A large fuel tank is lowered onto a flatbed truck owned by Palm Construction Inc., which finished removing the four 20-foot-tall tanks this week. The tanks, located on the corner of Highway 20 and Fifth Avenue in Twisp, have been in place for more than 50 years.
By Ann McCreary
Four large metal fuel tanks that have been a prominent landmark on Highway 20 in Twisp for more than 50 years were removed this week.
The tanks were owned by Hank Konrad, owner of Hank’s Harvest Foods, and held fuel for nearby dispensers on Fifth Avenue, next to Quality Lube. The dispensers served customers such as farmers and excavators through a cardlock system until Konrad decided they were no longer needed.
The 20-foot-tall tanks were drained of fuel, and Jerry Palm of Palm Construction took them down and hauled them to company property on Horizon Flats in Winthrop. Work on removing the tanks was completed Tuesday (Dec. 12). Palm said he planned to keep two tanks to store material used for dust control at construction sites, and would sell the other two tanks.
The land where the tanks stood is part of a triangular property between Glover Street and Highway 20 owned by Konrad. Clint Estes, who purchased part of the property from Konrad to build Quality Lube in 2003, has first right of refusal on purchase of the rest of the parcel.
Estes said this week he is evaluating purchase and development possibilities. The other business on the property, Mitch’s Automotive and Methow Power Sports, is no longer operating at that location.
Konrad and Estes said they expect to know more in coming weeks about the future of the property, which has been identified as an important part of Twisp’s downtown revitalization plans. Both said they expect development of the property will create a more attractive and inviting entrance to the town’s downtown core.
