The Caddo Area Council Boy Scouts of America have accepted an offer for the purchase of Camp Pioneer.
On Sunday night, the council's executive board met in special session to review an offer for the purchase along with a second offer that was made immediately prior to the meeting. The governing board found the second offer deficient and provided an opportunity for its presenter to cure those deficiencies by 5 p.m. on Monday. After its presenter did not do so, the original offer was accepted, said Executive Director Anthony Escobar, in a letter released Monday night.
No information on who purchased the property was available.
On Dec. 12, 2017, the Caddo Area Council Board of Directors unanimously approved a recommendation to suspend resident camp operations at Camp Pioneer after a Camping Task force and a Financial Operations Task force thoroughly studied the council's two camping properties.
The council also engaged a Boy Scouts of America engineer specializing in camping properties who conducted an in-depth study of the council's two camp properties. The engineer's report concluded the council could not afford to operate two camps after a seven-year cumulative loss in camping operations at Camp Pioneer.
The engineer's recommendations included, "Permanently close Camp Pioneer and invest all future resources in Camp Preston Hunt, with a vision of creating an outdoor experience of excellence."
Following three years of continuous study and discussion, with consistent low usage at Camp Pioneer and high usage at Camp Preston Hunt, the council received an offer to purchase Camp Pioneer, Escobar said.
After review by legal counsel and vice president of properties, on June 18, the executive committee voted unanimously to send the offer to the full board for consideration.
Escobar thanked the scouting community for its support and input during the years of study.
"Thank you for the support and input we received from our Scouting community during these years of study," Escobar said in the letter "We appreciate the strong leadership provided by our executive board in making difficult decisions in the best interest for the long-term viability of the Caddo Area Council."
Escobar went on to say the Council remains committed to delivering fun and memorable Scouting experiences at Camp Preston Hunt.
Camp Pioneer is located near Hatfield, Arkansas, which is about 90 miles north and west of Texarkana.
Camp Preston Hunt is located a few miles east of Texarkana, Arkansas.