Photographer / Christina Cochran
If you’ve driven along Hurricane Road recently, you may have noticed a remarkable transformation beside the Legends Golf Club. What was once a farmhouse built to last with a brick exterior and four large white pillars along 51 scenic acres is now the beautifully repurposed JK Manor House. This revival is thanks to the vision and dedication of Fred Paris, his wife, Michele, and their partner, Robert Curry.
Fred is often asked what he sees in old buildings around Franklin that others might miss. For him, it’s more than architecture — it’s personal history and an eye for revitalization.
A Franklin native, Fred feels pride in his community. “My first job was at my dad’s gas station on the corner of Walnut and Jefferson streets,” Fred recalls. “I’d walk downtown for lunch to Betty’s, West Side Café, and sometimes stop in Deer & Sons or other businesses. I fell in love with my town.” He first saw the building at 2625 Hurricane Road, known at the time as the John Kastings home, while riding the bus to school.
Fred’s journey into restoration began in earnest in the early 1980s after leaving farming. Over the years, he has restored many homes and buildings in Franklin, driven by a passion for preserving the town’s character while giving new life to its spaces. In what many would call a crazy endeavor, one of his most notable efforts came in 2001 when Franklin College needed to expand. Rather than see historic homes near campus demolished, Fred helped relocate more than 20 homes to a new development called Wilson Overlook, off old State Road 31. “I really developed a passion for saving and fixing up and repurposing property,” Fred explains.
During this time, he served as Franklin’s mayor from 2008 to 2012, guiding the city through the aftermath of the 2008 flood, which gave him another outlet for his passion. After his term, he returned to revitalizing underused properties, including a successful redevelopment of several downtown buildings on West Jefferson Street. Upon seeing the buildings at 176-188 and 198 West Jefferson Street struggling, Fred purchased what was known as the Schumacher Printing offices and rebuilt parts of it. He later sold the property to his sister and worked with Michele and Roger to purchase 176-188 West Jefferson Street. That journey helped Fred realize his passion and ability to repurpose commercial buildings. Those three buildings are now home to three successful businesses just across from Franklin’s beloved amphitheater.
That experience laid the foundation for perhaps his most ambitious project to date: JK Manor House at 2625 Hurricane Road. Originally the John Kasting farmhouse, the property was significantly expanded by the Indiana Golf Foundation in the early 2000s, eventually operating as a golf school until 2015. Fred had long admired the building and finally acquired it with Michele and Roger’s help after nearly a year of negotiating through pandemic-related uncertainties.
Now, after four years of tireless work, the building is complete and fully occupied.
Today, JK Manor House is home to a dynamic mix of businesses and residences. Nine beautifully renovated apartments were converted from the former dormitory wing and are now fully leased, providing housing in a peaceful, scenic setting. Emerald Collective East is located in Unit B, offering services in a stylish new space as they expand from their Jefferson Street location. For information and booking, visit emeraldcollectiveco.com.
Healing Soul Massage now occupies Unit A, offering wellness and beauty services in a serene space. To learn more and book a session with licensed massage therapist Jennifer Paris, visit healingsoulmassage.com. Unicorn and Lotus, offering yoga, massage therapy and metaphysics, brings a unique charm to the upstairs of Unit A, with a tranquil destination led by owner Taelar Christman.
The new Sevita Health Adult Day Service is housed in a 7,000-square-foot addition built above the former dining and kitchen area. Operated by the Mentor Group, the facility supports adults with developmental needs and offers much-needed services in a beautiful setting.
A fitness area was created from the former golf driving bays, and Fred and Michele transformed the former foundation offices into their private residence on the south end of the building. A new garage was added, and thanks to Roger’s vision, the grounds are now professionally landscaped — including a large putting green maintained by the Legends Golf Club. “They also currently have use of the remaining nine holes of what was the 18-hole par-three golf course,” Fred explains.
With JK Manor House now at full capacity, Fred and his team are turning their attention to the remaining 40 acres of land. Their plan includes a new residential development of 13 to 17 custom estate lots, each two to three acres in size, with city utilities and golf course frontage.
“Franklin does not currently have anything like it for some of the larger custom homes,” Fred says. This project is something Fred and his team believe the city is ready for — a chance to offer larger homesites while preserving charm and green space.
But the vision doesn’t stop there. Fred, Michele and Roger are also restoring the long-loved former Jeff Street Pub, originally built in 1868 as a Masonic lodge. Once they secure a first-floor tenant and work with the city on parking improvements, their goal is to open a high-end steakhouse on the third floor — another example of blending Franklin’s rich history with forward-thinking development.
Years ago, during his time as mayor, Fred helped run a contest to find a new city slogan. The winning line — “Franklin: A great place to live, work, and play for a lifetime” — still resonates today. “With good leadership, Franklin keeps moving forward,” Fred says. “I like to see dreams come true, and Franklin is where I want to keep doing my dreaming.”
