Texas town up for sale on eBay

(some fuel for NDcouch)

By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press Writer Wed Oct 31, 10:22 PM ET

SAN ANTONIO - Bobby Cave, owner of a Texas town called Albert, decided this year to sell. Then a friend mentioned the online auction site eBay Inc. Now, with the click of a mouse — and at least $2.5 million — Albert could be yours.

After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to clean up and restore the 13-acre town about 50 miles north of San Antonio, Cave said he's ready to move on to his next venture.

"It's a concept. It's one of a kind," said Cave, 47, a real estate agent. "It's more like a piece of art than it is a real estate property. That's why eBay sounded so good to us. It's quirky."

Eric Meissner, Cave's friend and co-listing agent, said Albert qualifies as a town, or at least was once a town, because it used to have a post office. Albert dates to the late 1800s and is now unincorporated.

"There is a road sign with a name on it. It's indicative of an area," Meissner said. "Just because the post office goes away the town doesn't go away."

No one lives there permanently, but the tavern that Cave created from the frame of the old general store is open on weekends. There are also the "cleanest public restrooms in Texas," built by Cave, and a pavilion, 85-year-old dance hall, tractor shed and three-bedroom house. All of that, plus peach and pecan orchards, come with the land.

Cave said he will even throw in his plan to turn the place into a tourist destination, including plans for a restaurant and cabins.

The eBay auction closes Nov. 23. On Wednesday, about a week after bidding opened, offers topped $300,000. But that was still less than Cave's "reserve price" of $2.5 million, the least he will take for the property.

Hani Durzy, an eBay spokesman, said listing an entire town for auction is very uncommon.

"We always like it when these kinds of things appear on the site because it's fun," Durzy said. "We wish them luck."

Bridgeville, in northern California, was the first town ever put on the eBay auction block. The 83 acres were twice sold on the site, in 2002 (that deal fell through) and again last year.

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On the Net:

Albert, Texas: http://alberttexas.com

 

Huh? Well - I was going to go hiking in Fredericksburg on Saturday. I am going to have to drive by this place and check it out. It is only 50 miles from my house...

Cuz ya know I have $2.5 million for purchasing it. Right.........

 

Come on 007 thats pocket change.

 

In that case - you are my new best friend.

 

Homer, i dont even know where to begin.... i dont even begin to know how to make fun of a town being sold on ebay. I guess texas sucks so bad that even when you OWN a town you don't want to be there

 

I wouldn't want to OWN a town anywhere - especially in Texas. It takes a minimum of 2 hours to get from one major city to another. You can drive for 11 hours in a straight line at 75 MPH and never leave the state of Texas. Holy crap!

 

Hey, if the alliance were to forgo their beer budget, they should be able to take up a collection and get a foothold on taking over Texas.

C'mon guys, how bad to you want us? ..... (cricket chirp sound) .... Yeah, that's what I thought -- weak threats.

 

hey sawdust has a pretty good idea. we should chip in and buy that town and then try to annex it to SC. it would be like a SC embassy in Texas! if Viper still had all his money he could make this happen. Way to ruin my dreams Viper!

 

You buy it, and I will go spend my money on beer there.

Consider it my support.

 

Deal

 

Speaking of Driving in Texas, here is something I saw on driving in Dallas
I'll cut most of it out because it is rather lengthy.

Driving in Dallas:
All directions start with, "Get on Beltline"...which
has no beginning and no end (It REALLY DOESN"T!!!)
The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. Th! e evening
rush hour is from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts
Thursday morning.

If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is
probably a factory defect.
Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators, and
remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas.

All old ladies with blue hair in Mercedes have the
right of way. Period. And remember, it' s legal to be
armed in Texas.

The wrought iron on windows near Oak Cliff and Fair
Park is not ornamental!!

It is possible to be driving WEST in the NORTH-bound
lane of EAST NORTHWEST Highway. Don't let this confuse
you.

Final Warning: Don't Mess With Texas Drivers.
Remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas.

 

What the hell Texas! That's not a town, it's barely a hobby farm. And for 2.5 million, it better include all those bikes, and the house better be overflowing with hot naked Texas chicks waiting to cater to my every whim!

 

I'm going to slap a sign on the end of my driveway and sell my "town" for 1 mil. Any takers?

 

Not if my SOCOM 16 is true and straight. I don't want any of them yokels here.

 

Hey nd, what's the Alliance coming to? Trying to make deals with the enemy. That's a disgrace dude. I think the Alliance should be disbanded due to a show of weakness.

 

I like how it says 3 times that "it's legal to be armed in Texas"... so true.

That can almost be turned around and used for Houston as well - just exchange Beltline for I-610.

 

If it comes with all that, then I am chaining my self to tree out front until they sell it to me for $5.

 

Like the man said... "Remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas."

 

It's not just legal to be armed it Texas, it's customary.