SYRACUSE — The receivership status of the Oakwood Inn property in Syracuse expired in April. On Friday, the Kosciuscko County Superior Court I granted that Ian Rolland will continue as the receiver.
The development planned by Buckingham Properties, Indianapolis, and supported by the town of Syracuse was brought to an end when Buckingham withdrew in April. Its plans to turn it into a center for entertainment included a new road and installation of piers for up to 100 boats. The plan was initially approved, but delayed over questions of preservation of lake water quality. Now, for the optimistic Rolland, it’s back to the drawing board.
Local and area residents are in agreement in wanting to see the property put to use. There are different ideas of what that use should become. Those ideas seem to divide into two categories: Develop for maximum financial advancement, and develop for ongoing use that preserves the heritage of the site.
“It’s a world economy, whether we like it or not,” said one longtime area resident. “The lake bottom should be dredged to allow for the big boats of the very wealthy from around the world. That’s what they would want, and it would bring a lot of people with money into the area.”
Others, including those who spent time there at church camp or visiting family members who’ve owned property near the Inn for generations, have a different vision. They have a desire to see the property used, but not at the expense of the environment. More specifically, there is hope that a way can be found to preserve the atmosphere of the site.
“When you are here, you feel cared for,” Dr. Deb Penrod said. She first visited the area when she was 19. Dane, her husband of 35 years, took her there to meet his family, and to propose to her. As the son of a traveling minister, Oakwood was most like “home” to him. Their children, and now their grandchildren have spent summers there all their lives.
“It’s a family of families,” Dane said, speaking of his neighbors, some of whom occupy houses first built by great-grandparents.
After nearly five years of non-use, the property is showing signs of some deterioration. Local people are pitching in to do what they can — mowing the grass, planting flowers, picking up debris.
In the end, the consensus remains: Everyone is eager to see the property made available to the public who could again come and enjoy the beauty of the lake, the shade of the old trees, and the peace of the place, maintained since it was first established.
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A sign at the entrance to Oakwood Park and Oakwood Inn. PATRICIA DAVIS | THE GOSHEN NEWS
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