SNOW HILL, Md. -- The Black Eyed Susan will now be heading to Slaughter Creek Marina in Dorchester County. The boat was slated to stay in Snow Hill, but a withdrawn bid led to the sudden change.
On Tuesday, October 10th, Snow Hill's town council awarded a $70,000 bid to Henry Wright, the owner of the River House Inn Bed and Breakfast, located in town. The plan was to move the boat up the Pocomoke River and dock it at the bed and breakfast as an event venue.
Before that could happen though, Wright needed to get approval from several state agencies: The Department of Natural Resources and Department of the Environment, as well as the Coast Guard.
Wright also would've needed permission from the Worcester County Health Department, Liquor License Commission and Fire Marshal.
Rick Pollitt, Snow Hill's Town Manager, said the lengthy approval process would not stop there.
"As the local zoning exists today, what he had in mind wouldn't be allowed," said Pollitt. "So he was going to have to apply through our regular planning and zoning office to get the property or at least the zoning ordinance altered."
With all that in mind, the $70,000 bid was withdrawn.
"Apparently they took most of the week and consulted with their attorney, looked into the different agencies that would be involved and came to the conclusion at the end of the week that it was just too risky," said Pollitt.
So, the town moved on to the second highest bid, $24,800 offered by the owner of Slaughter Creek Marina in Dorchester County. The owner, John Butz, tells WBOC they plan on sailing the boat all the way to the marina on the Pocomoke River. It will be turned into a stationary restaurant.
The goal is to get the boat out of Snow Hill before Thanksgiving, and Butz said they would like to open up the restaurant by March 1st of 2024.
Snow Hill officials and Butz still need to work out the finer details, like getting the contract of sale finalized. Pollitt said he's confident and hopeful this bid will go through.
"It's been a very long, emotional saga for a lot of people, but it is basically at the end now," said Pollitt.
