Carson car dealers buy Douglas land

MINDEN - Two Carson City auto dealers purchased 144 acres of public land in northern Douglas County for $14.6 million Wednesday morning.

Michael Hohl and A.M. "Dink" Cryer, owner of Carson Dodge Chrysler, decided within the last few days to partner for the first time and make a bid for the property.

"Not bad for a handshake," Cryer said following the purchase.

Hohl, who owns six auto and recreational vehicle dealerships in Carson City, said Carson auto dealers gave the city "every opportunity to put something together that made sense," to keep dealers within city limits.

But after a proposed auto mall deal was rejected by the Board of Supervisors in May, the dealers, who were facing pressure from stockholders and corporate officials to relocate and renovate, had to find opportunities of their own, Hohl said.

"We have to do what's best for us," Hohl said.

The contentious sale by the Bureau of Land Management of the prime piece of real estate will not be final until the resolution of a lawsuit by Carson City against the federal government.