Was Clay’S Park Sold?

Clay’s Park is a beloved family theme park and campground located in Lawrence Township, Ohio. The park was established in 1947 by Otis Clay and has been owned and operated by the Clay family ever since. With over 200 campsites and a wide variety of rides and attractions, Clay’s Park has been a popular summertime destination for generations of visitors.

Some of the most iconic features of Clay’s Park include the historic Carousel Pavilion which houses a restored 1913 carousel, the C.P. Huntington miniature train that gives rides around the park, and Main Street USA which features various shows and shops. For decades, Clay’s Park has provided lasting memories for visitors and served as an important part of the local community.

Sale Rumors

In 2020, rumors began circulating that the longtime family-owned Clay’s Park Resort was being sold after over 70 years of ownership. According to the Canton Repository, there was interest from real estate developers who wanted to purchase the 225 acres of land that Clay’s Park sits on in Lawrence Township.

Specifically, there were reports that housing developers were interested in buying the property and turning it into residential communities. This caused concern among locals who wanted the beloved amusement park and campground to remain intact. There was also interest from Northgate Resorts, a campground company based in Michigan looking to expand its portfolio.

The Clay family maintained that the property was not for sale despite outside interest. However, they stopped short of guaranteeing Clay’s Park would remain family-owned long-term, leaving the door open to potentially selling to Northgate or another suitor down the road.

Community Reaction

When rumors began spreading in 2019 that Clay’s Park Resort may be sold to real estate developers, it sparked an immediate and emotional reaction from the local community. Many people shared fond memories of visiting the park over decades and expressed sadness about potentially losing this historic local venue (Source).

Residents rallied together to explore options for saving the park. Some suggested fundraising campaigns to help the owners pay off debts and continue operating, while others advocated for the city or county to purchase the property. A group called “Save Clay’s Park” formed on social media and quickly attracted thousands of members. People shared stories, photos, and ideas for preserving Clay’s Park for future generations (Source).

The emotional connection many locals feel to Clay’s Park was evident through the outpouring of concern and support. Though its future remains uncertain, the community made their dedication clear – Clay’s Park holds a special place in their hearts.

Local Government Response

After rumors surfaced about the potential sale of Clay’s Park, local government officials moved quickly to address community concerns. In a public statement, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard confirmed that the city was in discussions with a developer regarding portions of the park, but emphasized that no final decisions had been made (https://cocdocs.carmel.in.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1637689&dbid=0&repo=CityofCarmel).

The Mayor acknowledged residents’ apprehension, but stressed the importance of thoughtful planning for the future of Clay’s Park. He announced plans to gather community input through public hearings before finalizing any proposals. The city also created an online portal for citizens to submit questions and feedback.

While affirming a commitment to preserving green space, Mayor Brainard argued that limited development could provide revenue for maintaining and improving park facilities. However, he made clear that family entertainment and affordable access would remain priorities under any plans going forward. For now, the city continues gathering public reaction as talks with the developer ensue.

Park Ownership

The land that Clay’s Park resides on has been owned by the Clay family since it opened in 1928. Robert Clay Sr. originally purchased the land and started the amusement park as a family business. Ownership was then passed down through generations of the Clay family.

Recently, the 305-acre property was sold by the Clay family to Northgate Resorts, a company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The sale was announced in December 2020. The land is still zoned as commercial recreation, which provides some protections against major development changes.

Despite the change in ownership, initial announcements indicated that Northgate Resorts planned to continue operating Clay’s Park as an amusement park and resort. The protections in place via the land zoning aim to preserve the park for community recreational use into the future.

Developer Plans

In November 2021, Northgate Resorts, a Tennessee-based campground operator, acquired Clay’s Park Resort. According to Woodallscm.com, Northgate plans to invest in improvements and expansions at Clay’s Park while maintaining its existing operations and branding. The acquisition did not change the park’s ownership or result in any sale of the land.

Prior to the Northgate acquisition, there were rumors in 2020 that a developer was interested in purchasing Clay’s Park. However, no formal offers were ever made public. The Clay family maintained their long-term ownership and operation of the park. The Northgate deal allowed the resort to access capital for upgrades while remaining locally owned.

Fundraising Efforts

Once the news of a potential sale spread throughout the local community, many residents began organizing fundraising campaigns to try and raise enough money to purchase the park themselves if it did go up for sale. Two notable community-led fundraising efforts were started shortly after the initial sale rumors began circulating.

The first was a GoFundMe campaign started by a group of local parents, with the goal of raising $5 million to put towards buying the park. As described on the GoFundMe page (https://www.gofundme.com/f/local-family-lost-everything-in-a-fire), “These funds will be handled by Clay’s Park Controller, Susan Menches. She will personally hand Juan a check for the total amount.”

Another effort was launched by a local resident named Andrew Demian, who started a GoFundMe called “Gratitude for Gus” (https://www.gofundme.com/f/gratitude-for-gus). As described, “As many of you know, golf cart theft has increased over the past few months at Clay’s Park. Charity fundraising. Resources. Help…”

While well-intentioned, these community fundraising campaigns ultimately fell well short of the estimated $15-20 million dollar price range that Clay’s Park could potentially be sold for. However, the efforts did showcase the strong emotional ties many local residents have to the beloved park.

Current Status

According to the Clay’s Park website (https://clayspark.com/), Clay’s Park remains publicly owned by Lawrence Township trustees as of today. The park has not been sold to a private developer.

In 2020, rumors circulated that the park may be sold after the township sent out a request for proposals from developers (https://clayspark.com/things-to-do). This led to concerns from the community about potential changes to the beloved park. However, as of now, no sale has gone through and Clay’s Park remains publicly owned and operated by Lawrence Township.

The township website states that Clay’s Park is still controlled by the township trustees, who continue to make improvements and invest in the park for the community. While proposals were considered in 2020, the trustees ultimately decided not to move forward with selling the park to a private owner.

Clay’s Park hosts a popular summertime Jellystone campground and year-round events. The current status is that it is business as usual at Clay’s Park, which has not changed ownership or management despite the earlier rumors.

Future Outlook

The future of Clay’s Park Resort remains uncertain, though the likelihood of an imminent sale seems low given several key factors. The park is still owned by the Clay family, who have not announced plans to sell. As a family-owned business for over 50 years, they have a strong connection to the property and community support to maintain ownership.

Additionally, the property may be protected from undesired development. According to the Yankee Peddler Festival website, Clay’s Park Resort is located on a family farm with over 300 acres of land. This agricultural zoning could make it difficult for a developer to build housing or commercial properties. The local community has also vocally opposed the sale and would likely fight any proposals that disrupted the park.

While the Michigan development company briefly showed interest, their plans never came to fruition. Without an active buyer or seller, the resort will likely continue operations as usual for the foreseeable future. However, the Clay family has not made any definitive public statements ruling out a sale. If they reconsidered in the future, it could still spur renewed debate over the fate of this beloved local institution.

Conclusions

After reviewing the timeline of events, it’s clear there has been much debate and uncertainty around the fate of Clay’s Park. While initial rumors sparked fear that the beloved green space would be sold off to developers, further investigation revealed a more complex situation.

The local government did explore potentially selling the land, which led to vocal protests from the community. However, after evaluating options, they decided not to move forward with any sale. The park remains under public ownership and is not currently slated for development.

While Clay’s Park was never actually sold, the situation opened up important conversations about preserving public parks and green spaces. It demonstrated the passion residents have for keeping the park publicly accessible. Going forward, the local government would be wise to involve the community more closely in future decisions about the park.

So in summary, while concerning rumors circulated, Clay’s Park itself was never sold and remains protected open space for the community to enjoy.