Dogpatch USA - Post-closure

Post-closure

Shortly after it closed, the park was put up for auction on the courthouse steps in Jasper. The auction was handled by Jim Sprott, a Harrison lawyer whose wife Jan had been "Daisy Mae" at Dogpatch USA from 1968 through the 1970 season. Ford Carr, president of Leisuretek Corporation and Westek Corporation, received a quit claim for the property. At that time, however, he neglected to do anything with the park. In late 2002 he had the 141-acre (0.57 km2) site placed on eBay with a minimum bid requirement of $1 million. Although he was looking for a $4 million bid, there were no bidders. In 2004 it was reported by KATV in Arkansas that the property was again for sale, for $5 million.

In 2005, 17-year-old Pruett Nance was riding an ATV through the property with permission from the property owner. He collided with a length of wire strung between two trees, and was injured. The question of whether or not the wire was put there maliciously became the subject of a lawsuit the Nances filed against the park's owners. The suit eventually ended up in the Arkansas Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the Nances. They were awarded $650,000. When the park owners did not pay the judgment, the deed to Dogpatch was awarded to Pruett Nance, and he became the new owner of the park.