The center will continue to operate. Developers John Wolfington and J. Brian O'Neill, who bought a total of 675 acres of land for $23 million, will lease back the arts center and 42 acres around it to the center's board for a symbolic $1 for the next three decades. The rest of the land will be combined with a neighboring 2,200-acre property and turned into a large residential and commercial development.

The sale was first proposed last year, but was delayed while agreements were reached with the various private and governmental entities that were involved in the center's creation.

The center will announce its plans for the summer season in six to eight weeks, executive director Richard Bryant told the Record.