Get ready to hear about the quirkiest real estate listing you’ve ever come across. Zahn’s Corner Middle School in Piketon, Ohio, is up for auction, and it’s raising more than just a few eyebrows.
With a starting bid of $275,000, you could own this 53,000-square-foot former educational institution sprawled across nearly 10 acres. But before you start dreaming about transforming it into your next big project, there are a few things you should know—like the tiny detail of it being closed down due to radioactive contamination.
Yes, you heard that right.
Back in May 2019, the Scioto Valley Local School District dropped a bombshell: enriched uranium was found inside the building, and neptunium 237 was detected outside.
The discovery prompted an immediate shutdown of the school, sending students and staff packing. The source of this atomic mishap? Well, there’s a bit of a debate. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) blames it on “stratospheric fallout” from 1950s and 1960s nuclear testing, while others point fingers at the nearby Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant.
In an attempt to calm the storm, the DOE rolled in their elite team of certified health physicists to investigate.
These experts, along with Ohio Department of Health reps and concerned Piketon locals, collected 44 surface samples and numerous air samples.
The grand verdict? Savannah River National Laboratory’s analysis found no radioactivity above natural levels, which means, according to them, there’s no public health concern. So, no need to worry about glowing in the dark if you decide to move in.
Despite these assurances, the school remains closed and is now looking for a new owner.
The big question is, who would want to buy a place with such a radioactive reputation? Perhaps someone with a taste for the unusual, or maybe a die-hard fan of post-apocalyptic aesthetics.
So, what could you do with a 53,000-square-foot building that’s been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons? Turn it into a quirky museum of modern history? A very spacious haunted house attraction? Or maybe the ultimate bunker for those preparing for the next doomsday? The possibilities are endless if you’ve got the imagination (and perhaps a Geiger counter).
The auction will take place on site at the school, located at 13806 St Rt 220 Piketon, Ohio 45661. Registration will start a 9 a.m. and the minimum bid is $275,000. For more info, you can visit the auction site here.
