Conkling Marina stays afloat

The Inland Northwest family that bought back a historic Worley marina this week, after a maelstrom of financial negotiations, has one long-term goal.

To stay put.

Always.

"We are going to set this company up as a survivorship. We want to keep it in the Kirkpatrick family as long as we possibly can," said Tim Kirkpatrick, who, as of Monday, again co-owns Conkling Marina and Resort with his wife, Donna, and his parents, Tom and Francis.

The family hopes to restore the 102-year-old community gem to its prior glory, Tim said.

And to keep it there, by restricting ownership to kin.

Understandable goals, since selling the 16-acre property five years ago resulted in the Kirkpatricks being owed more than $3 million. Eventually they had to foreclose on the property, and then reclaim it at auction on Monday with a $2.3 million bid.

The family is still saddled with $80,000 in unpaid property taxes from the marina's brief owner, Paul Martinez, a manager with Seattle-based Prime Assets LLC.

"I wouldn't do this again," said Tim, who lives in Newport, Wash., of selling again. "The money's not that important."

Gaining, losing and rescuing the Conkling Marina has been quite an odyssey for the Kirkpatricks.

Tom, Francis and Tim discovered the marina in 2002, while the then-Colorado family was vacationing in North Idaho.

"We all loved it," Tim recalled, adding that they purchased the resort for $1.5 million "almost on a whim."

The family enjoyed running the marina, Tim said. He even met his wife there.

But the Kirkpatricks agreed to sell in 2007, when approached by a company that Tim says was quickly bought out by Martinez of Prime Assets.

The family couldn't turn down the $5.5 million offer, he said.

"When someone comes in and makes you an offer, gives you the chance for early retirement, you have the tendency to pack up," said Tim, 51.

But that followed with years of Martinez defaulting on payments for the marina and resort, which includes 211 boat slips, RV spots, a restaurant, full bar, grocery store, gas, docks and cabins.

The family eventually discovered Martinez owed vendors and contractors money, Tim said. He was behind on property tax bills for the property.

After five years, he still owed the family about $3.4 million.

"We could see the writing on the wall. This was never going to happen," Tim said.

The family foreclosed on the property. Martinez recently filed for bankruptcy, which a federal judge rejected.

"It was one of the toughest times of my life," Tim said of sorting out the marina's future. "When your heart is in this lake, those neighbors and families, and you get involved with your soul, that portion of it is really tough."

At the auction for the property on Monday, the family was the only bidder.

"We decided as a family, we were going to put a full bid in, go back to the marina and fix this thing," Tim said.

According to the Washington Secretary of State, Prime Assets dissolved in 2009. No one returned a voicemail left at the company number listed with the state.

The Kirkpatricks hope to have the facility open in time for boating season on April 1.

It won't be easy.

Some of the marina has been neglected. Docks need to be restored, facilities cleaned.

The Kirkpatricks have to reinstall costly kitchen equipment Martinez had removed and stowed in storage in Washington.

Plus, the family is losing out on $150,000 in advance slip payments, which Martinez collected while still the owner. The family is letting him keep the dollars, Tim said, in exchange for Martinez relinquishing his claim to still own the property docks.

"We're honoring any deposits made for the season," Tim said. "These are our customers. They'll be here for years to come. They're our friends."

Customers are returning the favor. Volunteers are helping with painting and cleaning, Tim said.

A moorage customer, Dye Hawley, has organized a fundraiser on July 20 to help the Kirkpatricks pay the $80,000 in back property taxes.

Soon Conkling will be back to the marina they all love, Tim said.

"It's just got a reputation," Tim said of why the facility was worth buying back. "Just coming to an old-fashioned marina with a family running around, doing their best to get whatever you need."