Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links developer Tim Adkins buys Crouse farm land in Green
Local businessman Tim Adkins said Tuesday he has added to his Portage Lakes holdings with the purchase of a section of the Crouse family farm in Green.
Adkins, who owns The Basement restaurants and the Upper Deck in New Franklin, said he signed papers Monday to purchase 27.5 acres of the historical farm. The land includes about 1,800 feet of frontage on the lakes, he said.
The golf course can be seen across the lakes from the Mud Lake shoreline of the Crouse property.
Adkins is currently developing the Adkins Water 9 in New Franklin covering nine holes of the 27-hole Turkeyfoot Lake Golf Links course. He bought the golf course in January 2023 and has plans for about 80 homes on a section of it.
'One of the largest residential land sales in Green'
Adkins said he has no immediate plans for the Crouse land, but spoke with Green officials recently about it.
"I think it's a beautiful piece of property," he said.
With the golf course, Adkins was already the largest landowner of Portage Lakes lakefront property, said John Scaglione of Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realty.
The Crouse land only extends those holdings, he said. It was on the market for about six months.
"It's one of the largest residential land sales in Green that I know of in recent years," he said.
Crouse family didn't want 'cookie cutter' development
Adkins, who intends to sell lots on the Water 9 development when New Franklin approvals are complete, said he's hoping to be able to do so in about 60 to 90 days. He's gathering a list of potential buyers at his plxlifestyle.com web site.
"I like the way the golf course has (gone)," he said.
James Crouse, who lives on the 27-acre property that's been owned for generations by his family, said in October the family didn't want a "cookie cutter" project.
"Whatever is done, I would like it to be done properly," he said. "I would like to see as big of lots as possible."
Crouse said at the time it was a bittersweet decision for the family to sell, but "it was time to do something."
Crouse could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
'What did you do?'
Adkins said he paid just under $4 million for the Crouse site, and celebrated by cooking a steak dinner for his family yesterday.
"As soon as I got the deal, I walked into the living room, and my fiancee said, 'What did you do?'" he said.
His son wanted to see the property, so they went out and took a tour.
"We went for a walk in the woods," he said. "It was a great moment."
Adkins said negotiations on another 50 acres of adjacent land are ongoing.
Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Water 9 developer reaches deal for 27.5 acres of Crouse farm in Green
