The City of Williamsburg’s first micro-distillery that will produce handcrafted whisky cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, as Copper Fox Distillery finalized its purchase of the defunct Lord Paget Motel on Capitol Landing Road.
Rick Wasmund, who owns the Sperryville-based distillery agreed to purchase the city-owned property for $600,000 in June 2014.
Wasmund said Wednesday’s finalizing of the purchase represented a major milestone for Copper Fox, but work still needed to be done.
“We’re beginning our first phases of cleanup,” Wasmund said. “Then we’ll get started turning the place into a distillery.”
The next step, Wasmund said, would be to acquire the necessary federal licenses for manufacturing alcoholic beverages.
Wasmund said the transformation of the nine-building complex from motel to distillery would be completed in phases. The first phase would transform three buildings into the still, where spirits will be crafted, and a home for Wasmund, who plans to live on the property.
Once the manufacturing capability is set up, Wasmund says the planned hospitality elements of the distillery, including a tasting area, would be constructed.
Wasmund said the first Copper Fox spirits could be available from the Williamsburg location as early as August.
Director of Economic Development Michele DeWitt said the city was happy to have the sale finalized.
“We’re very optimistic about it,” she said. “We were thrilled to find that use for the property.”
The city bought the property at 901 Capitol Landing Road in November 2011 for $697,400. Its most recent assessed value was $877,100. In June, Wasmund agreed to purchase the property, contingent on the approval of the special use permit, which was granted in September.
The Lord Paget Motel was the first commercial property the city purchased on Capitol Landing Road with the hopes of flipping it for redevelopment. DeWitt said the success of Copper Fox had contributed to changing the city’s attitude on its role in economic redevelopment.
City estimates suggest the distillery will generate $216,000 in tax revenue for the first six years of operation, and then $86,000 in successive years.
The City Council approved the purchase of an additional two Capitol Landing Road motels in February. Unlike the Lord Paget property, which was an adaptive reuse of the existing structures, DeWitt said the White Lion Motel and Country Hearth Inn & Suites would be demolished to clear the property for resale.
Copper Fox is the latest alcohol-related business to come to the greater Williamsburg area in recent months. Hair of the DoG Bottle Shop opened in Merchants Square in March, and Virginia Beer Company has announced plans to open a brewery on Second Street in York County.
DeWitt said beer, wine and spirits businesses were attractive to the city for both their tourism potential and attraction for residents. She added the city was in contact with a meadery, specializing in the production of the honey-based alcoholic beverage.
The city’s economic development authority’s bylaws also allow the board to use discretionary funds to incentivize targeted industries – including craft alcoholic beverages firms – to locate in the city limits.
Related Coverage:
- Copper Fox Distillery Gets Final OK From City Council
- City Planning Commission Supports Distillery Permit, Timeshare Site Plan
- City Planning Commission to Review Copper Fox Distillery Proposal
- Growing Craft Beer, Liquor Industry in Historic Triangle Brings Jobs, Tourists
- Williamsurg Distillery Working to Open in James City County
- City Agrees to Sell Former Lord Paget Motel to Distillery
- Copper Fox Distillery Eyes City-Owned Lord Paget Motel Property
- New Timeshare Buildings May Replace Patrick Henry Inn
- City Successfully Bids on Lord Paget Motor Court
