Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Bushilla.
Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Sure heres the raw story as I typed it out on word.
My name is Michael Bushilla, and along with my wife Paula, we’ve owned Hope Glen Farm since June of 2001. Our story began in the spring of that year, before 9/11 changed the world. While driving through the area, we noticed a farm nestled in a glen off Highway 61, right across from 3M on Innovation Road. Paula mentioned that she knew the granddaughter of the owner. We decided to call Mollie and arrange a visit.
When we arrived, Mrs. Healy, the owner, who was in her 90s, warmly welcomed us and gave us a tour of the farm. The farm had been in the Healy family since the early 1900s, passed down through generations. Mrs. Healy’s mother-in-law, who had named the farm “Hope Glen Farm,” after her maiden name which was Hope and the house sits in a glen, she and her husband had lived there for many years. As we toured the house, I asked Mrs. Healy if she had ever thought about selling the farm, and to my surprise, she said yes. I immediately said, “I’ll take it!” We had recently sold our home in Northeast Minneapolis for a good price and had enough to put down on the property.
At the time, we owned a successful printing company, which helped us afford the farm. But when we arrived, the farm was in rough shape and needed a lot of work. The first thing I tackled was the barn, which had been condemned by the City of Cottage Grove. I began repairing the foundation and roof to “save the barn.” Once we restored it, we were able to use it for small events, like barn dances and family gatherings. We also started fixing up the other buildings, fences, and structures.
My mother-in-law, who had sold her house, needed a place to live, so we renovated an old chicken coop into a two-bedroom home for her. We also saw potential in our own house, which we decided to convert into a duplex for short-term corporate rentals. We added an outside staircase, a second kitchen, and a living room, and turned it into a two-bedroom rental.
Things were going well until the 2008 housing crash, which affected our printing business. We were forced to put the farm on the market to avoid foreclosure. In 2012, we decided to go to truck driving school on a credit card to make ends meet, as both our business and the farm were struggling. But after some health issues forced us off the road, we were unsure what to do next.
Then, we received a call from a bride who had lost her barn venue and asked if she could have her wedding at Hope Glen Farm. Although we weren’t set up for events, we agreed to meet with her. She was persistent and even got permission from the city to hold her wedding here. We saw this as a possible answer to our prayers, so we went to the city to see if we could officially become a wedding venue. The city informed us that the only way they’d consider it was because our property was historical, which qualified us for an exemption to help maintain the farm.
Despite our financial struggles, we couldn’t afford the renovations needed to turn the farm into a wedding venue. Once again, we prayed, and the very next day, a wealthy business owner from Rochester called. He offered to help us get out of financial trouble and gave us the funds to begin transforming the farm, with no repayment required. He told me, “Michael, I’ve been praying for your situation, and God told me to be your bridge to get this wedding venue up and running.”
In 2013, we hosted our first wedding season. The story of our journey spread through the news and social media, and our phones started ringing off the hook. That first year, we booked over 70 weddings. We give all the glory, honor, and praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for guiding us through every challenge and blessing us with this incredible opportunity.
Here is below an interview that was video’d
Interviewer: Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael and Paula Bushilla.
Hi Michael & Paula, can you start by introducing yourselves and telling us about your journey?
Hello, my name is Michael Bushilla, along with Paula Bushilla, my wife, who now own Hope Glen Farm since June of 2001. Here’s our story:
Back in 2001, in the springtime before 9/11 changed the world, Paula and I were driving in this area and noticed this farm in the glen right off of Highway 61, across from 3M on Innovation Rd. Paula told me she actually knows the granddaughter who owns the farm. So right there, we called Mollie and set up a time to come visit the farm.
We were welcomed with open arms, and Mrs. Healy, the owner of the farm, gave us a tour of the home. She was in her 90s at this point. The farm had been passed down through generations since the early 1900s. Mrs. Healy lived here for 70 years and raised her children on the Healy farm.
The farm got its name because her mother-in-law’s maiden name was Hope, and the house sits in a glen—so they called it Hope Glen Farm.
While we were touring the house, I asked Mrs. Healy if she ever wanted to sell the farm. To our surprise, she said yes. I simply said, “I’ll take it.” We had just sold our home in NE Minneapolis and had enough to put down on the property.
Interviewer: Can you tell us about building Hope Glen Farm into what it is today?
At the time, we owned a printing company called MGB Printing Services Inc., and we were doing very well. But when we got here, the farm was in very rough shape.
The first thing I tackled was the barn—it had been condemned by the City of Cottage Grove. It needed a new foundation and roof, and my goal was simple: *save the barn*.
Once it was un-condemned, we started using it for small events like barn dances and family gatherings. There were six buildings total, and everything—including the fences—was in disrepair. Little by little, we worked through each project.
We also renovated an old chicken coop into a two-bedroom home for my mother-in-law. Then we turned the main house into an upstairs-downstairs duplex for short-term corporate rentals.
