Ark Valley News - Greyhound land sold to owner of park

Greyhound land sold to owner of park
By The News staff
Last Updated: July 19, 2018

Two prominent businessmen now have a piece of north Sedgwick County.

Phil Ruffin purchased 82 acres of commercial property near 77th North and Hydraulic, while Johnny Stevens won the bid for just under 35 acres of commercial land off of 77th closer to I-135.

The properties were owned by Sedgwick County.

Sedgwick County Commission Chairman David Dennis said he was “thrilled with the sale of these two properties."

“I look forward to seeing this area develop in the future under the ownership of Mr. Ruffin and Mr. Stevens," he said.

Development plans were not revealed.

The properties were sold at an auction conducted by Lange Realty July 17 at the Sedgwick County fire station in Park City.

The tracts of land make up Wichita Greyhound Park. Ruffin owns the facility and was renting the land from the county.

The greyhound park buildings and parking lot sit on the property his bid of $1.6 million won.

The property was sold with lease rights through 2039, although Ruffin owns the company that was paying the lease. Annual lease payment was $87,500. It was set to escalate to $91,000 and then $101,500 for the final five years of the lease.

The Wichita Greyhound Park closed in 2007 after an 18-year run.

The second tract is empty. It went for $150,000.

Closing date on both properties was set on or before Aug. 17. Sedgwick County has owned these two tracts for decades, the county said in a news release.