Whiskey mogul offers free $200M college campus to religious groups, with one major catch

The 50-year-old WhistlePig and Bhakta Spirits founder credits his entry into the industry to President Donald Trump - who fired Bhakta when he was a contestant during the second season of "The Apprentice."

Despite the brand's ascent, Bhakta's tenure at WhistlePig ended in a high-profile corporate showdown.

Following a dispute with the company's board, he sold his stake in WhistlePig in 2019, according to his website, and "embarked on a sabbatical in search of new discoveries in the world of spirits."

Armed with the proceeds from his departure, Bhakta launched his namesake spirits company in 2020.

"I bought this place, and then quickly learned that starting a college was a little bit more complicated than I had originally envisioned, especially while starting a new spirit startup," he said.

"There's a deeper, more fundamental need in this country, and that is to go back to our Christian roots," Bhakta said.

While he originally intended to lead the new institution himself, Bhakta is now vetting "credible potential beneficiaries" who possess the "execution capacity" to fulfill his vision.

"And if I can't find one of those, I'll sell it," he added. "But I don't suspect that I'll have to sell it."

Green Mountain College closed in 2019, citing declining enrollment. It was one of three private colleges in Vermont that closed that year, along with Southern Vermont College and the College of St. Joseph.

Fox News Digital reached out to Pelkey, who recently left her post to join the Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region, for additional comment.

Bhakta is firm about his convictions. 

"We've had two great awakenings in this country before, and I think we're at the dawn, God willing, of a third great awakening," said Bhakta. 

He added, "That, incidentally, is worth fighting for."

His website notes, among other things: "We know that mankind's greatest achievements flow from humility and service, and that humility and service lie at the heart of our destinies."