Raj Bhakta, the Indian-origin entrepreneur who owns the former Green Mountain College campus in Vermont, has announced he is giving away the $20 million property, at no cost, but only to a “Catholic mission-based organisation.”Bhakta purchased the rural campus at a 2020 auction for $4.5m, after the college shut down in 2019. Now, he is looking to hand it over to someone with “a vision aligned with the revival of the United States and Western Civilisation.”The businessman, founder of WhistlePig Whiskey and Bhakta Spirits, has launched a dedicated website inviting formal proposals. A Tuesday press release from New York City public relations firm Overton and Associates specified that he wants it to go to a “Catholic mission-based organisation.”“Green Mountain College was a nearly 200-year-old, (formerly) faith-based institution,” Bhakta said. “The idea is to return it to its original faith-based mission. That’s what it was built for… After having owned the place for several years, I think that’s what it’s best used for. Its highest and best use is its original use.”According to the proposal website, applicants must recognise that the institution’s mission must begin with “spiritual revival of our Christian faith,” and only once that alignment is established will candidates be evaluated further.Bhakta, who previously appeared on ‘The Apprentice’ hosted by Donald Trump, is not seeking a buyer. The website encouraged the recipients to note that it will cost $1 million a year to operate the campus and advised them to budget $1.5 million annually to “maintain existing infrastructure” and to “catch up on deferred maintenance.” Situated in Poultney, Vermont, on approximately 115 acres with multiple academic and residential buildings, the property has previously been valued at more than $20 million, according to earlier Maltz Auction assessments. According to the news release, the ideal uses for the property would be for Catholic education, retreats or mission centers. The businessman claimed to donate the entirety of the campus, with the expectation of a continued lease to the Green Mountain Community School, founded and operated by his wife, Danhee.“One of our very own GMCS parents, Brylea Davenport, has stepped forward to take on (my) leadership role. Because of her willingness to serve, GMCS will remain open next academic year and beyond,” said Danhee Bhakta in an email to GMCS families last week.Established in 1834, the college originally operated as a coeducational Methodist institution before closing amid financial struggles. Interested organisations are required to submit proposals by March 31, 2026. A shortlist will be announced on April 8, with interviews and negotiations scheduled between April 8 and 15.
