Kruse Comes to Highfill

Collectors of classic cars and auto dealers will like this one.

J&J Investments, a group based out of Elm Springs, has teamed up with Kruse International of Auburn, Ind. The two companies purchased 120 acres of land near Highfill and have a deal on another 60 acres set to close on Aug. 1.

The resulting 180-acre plot will be home to a new auto auction called Kruse of Northwest Arkansas. The land purchases alone are said to be “multimillion dollar” deals.

Kruse holds auto and real estate auctions in various markets around the country, including Tulsa, Hot Springs and Branson. Most of those are held in leased facilities or at fairgrounds.

Janie Ward, a principal in J&J, said the new Highfill auction will hold dealer-only auctions once a week for regular passenger vehicles, and Kruse will come in and hold at least two antique or collector auto auctions a year.

And the group is driving into other auction niches. Ward said the plan is to hold RV and tractor (as in trucking tractors) auctions as well.

Facilities will include 17 bays, a collision center and executive offices. The land has state Highway 12 frontage, which will help when it comes to rolling all those cars in and out of the rural spot.