WILDWOOD, Mo. – The Christian Brothers of the Midwest, a Catholic religious order with deep ties to the St. Louis region, has listed its historic La Salle Retreat Center for sale after decades of hosting Catholic parish and school groups.
The venue opened in 1886 and originally served as a school for young men studying to become Christian Brothers, a lay Catholic religious order focused on spiritual education. Over the years, it has taken on various roles, including as a novitiate training center and more recently a retreat center.
The building transitioned into a retreat center in 1978 after the school closed due to declining enrollment and shifting educational needs within the order.
Located on 170 wooded acres in Wildwood, Missouri, the La Salle Retreat Center has long provided a quiet setting for spiritual reflection. But in recent years, the cost and time required for the Christian Brothers to maintain the expansive property have become unsustainable.
The decision to sell stems from a combination of financial constraints, a declining number of Christian Brothers, and the significant upkeep required to preserve the historic site.
According to an FAQ sheet on the sale provided to FOX 2, the Midwest District has already invested nearly $400,000 in renovations and safety upgrades since April 2023, with additional repairs expected to cost nearly $1 million.
The property includes 74 guests rooms, offices, meeting rooms, a chapel and gymnasium totaling 69,000 square feet. It also includes grottoes, cave-like shrines whose future will be determined by the next owner, and a cemetery, which the Christian Brothers will continue to maintain, ensuring it remains undisturbed regardless of the property’s sale.
Additionally, the retreat center will continue to operate through the 2026-27 academic year, allowing time for a smooth transition. The Christian Brothers say the extended timeline is intended to minimize disruptions for groups that still regularly use the facility.
Colliers International, an investment management property firm based in Clayton, Missouri, is leading efforts to sell the property. (CLICK HERE for the listing) As of now, a potential suitor has not yet been identified, and it could take up to two years to finalize a contract to complete the sale.
Dennis DeSantis, executive vice president of Colliers International’s St. Louis branch, told FOX 2 the property has been on the market for about a week. The group plans to send an offering memorandum to interested parties and has opted not to disclose a sale price on its listing due to per-acre considerations related to the property’s sale.
According to St. Louis County property records, the property, located at 2101 Rue De La Salle Drive, has an appraised value of around $12 million.