Interviewer: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way?
Everything was going well until the 2008 housing crash. Our printing business began to suffer, and we were eventually forced to put the farm on the market as we were going into foreclosure.
In 2012, Paula and I went to truck driving school—put on a credit card—so we could work as team drivers and bring in income. Both the printing company and the farm were going down.
Then, due to health issues, we were forced off the road. We came home not knowing what to do.
So we called out to God and asked, *what are we supposed to do?*
Interviewer: Was there a turning point that changed everything?
Yes—and it came in a way we never expected.
We got a call from a bride who had lost her barn venue and asked if she could have her wedding here. We told her no—we weren’t set up for weddings.
But she insisted. She even worked with the City to get permission and ended up having her wedding here in August of 2012.
We saw that as a possible answer to prayer.
So we went to the City to ask if we could become a wedding venue. They told us the only reason they would even consider it was because the property is historical, and there was an exemption to help preserve it.
After going through many hoops with City Council, the Historical Society, and the Planning Committee, we were granted a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
Interviewer: That’s incredible. How did you move forward financially?
We still couldn’t afford to build the venue.
So again, we went to prayer and asked our prayer network to join us.
The very next day, I got a call from a business owner from Rochester. He offered to help us save the farm and gave us money to start building the wedding venue—with no repayment plan.
He told me:
“Michael, I’ve been praying for your situation, and God told me to be your bridge.”
Interviewer: What happened next?
2013 became our first wedding season.
When our story hit the papers and social media, the phones started ringing. That first year, we booked over 70 weddings.
Interviewer: Final thoughts?
We have to give all the glory, honor, and praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Interviewer: Closing Thought
What started as a simple drive past a farm became a journey of faith, perseverance, and restoration—one that continues to impact countless couples and families today.
To date since we started we have had over approximately 950 weddings.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Lost our business MGB Printing Services Inc. and almost the farm to forclosure because of the 2008 down turn of the economy We had real scare during COVID as well but by God amazing Grace we were able to hang on. 2020 we had to move over 50 weddings into the future or cancel some. all of 2020 we could not have any weddings and had to move them to 2021
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are now owners of Hope Glen Farm and Treehouse Farm lodging. Heres the story of the Treehouse and how it all began. We have 2 STR (Short term Rentals) The famous 1200 square foot Treehouse and Luxury barn that is rented on our website www.TreeHouseFarmLodging.com and we also have the wedding venue that hosts anywhere from 65-90 weddings each year. Here a great story on how we managed to have a treehouse on the farm.
The Story of the Treehouse
The story begins in 1971 in South Minneapolis, when Paula’s father surprised her with a treehouse he built for her in their backyard. Paula was seven years old and that treehouse became the setting for some of her most treasured childhood memories.
Years later, after Michael and Paula were married, Michael built a treehouse for their four-year-old son in their
Northeast Minneapolis backyard in 1996. It became just as meaningful, creating memories their son still cherishes today.
In 2001, Michael and Paula purchased Hope Glen Farm and moved to Cottage Grove,
God’s Amazing Grace and Provision:
In 2012, the family was losing the farm to foreclosure when their successful printing company went out of business.
Weddings saved the day when Hope Glen Farm received approval to become a wedding venue.
With God’s favor and blessings the new business blossomed and grew and the family was so very grateful.
In 2015 Michael surprised their three grandchildren by building them a treehouse in the backyard, at the farm.
The joy of that moment remains, and the treehouse still stands today.
Then a new dream was born—to build the most amazing Treehouse Honeymoon Suite in the beautiful oak tree behind the barn. That dream became reality when the treehouse opened in July of 2016.
This is the fourth treehouse in their family and it reflects decades of dreaming, with every detail thoughtfully imagined and it is above and beyond their wildest dreams with: four outdoor decks, two fireplaces, a two-person Jacuzzi, a rain shower, a heart-shaped petrified wood sink, a tower, a telescope for stargazing, and even a secret room. Since opening, it has been an honor to host guests from across the United States and around the world.
What began as a father’s love for his child has now carried on through four generations.
In 2014, Paula’s father—the man who built the very first treehouse—experienced declining health and moved to Hope Glen Farm to live with Michael and Paula. From his bedroom window, he was able to watch the Treehouse Honeymoon Suite being built.
Each day, Paula would remind him, “Dad, you are the inspiration for the treehouse. It’s because you built me that special treehouse when she was a little girl that meant so much to me. Thank you Dad—I love you.”
He lived peacefully on the farm for 8 years until he passed to his heavenly home to be with Jesus in 2022.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Michaels was fishing with his dad on the Missouri river in Helena Montana
Paulas was the building of a treehouse for in the backyard by her dad back in 1971
Contact Info:
- Website: www.HopeGlenFarm.com and www.TreeHouseFarmLodging.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeglentreehouse/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HopeGlenFarm
