Green Mountain College Campus Up for Grabs

Raj Bhakta, who owns the campus, is looking for a ministry to donate it to.

A Catholic mission-based organization has the historic opportunity to be given a former college campus from which to conduct its ministry.

Raj Peter Bhakta, an entrepreneur and founder of Bhatka Spirits, purchased the vacant Green Mountain College campus in the small town of Poultney, Vermont, at an auction in 2020 for $4.55 million, according to Vermont Public reporting.

Green Mountain College was originally founded by Methodists in 1834. It closed in 2019 because of rising costs and declining enrollment.

During his ownership over the last few years, Bhakta has kept the campus from falling into disrepair and has allowed locals to use its facilities for events. A small independent school with about 19 students also operates on part of the campus.

Bhakta planned to redevelop the campus, but business issues and tax disputes with the town convinced him to leave Vermont and take his spirits business elsewhere. Bhakta and the town could not reach an agreement on the property valuation or a deal to ease his tax burden.

Bhakta was left with the question of how to dispose of the 155-acre campus, which he described as a “gigantic philanthropic exercise” that he could no longer afford.

So in February, he created a Request for Proposals (RFP), asking for Catholic mission-based groups to submit a proposal to receive the donation of “select campus buildings and surrounding land.”

According to a press release describing the donation, the Green Mountain College campus is valued at $20 million and is “historically rich, aesthetically beautiful, and strategically located.”

The campus is near the Vermont/New York border and has nearly a mile of riverfront and brick buildings featuring Georgian architecture.

Raj Peter Bhakta / Photo via Bhatka Spirits

“This gift is about stewardship,” said Bhakta. “The Green Mountain College campus is a magnificent resource, and I am seeking a Catholic organization with the vision and capability to use it for good — to serve people, purpose, and faith.”

Bhakta would like to see the campus used for Catholic education, retreats and formation programs, or a mission center that hosts outreach, arts, and other cultural initiatives.

The RFP website states, “The right beneficiary has a vision aligned with the revival of the United States and Western Civilization. They would also recognize this must first begin with the spiritual revival of our Christian faith. It will be upon coherence with this mission that candidates will be judged.”

Rendering via Green Mountain College Campus RFP site

The buildings included in the gift include Withey Hall, an administrative building with a commercial kitchen and dining hall; The Griswold Library, described as a “multi-level, spacious, and light-filled academic resource center;” Sage and Lyman Halls, two recently renovated dormitories; and Waldron Gymnasium, an athletic center that includes an indoor swimming pool, basketball court, exercise gym, and locker rooms.

Applicants should take into account that the donated buildings and land will take between $1 million and $1.5 million to operate and maintain. Groups must demonstrate their financial ability to maintain the property.

All initial proposals must be received by March 31. They should include an executive summary, organizational information that includes mission and financial resources, a proposed use and development plan, and a financial plan that addresses long-term stewardship.

If he is unable to find a suitable recipient, Bhatka may sell the campus on the open market, Vermont Public reported.

“This is not just a gift of architecturally remarkable buildings — or even of an historic, singular, campus site originally founded for Christian purpose nearly two centuries ago,” Bhakta said. “It’s a gift of opportunity — the chance to revive a campus for mission, formation, and future generations of the Catholic Church.”

TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us at [email protected].