SOLD: Controversial Lake Country motel is off the market

The Okanagan’s hot real estate market may have been the silver bullet for concerns surrounding a controversial 5.5-acre motel property overlooking Highway 97 in Lake Country.

The boarded-up motel called the Airport Inn Lakeside appears to have sold. A deal was pending this time last month, and now sold signs adorn the building.

Raif Fleihan put the property up for sale in 2019 for $8.1 million even though it was assessed at only $2.2 million at the time. Last year it was assessed at $2.4 million. He dropped the price to $6.9 million last fall.

Royal LaPage realtor Jeane McBride said it was for sale at $6.9 million and includes other buildings along with the former motel.

 As for what's next, that remains to be seen. The developer has yet to be identified.


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Kathy Michaels

Kathy Michaels

Kathy Michaels has been an Okanagan-based journalist for more than a decade, working for community papers along the valley and beyond.
She’s won provincial and national awards in business, news and feature writing and says that her love for telling a good story rivals only her fondness for turning a good phrase.
If you have a story that deserves to be told in a thoughtful and compassionate manner, don’t hesitate to reach out.
To reach Kathy call 250-718-0428 or email kmichaels@infonews.ca.