Developers plan to transform historic UMKC building into boutique hotel, spa

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click here to view the original article.

A local group comprised of Sunflower Development Group and hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik has secured permission to proceed with a historic redevelopment project involving one of Kansas City’s most beloved assets: the Epperson House at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The group’s vision would maintain the rich historic heritage of Epperson House while transforming it for modern day use into a 14-room boutique hotel with a café, small library bar, full-service restaurant, intimate event space and a hydrothermal spa offering body and facial treatments, ancient European baths, hot and cold therapies, visiting practitioner workshops and retreats and other wellness programming.

“This is an exciting step forward for the future of this beloved local historic treasure,” said UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, who has been working toward saving the distinctive Tudor-Gothic mansion on campus since he arrived in 2018. “One of the most frequent questions I get about UMKC is about next steps for the Epperson House, and now I finally can share a promising answer.”

Built in 1920 on what’s now the southern edge of the UMKC Volker Campus, Epperson House was the home of Kansas City insurance tycoon Uriah Epperson and his wife, Mary. The 24,000-square-foot, 54-room mansion at 52^nd and Cherry streets is a curious blend of a castle and stately home.

1922 photograph of Epperson House; photo courtesy of UMKC

Eventually bequeathed to the university, Epperson House was used for a variety of purposes over the years but has been empty for more than a decade. Its destiny seemed uncertain with a long list of projects needed to bring it up to building code and ADA requirements. Throughout the years, Historic Kansas City Foundation has listed it on its most endangered buildings list.

In 2023, UMKC issued a request for proposals, commonly called an RFP, seeking a public-private partnership for the rehabilitation of the famed Epperson House. The university recently selected a team led by Mark Moberly (M.S. ’06) and Jason Swords of Sunflower Development Group in partnership with hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik. The design architect for the project will be Kansas City-based Generator Studio.

In addition, the group is engaging Heritage Consulting Group to ensure the historic fabric of Epperson House is preserved throughout the rehabilitation process. Among the house’s unusual features are ornate woodwork, an indoor swimming pool, billiard room, barbershop, a custom organ and a tunnel linking the east and west wings.

Organ loft in Epperson House, a second-story space that opens into the ballroom; photo courtesy of UMKC

“There is nothing comparable to this type of spa or development in the Kansas City area, and the story of Epperson House cannot be replicated,” said Gulvik, who regularly walks in the neighborhood past Epperson House and is enchanted by its uniqueness. “A restored Epperson House will serve the neighborhood, UMKC faculty, staff and students, travelers to Kansas City and the community at large — especially given its proximity to the KC Streetcar stop at UMKC, slated to open later this year.”

The team will soon begin development efforts, which include seeking operating and financial partners as well as pursuing state and federal historic tax credits, to turn the project into a reality within the next few years.

While restoring historic buildings can be complex, the development group and its partners say they have the experience needed to overcome hurdles.

Sunflower Development Group is a real-estate development company based in Kansas City that has been involved in more than $500 million of new and historic commercial developments over the past 15 years. The group’s local historic rehabilitation projects include Ambassador Hotel, The Grand KC Apartments, Longview Mansion, Cosby Hotel building and Pershing Lofts.

Epperson House ballroom; photo courtesy of UMKC

Gulvik’s hospitality marketing experience includes revitalizing and growing Houlihan’s Restaurants, Bristol Seafood Grill and J. Gilbert’s restaurant brands nationwide, and advisory for Fairwave Coffee Collective, which owns 30 cafes.

Generator Studio’s architecture and interior design business has a focus on hospitality. Generator led design for Grand Place, a major historic preservation project transforming the former Kansas City Star building and is currently designing the Margaritaville Hotel in Kansas City, Kansas in addition to hospitality spaces for professional sports venues. Generator partner and director of interior design, Christina Franklin, has designed more than 20 boutique hotels for West Coast-based Pacifica Hotels.

“We look forward to engaging with the university, neighborhood and Kansas City preservation community in our development and historic rehabilitation plans,” said Moberly of Sunflower Development Group. “It’s an important architectural landmark in the area and bridges the university to the neighborhood. What an exciting opportunity to work on a project in partnership with my alma mater that will create a destination for which everyone in our community can be proud.”

Sewing room in Epperson House; photo courtesy of UMKC

The news is exciting to Epperson historian Chris Wolff (M.A. ’12) of UMKC who leads popular tours outside the home during Halloween season (the public is not permitted inside as it awaits rehabilitation). Wolff tells visitors about the house’s storied past and the lore of ghosts and other haunting phenomena.

“To say people are captivated by Epperson House is an understatement,” Wolff said. “I’m ecstatic that it has interested people who have a vision to restore and repurpose it so all of Kansas City can enjoy it into the future.”