Larry Omps and his sons Matt and Andy grabbed the historic Country Inn in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia for $800,000.
At a standing room only auction at the Country Inn, the Omps family, which owns the Best Western, Ace Hardware and other local business, put in the winning bid against three other anonymous bidders.
Travel Berkeley Springs vice president Jeanne Mozier attended the auction. Mozier said that one of the Omps sons — Matt Omps — sits with her on the board of TBS.
“He’s such a good person I want to adopt him,” Mozier said. “He’s the Best Western representative on the board. It’s been a pleasure dealing with him.”
“I like both Matt and Andy very much,” Mozier said. “They are both young and committed to Berkeley Springs and Morgan County.”
In addition to the $800,000 purchase price, the Omps’ will reportedly have to pay an additional $100,000 or so in local property taxes.
The Country Inn was built in 1932. It’s owners declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
CNB Bank was named as the lead creditor in the case.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court granted CNB Bank the power to oversee for the auction.