Explore this historic Morris County estate at Mansion in May 2025

Decor enthusiasts and historic home fanatics are always looking for their next venue to ooh and aah over. In May, that venue is a 250-year-old estate that has been reimagined by some of New Jersey’s finest design professionals.

And the best part? Its doors are opening for a good cause.

The 55-acre historic Wildfair estate in Chester will be open to the public daily throughout the month of May as part of Mansion in May, a designer showhouse that sets up shop in a different Morris County mansion every two to three years.

Presented by the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center, this event has been the organization’s hallmark fundraiser since 1974. The group has raised nearly $14 million to support the hospital over the years, with proceeds from this year’s event being used to help fund the new Proton Therapy Center.

As part of the event, this sprawling Colonial-style property, once a working farm and the site of a gristmill, sawmill and millstone workshop before it was transformed into a picturesque country estate, has been revamped by a curated team of local interior designers and landscapers. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the spaces and learn about the inspiration behind each one.

Mansion in May co-chairs Mary Courtemanche and Barbara Ruane said interested design professionals had to compete for a select number of spots, which include 38 interior spaces and 10 landscape spaces. The association then selected a lucky few to participate in the event, who spent the last few months repainting, refurnishing and finalizing their showcase rooms.

“It’s amazing because you start with an empty house and empty landscape spaces, and then you gradually begin to see them come to life,” Ruane said. “I think our designers have been really thinking outside the box, too. The rooms are dramatic. They’re not your commonplace rooms.”

Courtemanche said that they have a fair number of new designers this year, in addition to returning designers from past events. She said her favorite part is being able to see the unique ways each person chooses to decorate their space, as well as how trends have changed throughout the years.

To attend the event and tour the property, there are two ticket options: general admission and private guided tours.

“There’s lots of different ways that people can experience the mansion. There’s general admission tickets, but also private tours and special events,” Ruane said.

General admission tickets — which are $50 until April 30, or $55 in May — come with a collector’s edition of the Mansion in May Journal and allow visitors to take a self-guided tour of Wildfair any day in May. They can also shop at the event’s curated selection of boutiques or enjoy lunch at the Barn Bistro.

For private guided tours, tickets range from $125 for individual tickets to $1,250 for a private group of 10. There will also be several special events held throughout the month at the mansion, including Afternoon Tea and Motown at the Mansion.

“People can also volunteer and help us, because we are an all-volunteer organization, so we need volunteers to help us get this done,” Courtemanche said.

To purchase tickets, sign up as a volunteer or see a list of participating designers, visit mansioninmay.org.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].

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