Innkeepers, Kevin & Terri Knox
Owner/Innkeeper of Nicolin Mansion since 2003, I have had a lifelong passion for hospitality, decorating, and cooking. After honeymooning on Mackinac Island, my husband Kevin and I fell in love with B&Bs and began seeking them out for anniversary and birthday celebrations. We found mentors in New Ulm, created a list of features in the perfect building, and then fell in love with Jordan and the Nicolin Mansion.
Built in 1888 for Frank Nicolin, a four-term Jordan mayor and entrepreneur, the Queen-Anne mansion features brick crafted from Nicolin’s own quarry. In June of that year, the Jordan Independent newspaper reported “the foundation for Frank Nicolin’s beautiful new mansion is about completed, and the carpenters are at work. Mr. Ulrici, the architect of the building, came from St. Paul to look over the building. If you don’t think Frank is going to have the finest residence ever erected in Scott County, then you’re no judge.” In 1917 the mansion was purchased by Anton and Ida Maerz, and operated as a hotel. Following Anton’s young death, Ida remarried Ben Mertz and they operated as the Mertz Hotel. Again widowed, Ida lived in the home the longest of any owner, operating a boarding house until 1980. It was then purchased again as a private residence by Gail Anderson, local historian and avid preservationist – the Jordan Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places during her tenure. In 1994, Kevin Breeggemann undertook massive renovations, restoring the mansion to it’s former glory and opening the Nicolin Inn. Unfortunately after selling, the building later was vacant for a few years. Troy and Laura Chamberlin purchased the home in 2001 as their private residence, until selling to us 2003 in order to open a winery. We spent four and a half years renovating and creating the Nicolin Mansion Bed & Breakfast. We hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor steeped in the history of those who came before us.
