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Quietly nestled between woods, pasture and farmland, River House Guest Ranch sits on the banks of the Watonwan River south of St. James, Minnesota. Massive hand-hewn beams recycled from a barn built in the late 1800s visually anchor the great room’s soaring ceiling. Logs harvested from the Scholl family farm grove, and handpeeled by son Tyler, adorn the porch and staircase. Much of the staircase and great room floor were once part of an old granary and round corn crib. An old barn door divides the public space from two private bedrooms and an office.

River House is a work in progress – and the fulfillment of Roxanne Scholl Lutmer’s dream. But in many ways, it is also a metaphor for her life. For just as many parts of River House were reclaimed from old buildings and given new life, Roxy had to find the courage to pick up the pieces, reinvent her life and move forward after tragedy struck her family in 2003.

Just six weeks after a horse trailer accident left her with multiple serious injuries, Roxy’s husband Doug Scholl was taken from her in a devastating plane crash. “We raised our family and farmed together for 27 years,” she says. “I lost my best friend and any reason to live, and in an instant our lives were forever changed.” Reflectively, she continues, “Tragedy happens to everyone. Some people deal with it, and some don’t. I wasn’t very good at dealing with the death of my husband. Mostly I wanted life to go away…it didn’t.” Roxy credits the hard work of her three sons, who took over the farm, and the support of good friends in helping her to “follow my heart and find a path.”

Roxy and her husband, Doug, had always entertained the idea of someday running a bed and breakfast. After the plane crash, Roxy decided not to wait any longer for “someday,” and to move ahead with their dream. She searched for three years for the right property. “I wanted to live someplace that had a soul….a slice of heaven to be shared,” she says. Roxy purchased the property in January of 2007 and began by renovating the existing ranch style home into a guest house.

Roxy had a design in mind for the main house, but needed a bid from a contractor. A friend suggested Gary Lutmer from Lutmer Construction in Ormsby, Minnesota. Gary helped Roxy translate her design, from sketches on scraps of paper and photos saved from magazines, into a blueprint. The two of them, with carpenter Nate Olson and Gary’s son Jared, did most of the construction work. But many hands helped create River House. It took nine people to hoist the hand-hewn beams into place. Roxy’s sons Ben and Jeff cleared brush, took down old buildings, sided the shop, landscaped and laid sod. Gary’s daughter Lisa helped power wash the old lumber. In February of 2009, Roxy moved into River House.

River House features a warm and inviting kitchen that allows guests to share in meal preparation, or savor a cup of coffee at the breakfast bar. The kitchen opens to an expansive great room with a vaulted ceiling. The upper level loft features a wooden dance floor, and doubles as a meeting space. From the bright and cheery sun room, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the pasture and river. The lower level of River House has a second kitchen and a large gathering space.

What does Roxy want her guests to experience at River House? She responds without hesitation, “I want them to find peace and acceptance. People are not perfect, life is not perfect. But often we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone.” Her journey has taught her that material things are not important – what really matters are people and relationships. She is passionate about River House. To Roxy, River House is more than her home, and more than a business – it is a mission. “People like to be wrapped in warmth – and I love to make them feel that way. God has given each of us a gift – it is our job to share it.”

River House is a rentable space/event center that can accommodate day groups or overnight guests. Trails through the property are available for hiking, snowshoeing or horseback riding. River House has hosted many different types of events, including weddings, family and class reunions, corporate Christmas parties and meetings. Special events scheduled throughout the year include cooking classes and women’s retreats. Dance Ranch is an annual event co-created by Roxy and Mary Hoedeman-Coniaris. In 2010 more than 40 people from all over the country converged at River House to experience professional dance instruction ranging from salsa to waltz. “It’s become a family reunion of sorts,” says Roxy. “Everyone has so much fun they can’t wait for next year.” The annual “Women of the Woods Snowshoe Extravaganza” is a courage building weekend that encourages women to get out in the fresh air and try something new. “Life has so much to offer,” says Roxy. “We need to keep our minds and hearts open, and learn something new every day.”

Roxy is enthusiastic about future plans for the guest ranch. A hunter’s shack is perched on the ridge, awaiting renovation – and a garage is slated to become an art studio. Roxy continues to develop the trails on her 80 acre property. “I bought myself a chain saw for my 51st birthday,” she chuckles. Her goal is to promote healthy outdoor activities that families can enjoy together.

Family is an important part of Roxy’s life. Son Tyler and his wife Kelly live in Florida, where Tyler is pursuing an advanced engineering degree at Florida Atlantic University. Sons Ben and Jeff now run the family farming operation. Ben and his wife Jessica are parents to two sons, who are nine months and four years old. “Monday is traditionally ‘booked’ at River House,” says Roxy. “It’s my favorite day of the week to be Nana to my grandsons Barret and Bryce.”

Much has changed at River House, and in Roxy’s life in the past few years. On July 31, 2010, Roxy and Gary Lutmer were married. “Building my dream mended my heart….somewhere between laying tile and stamping concrete I learned to love again.” Her eyes sparkle and a shy smile breaks across her face as she adds, “This is the house that love built.”