FREDERICKSBURG, Texas – city Fredericksburg He is pulling the plug on his long-standing plan to build a museum that would honor the Texas Rangers. The group developing the site is appealing a notice that they are in default on a 99-year lease with the city.

The Texas Ranger Heritage center is located on the east side of Fredericksburg along Highway 290 and next to historic Fort Martin Scott.

In 2011, the city of Fredericksburg leased the 12-acre site to a group called the Former Texas Rangers Foundation. The deal was for 99 years at one dollar a year, but now the city wants the land back, claiming the organization is in default.

“I was shocked when I received this notification. I was not expecting this,” said Joe Davis, president of the foundation.

The current lease with the city doesn’t expire until February 2025, and the group spent $8 million on phase 1 of the project, according to Davis. There is a large multi-purpose pavilion, a tower, a memorial ring walkway and many bronze statues. However, the construction of the museum, which is the main part of the project, has not started yet.

Davis blamed the delay on the pandemic and said the cost of building the museum has now nearly doubled its original $13 million price tag.

“We’re moving forward and trying to do that, but the problem right now is inflation, it’s hard to raise it. I think it will improve. But there are still people we’re talking to who are interested,” Davis said.

The city of Fredericksburg decided to extend the foundation’s lease three times.

Mayor Jeryl Hoover said in a statement that the situation was regrettable, but “Nearly 14 years have passed since the original agreement, and the Foundation’s management has failed to provide any financial documentation or concrete plans to show that they are actively raising funds for the Heritage Center.”

People shopping on Fredericksburg’s Main Street on Monday were surprised at how deadlocked the dispute had become.

“Yes, I think maybe it could be given a little more consideration. Give them a little more time. I mean, they’ve been with the community for a long time, at least something, but on the other hand I understand that they’ve already given them quite a bit of time, so it’s a little hard to say,” he said. Kaylee Itir.

According to Davis, the idea of ​​building a museum in collaboration with a hotel developer was rejected by the city. Moreover, the notice of default now makes it difficult to obtain financing for an independent museum, Davis said.

“There are a lot of irons in the fire, but I can’t go there right now with this supposed letter because like I said, I’m handcuffed right now. How can I go and ask for money when they’re there?” I finished taking it on December 5th,” Davis said.

Davis told FOX 7 the foundation believes it will need a five-year extension to complete phase 2.

“If we start construction tomorrow, it’ll take a year and a half or two years to build it. OK. So are they going to extend it for three years? I want at least a five-year deal to get it done. They’re giving us the money because I’m done raising the money, then we can start construction,” Davis said.

The dispute may go to court.

The foundation hired an attorney in an attempt to bring the city back to the negotiating table. Officials have not said what they plan to do with the buildings if the city takes over the site. They did not explain whether the money spent so far would be refunded to the Foundation and whether they would allow the Foundation to relocate items such as statues.