Vermont Whiskey Founder Offers Campus for Spiritual Revival
The founder of a whiskey brand in Vermont is looking to donate a college campus he purchased during the pandemic, but only if the new owner aligns with his vision of “restoring our country and civilization.”
Raj Peter Bhakta is offering the now-closed Green Mountain College campus in Poultney, Vermont. He estimates that rebuilding the site would require around $200 million. Bhakta seeks a Catholic or Christian institution that shares his belief in the necessity of a spiritual revival to restore Western civilization.
At 50, Bhakta, who launched WhistlePig and Bhakta Spirits, attributes his start in the whiskey business to an experience on “The Apprentice,” where he was fired by then-President Donald Trump.
“I got into the whiskey business because I was fired by the sitting president of the United States,” he remarked. After an unsuccessful congressional campaign, he found himself struggling on a run-down farm during the 2008 recession, which led to the foundation of WhistlePig, filling a void in the premium whiskey market.
Despite the brand’s success, Bhakta’s time at WhistlePig ended dramatically amid a corporate conflict. Following a dispute with the board of directors, he sold his stake in 2019 and took a sabbatical to explore the spirits world.
In 2020, he used his retirement proceeds to launch his own spirits company. Soon after, he turned his focus to what he sees as a significant crisis in American higher education. In the summer of 2020, amid pandemic uncertainties, he bought the defunct Green Mountain College campus at auction for $4.5 million, far below the initial $20 million asking price.
“There is a deeper, more fundamental need in this country, and that is to return to our Christian roots.”
Bhakta expressed that starting a new college is more complicated than he anticipated, especially with the pressures of launching a new spirit startup.
His vision is heavily influenced by the belief that American values are diminishing, and secular or technological solutions won’t suffice.
“There is a deeper, more fundamental need in this country, and that is to return to our Christian roots,” he reiterated.
Initially, Bhakta considered spearheading the new institution himself, but he is now evaluating potential beneficiaries who have the capability to fulfill his vision. His preference leans towards a Catholic organization, followed by a Christian institution.
“If we can’t find any of them, we’ll sell it,” he mentioned, adding that he doesn’t feel forced to sell.
Green Mountain College closed in 2019 due to falling enrollment, marking it as one of three private colleges in Vermont to shut down that year alongside Southern Vermont College and St. Joseph’s College.
Sarah Pelkey, the former development director for Poultney, previously stated that Green Mountain College was “a beautiful space, a beautiful campus, and someone definitely stole it.” Recently, she has transitioned to the Rutland Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
Bhakta holds firm in his convictions, suggesting that the country has undergone two significant awakenings and that, with divine assistance, a third might be on the horizon.
“And I hope that, by the grace of God, it will lead to the revival of this great country and this great civilization,” he added. “By the way, it’s worth fighting for.”
His website reflects a commitment to values like humility and service, highlighting that these qualities are central to humanity’s achievements.
