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The Mohegan tribe submitted the high bid to acquire a 113-acre parcel located two miles from its Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville.

The St. Bernard School property on Norwich-New London Turnpike was auctioned Friday as part of the Diocese of Norwich’s bankruptcy proceedings. The tribe outbid an alumni group which had submitted the minimum bid of $6.5-million for the property, with the goal of keeping the school for students in grades 6-12 in operation. The winning bidder was required to lease back the school to the diocese for 10 years at $1 per year.

The Mohegans have stated that they have no development plans for the property, The Day newspaper of New London reported, because of its historic and cultural significance.

The property includes the 136,105-square-foot high school building located on the front of the property near Norwich-New London Turnpike, and undeveloped land to the rear.

The bid is subject to approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Operators of the Mohegan Sun casino, the tribe has explored development opportunities beyond its Uncasville reservation in recent years.

In 2017, Mohegan officials unveiled plans for a $600 million resort on the former Norwich State Hospital property in Preston, directly across the Thames River from its reservation and casino.

The development is contingent upon completion of an environmental cleanup by the town of Preston, the current owner of the 393-acre property.