FSHA’s 41-acre campus was originally the site of the Flintridge Hotel, which was designed and built by architect Myron Hunt in 1926 atop the San Rafael Hills, at the direction of Frank Putnam Flint, a United States senator from what was then called La Cañada.

It included a large main building with a dining room, lounge and patio, in addition to six smaller cottages meant to house whole families.

The grounds also included a pool, tennis courts, golf course, archery range and several large lawn areas.

After the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose took over the property in 1931, the hotel was converted into a school exclusively for boarding students in grades 1-12.

The old elementary school building on Palmerstone Drive, formerly servants' quarters for hotel employees, was later sold as a private residence.

With the completion of the Student Activities Center in 1998, the science laboratories in the high school building were transformed into regular classrooms.

At the same time, the Dominican Sisters of Mission San José were planning to build a convent and boarding school in Pasadena and heard about the Flintridge Hotel property.

Archbishop James Cantwell contacted Mother Dolorosa at the Sacred Heart Convent in Los Angeles.

Mother Dolorosa requested the support of the Motherhouse at Mission San José and permission to pursue what she felt was “a perfect site for a boarding school.” The asking price for the entire resort was $150,000, but the Prioress General’s answer was initially negative.

With the approval of Mother Seraphina and her Council, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Corporation was established on July 24, 1931.

Legend has it that the women’s car broke down on the drive up to the property, so they walked the rest of the way in their heavy wool habits carrying only a $5 bill and a statue of Mary.