UPDATE Local group bid $560,000.
SWEET SPRINGS, W.Va. — The historic Sweet Springs Resort in Monroe County will soon be owned by someone new.
Joe R. Pyle Auctions will be auctioning off the 110,000 square foot property during an event Thursday morning in Sweet Springs. Bidding will take place at 11 a.m.
The facility originally opened in the late 1700s, but opened as a health resort in the 1830s. The state purchased it in 1941 and turned it into a hospital and then used it as a nursing home from 1941 to 1995.
“The building itself is in, for its age, remarkably good shape. Of course the interior would need some updating, but the structure itself is very, very sound,” said Jared Shinn, director of Marketing and Operations at Joe R. Pyle. “There is some historical evidence that links Thomas Jefferson to the design.”
In addition to several guest homes the property offers and Sweet Springs bath house, there is also a modern water bottling plant that is ready to produce water at any time. Shinn said there’s been a variety of interest for what the property can be used for next.
“(We have) people interested in continuing the water bottling operation. We have people from a historical point-of-view that want to restore the property to its former glory and the late 1800s when it was a resort. We’ve had people that have showed interest in a nursing care facility or even a rehab facility,” he said.
Shinn said they’re expecting a large crowd of up to 75 people at Thursday’s auction. In terms of interested parties, he said they’ve had conversations with over a dozen serious potential buyers.
When it comes to a price tag, Shinn said it all comes down to how much people think it’s worth.
“That’s the beauty of the auction. It’s going to sell for its fair market value,” he said. “What the bidders feel it’s worth, that’s going to be the price of it.”
The history behind the property is something Shinn said he believes will really attract bidders. Its 19th century architecture and unique location is hard to come by, he said.
“It’s just in such a beautiful part of the country, a little bit remote, but that plays into its charm,” Shinn said. “The fact that it’s a bit off the beaten path, away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. It would be a nice place to spend a weekend, relax and kind of get away from it all.”
Transportation on the grounds of the property will be provided during the event.
The winning bidder will have up to 45 days to close the transaction.