In the shadow of Intel's massive Ohio project, a nearly 100 acre equestrian center and wedding and events venue at 12298 Croton Road in Licking County is headed to an online auction with a combined starting value of $5.45 million. The property’s indoor arenas, multiple barns and fenced pastures sit inside the fast changing Intel corridor east of Columbus, turning the sale into a closely watched test for buyers hungry for land near the chip plant buildout.
The sale is structured as a multi parcel online auction that lets bidders pursue the improved equestrian tract of about 43.9 acres, where bidding starts at $4.6 million, the roughly 53.7 acres of vacant land starting at $850,000, or the full package. The auction opened May 1 and is set to close June 17 with a 10% buyer’s premium, according to Ohio Real Estate Auctions. Columbus Business First put the combined value at $5.45 million and reported that bidders must post a non refundable deposit just to register. Auction materials say the property will sell "as is" with no financing contingencies and a required closing within 30 days.
Broker and MLS materials paint a picture of a sizable operation. The primary barn and event center total roughly 43,000 square feet, including an arena of about 17,300 square feet, while a secondary barn adds another 21,200 square feet with dozens of stalls, wash areas and event prep spaces, according to the HESS Realty Group listing. Marketing photos and descriptions show stadium seating, round pens and paved parking designed to host weddings, competitions, and large scale gatherings. Earlier brokerage listings have put the total site size in the roughly 97 to 101 acre range, depending on how the parcels are configured.
Why The Location Matters
The Irongate property sits about eight miles from Intel’s Ohio One campus in Licking County, placing it inside the broader "Intel corridor" that has drawn intense interest from developers and investors. Intel announced its multi billion dollar Ohio investment in January 2022 and has since broken ground on the Licking County campus, according to Intel. Auction marketing materials also highlight the roughly eight mile distance from the project, a detail that could pique the interest of buyers looking for land or supplier sites tied to the chip plant buildout.
What Buyers Need To Know
MLS records list annual property taxes in the mid $20,000s and indicate the site is served by a private well and septic system, details that prospective buyers will want to confirm with the county auditor and the listing broker. The HESS Realty Group materials also note that some events are already booked through 2026 and that a sale or lease may require a new owner or tenant to honor those reservations, which could shape early cash flow and limit how quickly a buyer can reset the calendar.
Legal Background
Court records tied to earlier litigation outline ownership and trade name questions at the site. The filings indicate that Otter Fork Equestrian Complex LLC holds the Irongate trade name while an operating business, Irongate Events & Catering, ran from the Croton address, according to a Supreme Court of Ohio filing. Those records highlight possible title or liability issues that prospective buyers would be wise to examine with legal counsel and title professionals before placing any bids.
The online auction runs through June 17, and interested parties can review marketing packages and register with the auction house for bidding and inspection details. Open houses and private tours were scheduled as part of the marketing push leading up to the closing date, giving would be buyers a chance to walk the grounds before the virtual gavel falls.
