New York State was ineligible to buy the 36,600 acres of Whitney Park, according to the man who signed a contract to acquire the matchless wilderness terrain of lakes, ponds and forests.

Shawn Todd, chairman of Todd Interests, said New York was prohibited from purchasing the Adirondack Park property of John Hendrickson based on “a perpetual deed restriction preventing the state from ever obtaining the property.” His development company based in Dallas, Texas, is looking at ways to develop the property as it works toward concluding the purchase.