(LaPorte, IN) - The historic former La Porte County home empty several years has been sold.

According to county officials, the price was 50 thousand dollars from a bid at a recent auction.

The buyer will be identified once formal payment has been made on the property, officials said.

Future use of the building is not known, but the buyer has talked about some type of hospitality use at the site, officials said.

LaPorte County Councilman Jeff Santana says he wishes the sale price would have been higher but he’s glad to have the cost of maintaining the historic property off the county’s hands and looks forward to it being put back to good use.

The home was put up for sale then after receiving no takers went to auction.

Officials said the cost to taxpayers would have been anywhere from eight to ten million dollars had the county chosen to keep and renovate the structure built in the late 1880’s.

The historic red barn and 100 acres of farm land next to the home were not offered for sale and are still owned by the county.