ELLISON BAY — With the news last week that there is an accepted offer for Rowleys Bay Resort after it was devastated by fire in September, residents and visitors alike have taken to social media with their opinions about what should happen to the property.

Wade Micoley, the founder and CEO of Micoley.com – RealtyHive, told the Press Gazette that the property “currently has an accepted contract” but the longtime owners “will entertain backup offers” in case the deal falls through.

No closing date for the accepted contract was provided for the property that was listed at $2.15 million.

A social media post from November garnerd more than 80 comments about the future of the property.

Most people hoped the property would be redeveloped into something similar to the resort as it was before the fire.

Many were concerned it would be bought by developers interested in building condos or large lakefront homes.

“There are enough condos and million dollar houses in DC. How about turning the land into a park?” read one comment.

In nearby Bailey’s Harbor, residents did just that, spending the past couple of years working to preserve a beloved waterfront property for community use.

The village purchased the former Nelson’s Hardware store next to the Bailey’s Harbor Marina for just under $2 million, and a fundraising group has raised just over $1 million to turn the area into a community park and open space.

But what will happen to Rowley’s Bay Resort remains unknown.

Shortly after the fire Sept. 5, 2023 owners Jewel and Bob Ouradnik vowed to rebuild and reopen sometime in 2024.

But after much reflection, they’ve decided what’s best for them was to retire and sell the property.

“At nearly 62 and 70 years of age, we now see the opportunity to retire and enjoy each other and our family,” they said.