grounds of Thrivewell Estate with the builder who’s been walking this road beside me, someone who has been respectful of my vision and honest about what’s possible. We didn’t go inside the manor, but we stood at nearly every window, moving slowly, circling the home again and again, hoping that maybe something would look different from a new angle.

It was hard. I wanted to see a way forward that kept her standing just as she is. I wanted to find the version of this story where hope and preservation were enough.

But I also knew that I had to listen—not just hear, but truly listen.

The builder spoke gently but clearly. He took his time explaining the reality. He didn’t rush my process, and I didn’t rush his. And as much as my heart wanted to resist, there was something deeper in me that knew: he was right.

The manor, after being left open to the elements for over a year, simply can’t be saved. The damage is too deep. The moisture, the fire exposure, the time—it’s all compounded into a structure that is no longer sound. The dream of preserving her as she is has to be released.

And I’ll be honest, hearing that hurt more than I expected. I stood in front of those windows, feeling everything. The history. The loss. The responsibility. But I also knew that real stewardship means accepting when something sacred must be taken down so that it can rise again in the right way.

And so, that’s what we will do. The manor will be brought down to her foundation, and from that place, she will be faithfully rebuilt. A full replica, crafted with care, built to last, and rooted in respect for what once was. We’ll preserve every piece we can, salvaged woodwork, original windows, trim, anything we can restore and carry forward into this next chapter.

That was the hard truth today. But it was also accompanied by something meaningful: good news from the town.

At last night’s Planning Board meeting, two town officials presented the Thrivewell vision on my behalf, and the response was encouraging. The board was open and thoughtful. Today, those officials reached out again to set up a meeting where I’ll share the full business plan—and for the very first time, I will introduce the proposal for Thrivewell Court.

This upcoming meeting is pivotal.

The reality is, to make the numbers work for the scale and care this project demands—especially now with the cost of rebuilding—we need larger investor support. And the only path that holds both financial viability and spiritual integrity is the careful creation of Thrivewell Court: a small, intentional collection of homes tucked into the forest’s edge, designed to honor the land, support the estate’s restoration, and become part of the larger legacy.

It’s not an easy thing to bring forward. But it’s a necessary one.

And even as I hold that complexity, the core of Thrivewell remains unchanged: over 60% of the estate will remain protected, untouched by development, devoted to healing, reflection, and connection. That will never be compromised.

Today was hard. But it was also honest. And there is power in that.

Thank you, truly, for being part of this unfolding. For listening. For walking beside me. For believing that even when something must fall, there is still beauty in what can rise.

With all my heart,
Kelley