APOPKA, Fla. – Leaders from a beloved Central Florida summer camp had an uncertain future but now say they are looking forward to an even brighter future.

Camp Wewa was put up for sale by the Central Florida YMCA earlier this year.

Housing development companies were eyeing the property at first, but the city of Apopka stepped in with full intentions to buy and save the camp.

After months of negotiations, thousands of social media hits, a fundraiser, and a $4.7 million deal, there’s one small step left until the city officially takes the reigns.

Apopka Mayor Brain Nelson walks the grounds of Camp Wewa knowing that, in just days, he’ll be planning for its future.

Nelson still remembers the time, years ago, he was among the ranks of thousands of others as a camper.

“Just remembering staying a week out here at camp as a kid, and going from one of the cabins over to the swimming pool. I’ll never forget, they had a high dive," Nelson said.

Wewa alumni describe these grounds and their traditions as “magical," and the city’s decision to buy the property from the YMCA and preserve it as a camp ground, a miracle.

Former camp director Rich Schellhase says that will always be his proudest title.

“It was a job of a lifetime, and I’ll never be able to repay Wewa for all the memories it brought me and my family," Schellhase said.

The city is planning for some upgrades, revamps, touch ups, and ADA compliance installations in the near future.

“We’re just so excited to keep this as a camp for us, for generations to come. Just if you look around the oaks on these oak trees that are hundreds of years old, will be protected and saved," Nelson said.

Nelson says the focus will stay on preservation both for the campground itself and for the traditions campers hold close to this day.

The YMCA provided us a statement following the sale, which says in part: “The YMCA of Central Florida is delighted the City of Apopka has agreed to purchase and preserve the treasured property where the Y held Camp Wewa for over seventy years.”

City leaders will vote to approve the contract with the YMCA on Wednesday.

Once that happens, the city will close on the property at the end of August and Nelson says he hopes to have the camp up and running by the end of September.