Plattsburgh NY: Radio Park Going On Auction Block

After years of decline and financial losses, Radio Park, home of local radio stations WNBZ 1240 AM, WNBZ Y106.3 FM and Rock WLPW 105.5 FM, goes on the auction block in two weeks. The Saranac Lake radio company, first on the air in 1927, marked its 90th year in September but is barely broadcasting.

Of the five frequencies associated with Saranac Lake Radio, only 106.3 continues to broadcast an automated playlist. The other four have gone silent, according to Adirondack Daily Enterprise.

Two properties associated with WNBZ will be sold at tax auction Nov. 29 at the Best Western Hotel in Ticonderoga. Officials said that WNBZ owner Edward “Ted” Morgan hasn’t paid taxes on the properties since 2014. The properties will be sold to the highest bidder.

This is the second time Radio Park has gone up for tax auction. In 2014, Morgan was the highest bidder at the auction. He paid his tax bill and saved the properties. The last day he could have paid and retained ownership this time was Nov. 15.

Morgan moved WNBZ’s offices to Plattsburgh in fall 2016. Its website has been down for months, its Twitter feed went silent in January, and its “Talk of the Town” Facebook page hasn’t been updated since fall 2016.

Morgan did not respond to emails or phone calls. The number for Radio Park is no longer in service.

“The last I heard, he was in the Bahamas or something,” said former radio station engineer Chris Brescia. “I think he’s trying to hide because he owes so many people money.”

The list of creditors includes Lake Placid Electric, the Federal Communications Commission and the owners of towers on Mount Pisgah and Lyon Mountain who rented space for Morgan’s transmitters