CASCO – A deal that will transfer ownership of Hacker’s Hill in Casco from the Hall family to Loon Echo Land Trust is close to being finalized following a slight delay.

The closing date, expected June 14, has been held up due to issues with the multiple deeds that cover the 27-acre property, which includes a panoramic hilltop vista that is a popular spot for Lakes Region visitors.

The deed issues were discovered in May when Loon Echo conducted a title search in preparation for the closing. However, as of Tuesday of this week, the Hall family and Loon Echo seem to be nearing a resolution.

“We’ve finally got things worked out,” said Jeff Hall, who owns the property with his father, Conrad Hall. “In the title search, we found we didn’t have all the deeds we thought we had, so it’s been a mess trying to clear things up with dead relatives and ex-wives and everything else. But I think we’ve got everything resolved so now it’s just a matter of getting a few things written up by the lawyers.”

Specifically, Hall said the deed conveyed from Hacker Hall, who first cleared the hill of trees, built a road to the summit and opened it to the general public, had omitted some of the source deeds leading into it, Hall said.

According to Hall, there is a total of six deeds, representing six parcels purchased over time. “Some we had added and some my grandfather and great-grandfather had added to it, so it’s pretty easy to get one screwed up along the way,” Hall said.

Since commencing a fundraising campaign in May 2011, Loon Echo has raised about $650,000 through various fundraisers, grants and donations, including a $220,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation/Land for Maine’s Future Board, and another $75,000 donation from the town of Casco.

At closing, the Hall family will receive $600,000. Next year, the family will receive another $100,000, made possible by a bridge loan Loon Echo has obtained. The remaining amount that Loon Echo raises will be designated for property maintenance and to pay down the loan.

Jeff Hall is glad to see the long saga toward the sale coming to an end. After Loon Echo decided not to pursue the property years ago, in 2009 and 2010 the family tried to sell the land through Keller Williams real estate agency but couldn’t find a buyer willing to keep the hilltop open to the public. So, while the Halls are happy to be working with Loon Echo, the delay to allow the land trust to raise the asking price and resulting deed issues have tried the family’s patience.

“At this point, I’m like, let’s get the damn thing over with. We’ve been working on this for six years,” Hall said. “We went to Loon Echo in ’05 or ’06 trying to do this and it hasn’t all been glory, but we wanted it to be preserved in perpetuity and I think we’re getting there. We’ll appreciate it all the more, I guess.”

Carrie Walia, executive director of Loon Echo, is also optimistic of the impending closing.

“Loon Echo is confident that the one pending legal matter will be resolved shortly and a closing is expected in the next 10 to 12 days. The Hall family and their attorney are working diligently to clear title and want the project completed. In the meantime, Loon Echo continues raising the funds for the full purchase price of $700,000 and for the stewardship endowment of $100,000 that will maintain the hill as a public conservation site,” she said.

Walia is also excited about a bevy of fundraising events. Loon Echo, she said, recently held an acoustic sunset atop Hacker’s Hill with members of the band, The Swampdonkeys, which drew 100 people and raised $850 for preservation efforts. Two events are planned the weekend of Aug. 11-12, including a Quaker Ridge Preservation 4-mile Run and Walk, which ends on top of the hill, and a Perseids meteor shower watch. She said interested participants should visit www.loonecholandtrust.org or call 647-4352 for more information.