By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
The Mural at the Mill found itself in a tumultuous situation this week when the 100-foot-tall H.D. Lee Flour Mill and its three adjoining lots were listed for sale.
Wilson Realty and Auction Services listed the historic site on its website for $140,000, and according to Lonnie Wilson, the owner of Wilson Realty, the contract did not specify protection for the mural.
Even without specific protection while changing hands, the mural will likely be safe even when the property sells.
Currently, BSQUARE L.L.C. owns the iconic building and listed it for sale.
The flour mill's history spans more than a century, with H.D. Lee founding the large building and conjoining wooden structures and lots in the late 1800s.
The mill shut down permanently in 2019, and in 2021, BOOM! Salina brought artwork to the mill's looming towers, creating an iconic scene for Salina's residents and visitors.
Guido van Helten, an Australian-born artist, produced the Mural at the Mill, and according to Vortex President and CEO Travis Young, the founder of BOOM!, the mural is considered public art.
Young said that multiple court cases set a precedent for protecting public arts, and before that, the mill's current owner plans to be selective about choosing the new owner.
"We were never too nervous about it changing or anything," Young said. "The owner has it [the mural] on his mind during this process."
Though the mill may change hands soon, Young said the mural will remain an iconic part of the city.