After six years of searching, officials of the College Park Moose Lodge #453 have finally found a new place to call home at 8907 Baltimore Ave.

President Debbie Herbert said it may still be months before the move is complete.

The organization, which opened at 3700 Metzerott Road in 1948, sold its building in 2020 to Iglesia de Dios Pentecostés, Misión el Buen Samaritano, a local church, for $4.475 million, according to state tax records, and continued to rent space through a leaseback agreement.

“[Our goal] is just being able to hold more of our members,” Herbert said. “We have 409 members … and we could only fit 75 people in here, standing room only.”

In December 2024, the church filed for bankruptcy and resold the property to Mekane Hiwet Medhanelem Tigray Orthodox Tewahdo Church for $5.4 million. The lodge tried to buy back the property at that time, but could not afford the asking price, Herbert said.

On Oct. 30, the lodge closed on its new location, where Cass RV Center previously operated.

“It’s still in the city of College Park, where we have been for 77 years, and that’s where we want to stay,” Herbert said. “[The new building] came to our attention and it’s the perfect spot.”

According to Zillow, the 2,400-square-foot building is larger than the lodge’s current rented space, and Herbert said she is looking forward to growing into it. However, she said, there’s still work to be done.

Administrator Gale Lamaster said he’s eager to take the next steps.

“Right now, we are in the design phase,” said Lamaster, noting that lodge officers met with an architect in November.

The lodge’s Metzerott Road lease runs through June 30, leaving six months for renovations on the new space. If remodeling takes longer, Herbert said she may request a lease extension.

Lodge members said they are looking forward to spending time at the new location.

Steven Uhas of Beltsville, who has been involved with the lodge since 1980, said the move is shocking after so many years in the same place. Still, he said he is excited about the new space, particularly the extra room to play horseshoes, darts, pool and shuffleboard.

For some members, the move also brings convenience. David Redzensky of College Park lives near the new location.

“I’m excited about having [the lodge] two doors down,” Redzensky said. “I keep imagining me, sitting out on my porch, waving to everybody driving by.”

Moose Lodge hosts community events, including food and clothing drives and other charitable activities.