He designed Puhtu as a private resort with three Chinese-style houses and alleys surrounded by hewn sculptures.

In 1857 a cattle manor building (now known as the Count's House) and a stable were built on Puhtu; both are extant today.

In 1934 Jakob von Uexküll invited Count Alexander Keyserlingk, an amateur ornithologist, to be the guardian of Puhtu; he lived there until 1939.

After World War II, Puhtu was given to Tartu State University and shortly after that to Estonian Academy of Sciences.

Since 1995 Puhtu has belonged to Matsalu National Park, and since 1997 the station has operated as part of Estonian University of Life Sciences.