Camp Wakonda has buyer, future use unknown

The 30-plus-acre waterfront property on McCarroll's Lake was listed at $899,000, but to countless Wakonda campers, the memories made there may be priceless.

The Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore Foundation, which has owned and operated Camp Wakonda for more than 40 years, put the waterfront property up for sale in August of 2015.

Gordon Henderson, the listing agent for the property with the Sutton Group, said there were a few bites before the property finally sold ‘a few months ago’.

“It sold to a local buyer. I am not quite sure what their future use is going to be,” said Henderson by phone.

The sale has been negotiated and is set to close on Oct. 4.

Henderson, who is also a member of the foundation, said the club first considered selling the property about eight years ago.

“You’re dealing with a volunteer organization with a board of directors, so everything moves at a snail’s pace,” said Henderson.

He could not disclose the final selling price or the identity of the buyer, but Henderson said he expects the money from the sale will go to good use.

“You can take those revenues and perhaps do a lot more good for the city of Sault Ste. Marie going forward,” said Henderson.

The agent did say the buyer was local.

“I think it’s going to be part family camp and there is going to be a business component,” said Henderson.

Henderson said the property is currently zoned commercial-recreational.

In a previous SooToday interview, foundation president David Shier said the decision to sell was a difficult one.

Although the seven weeks of camp operate with a profit most years, Shier said the property doesn’t generate enough revenue the rest of the year to make it worth keeping.

“You know what? it’s time. With the money we get for Camp Wakonda we can do more for more children with that money than just having that facility there for summer camp,” he said in the March interview.

The Kiwanis Club of Lakeshore acquired the property in the early 1970s from the United Church, and has operated the camp ever since.