Former West Virginia Navy base sold to anonymous bidder

By

The Associated Press

SUGAR GROVE, West Virginia (September 1, 2015) Cmdr. Bill Kramer, the commanding officer of Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Sugar Grove, addresses his crew and guests during the command’s disestablishment ceremony Sept. 1, 2015, held in Sugar Grove, West Virginia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class David R. Finley Jr./Released) 150901-N-VE701-085

SUGAR GROVE, W.Va. — A 123-acre former Navy installation in Pendleton County has sold at auction.

The Charleston Gazette reports the online auction for the former Navy Information Operations Command installation ended Monday night, after a bid of $11.2 million went unchallenged for a 24-hour period.

The successful bidder was anonymous.

The General Services Administration expects to close on the sale of the property within the next 60 days, according to a GSA spokeswoman.

Last year, the government agency offered to transfer the property to the West Virginia Division of Corrections for free for use as a women’s prison, but Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin opted not to accept the gift, citing its remote location and operating costs.

Before the site was closed last year, it was being used for intelligence gathering.