Kellogg property going to auction, but what will happen to the venue on it is unclear

Usually when someone auctions property, the goal is to sell it.

Ben Healy’s situation is a bit more complicated.

On Thursday, Prestige Auction is auctioning about 20 of his acres near the southeast corner of Kellogg and 183rd, including the land where his OutWest venue sits.

“I just have the reserve at a high enough price that I’m kind of doubtful it will sell,” Healy said. “I don’t really want to sell it.”

He said the auctioneers wanted to include it.

The venue opened for about four months last year.

“It took a little bit to catch on,” Healy said. “Weather was tough, but I would say all in all it was pretty good.”

Prior to opening the approximately 2,500-person outdoor venue, Healy told The Eagle that people from around the region were visiting the Genesis Sports Complex and other ball fields in the area and then leaving.

“We’re losing those customers to Wichita,” he said.

Now, Healy said the venue — which has a bar, concessions, food trucks, entertainment and outdoor-type games — is paying for itself, and he’d like to announce more plans as long as the venue doesn’t sell.

“That is the plan right now.”

Healy’s other property is three lots just east of the Goddard Walmart, and there is no reserve on it.

Even if all of the property up for auction sells, Healy still will have more than 40 acres near the corner.

He plans single family housing, townhomes, apartments and retail.

Healy said at the time he acquired most of the property, he’d hoped he could develop everything himself, but he said development is expensive.

Healy said he hopes whoever buys his property will consider continuing the same plans he had.

He’s also preparing to get his own development started with infrastructure and roads coming soon.

There’s a Casey’s General Store coming just south of the driveway to OutWest, and Healy said construction on it will get started as soon as he has infrastructure in.

In what he called the fast-growing Goddard, Healy said, “That corner is just prime for real estate development.”

This story was originally published February 26, 2024 at 4:04 AM.