For 48 years, the Williston Middle School has stood tall on the outskirts of town, shaping hundred of lives.

Its doors have been closed for a few years with the construction of the new Williston Middle High School miles down the road. The owners of the new institution look to someday reopen the doors with the possibility of a similar purpose.

Kori Lamb and Rick Bunch purchased the property in December 2019 after the city passed on an offer to have the property gifted to it. The two have been working to have the property restored and prepped for its new life. That work includes costly asbestos removal from the older parts of the 20-acre campus that includes 90,000 square-feet of building space.

There is a gym that Lamb is currently using for basketball clinics he started for neighboring youth, a cafetorium and former library, an administrative and health wing and former workshop building. The two saw too much potential to let the property slip through their hands.

They’re now looking at the possibilities the location presents, with thoughts of it one day becoming a community center or vocational training facility. Given the property size, infrastructure and the county’s promise to work with the owners on any needed rezoning, there is the possibility of manufacturing or light industrial use given low population density in the immediate area. Lamb and Bunch said they will explore all ideas and work with interested parties to develop the site.

The property is served with central water and sewer, and has ample electric on site, with the potential of adjacent fiber optic cable providing internet service.