The battle to preserve the historic Bush House Estate has landed in Lycoming County court.

The former owners of the estate in Muncy Township have filed a civil complaint and are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the owners, FAMVEST ACQUISITIONS, from razing the property to bring in a Wawa and a Hilton-branded hotel.

The developer bought the former Lycoming Mall in 2023 to bring in future development at The District, rebranding the former shopping mecca.

It signed an agreement with Alvico to buy the estate for $1.8 million in 2022.

The Bush House is of cultural and historical significance and the plaintiffs began the process of having the property listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Historical renovations on the property commenced in 2013 and continued until 2016-17.

Based upon the defendants’ representation that they would not raze the Bush House Estate, plaintiffs contend they entered into an agreement of sale.

On March 1, at an open house for Bass Pro Shops, Mehrdad Jon Janahshai advised individuals that the defendant purchased the Bush House Estate and intended to tear it down all along, according to the suit.

This sale agreement included a provision that Carmen Bush would be employed as general manager and event manager for the venue that was leased for weddings, corporate luncheons and events, according to Pennlive.com. The Bush House petition had 2,670 signatures as of this midweek.

The complaint includes a court order requiring FAMVEST to perform its contractual obligation by restoring and preserving the Bush House. Alvico has sought a preliminary injunction claiming irreparable harm would occur if the house was demolished before the litigation was resolved, Pennlive reported.

At the open house, the developers said they tried every effort to sell or rent the property but there were no interested parties.

Alvico is represented by Attorney Joseph F. Orso III, with Rudinski, Orso & Associates, 339 Market St., Williamsport.

FAMVEST Acquisitions is a limited liability company duly organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth having a principal place of business at 46 S. Main St., Muncy.