WEST CARTHAGE, N.Y. -- A foreclosed Jefferson County hotel has been sold to a bank for $1.3 million. Community Bank offered the highest bid for the Pleasant Night Inn in West Carthage. Potential bidders gathered at the Jefferson County Court Complex on Tuesday to bid on the hotel, but the bank took lead.

The Vice President of Community Bank says that the hotel will still operate using its current employees, until a sale is made. He believes that the business is viable as a hotel but it needs the right marketing and management support to be successful.

“Our goal is to keep the property running and we’ve been successful in that since the end of August under the receiver’s control. Going forward we don’t want to the place to close. The object is to keep it open," said Michael Brassard, Vice President of Community Bank.

Many candidates are in place to buy the inn from the bank, but Mr. Brassard says he is confident that a right buyer will be found to keep the inn running.