By SHEILA SELMAN
NEW PARIS — Ownership of Mount Wawasee is staying local.
Harlan Beer, who lives along Syracuse Lake, purchased all 55 acres, including the hill and lodge, for $555,000 during an on-site auction Saturday morning.
When asked what he was going to do with the land, Beer said, “We’re not sure at this point. Time will tell what we want.”
Beer is in the construction and gravel business. And as the auctioneer from The Steffen Group pointed out, the land is great for both.
Beer said the $555,000 was more than he thought the property would go for.
But a second bidder kept in the game long after other bidders dropped out.
“You never know,” Beer said.
Whatever Beer decides to do with the property, he said he has his three sons to help with the operations. His business operates out of Nappanee, with another location at U.S. 6 and Ind. 15.
The property’s sellers, Brian Christner of the Goshen/Wakarusa area, Chris Begley of Mishawaka and Brad Begley of Minnesota, are the descendants of Paul Christner, who leased the land to Mount Wawasee founder Loyal Wilson and his partners in 1962.
“The Beer family are wonderful conservationists, civic-minded and do a lot for the community,” Brian said. “They are good stewards of the land.”
Brian also added, “I wouldn’t assume (the land) was going to gravel.”
