A group of investors recently purchased the International Paper mill site with hopes of attracting businesses to Bastrop.
Jeffrey Messinger, of Messinger and Associates, Inc., is one of the partners who purchased the nearly 150 acre site in September 2017.
"We have no specific plans at this time," he said. "We are just looking for businesses to come to Bastrop."
Kay King, President of Morehouse Economic Development Corporation, said she is excited to have people who are willing to work to bring something to the community.
"They want to bring jobs to the community," she said. "There is huge potential at that site."
King said she predicts the land will sell because of the railway access.
"Rail access is a tremendously hot item at the moment," she said. "Most of the time when a plant leaves, they pull the rail out. Fortunately, AL&M (Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri Railroad) has a rail yard in Bastrop.
"We are fortunate to have this site served by rail. Because of the configuration of the rail, one going to mainline Union Pacific in Collinston, and another set that goes through Monroe that can connect to Kansas City Southern. Most of the advertisement I get asks for dual rail services.
"The rail is a huge value to the site. That will be what sells it. That will be what brings jobs to the community."
King went on to explain that the rail service in Morehouse Parish connects to the deep water port in Baton Rouge.
"Anything we can make and put in a rail cart, we can make and ship to anywhere in the world from Bastrop," she said.
Dorothy Ford, Executive Director of the Bastrop-Morehouse Chamber of Commerce, said she believes the new owners are waiting for just the right business to come along.
"The Messinger's live here and want the best for this parish," she said. "Morehouse is bursting with timber. I could easily see a pellet plant over there."
Simmons Sporting Goods also purchased approximately 15 acres of land located behind their building.
"When Simmons first found out the land was going to be for sale they wanted a piece of it," Ford said. "It was good for us knowing that Simmons still wants to invest in Morehouse Parish by purchasing the land."
Messinger and partners, called Toda One, is made up of Kenneth Harper of West Monroe, Thomas Oswalt of Rayville, Mason Oswalt of Monroe and Rockland Burks of Monroe.