OXFORD – An unnamed major retailer is gearing up to develop land just north of the Wal-Mart store on Route 26 in Oxford.

Code Enforcement Officer Rodney Smith confirmed this week that real estate representatives for the retailer did surveying work last week on the old drive-in property owned by Ken Kilgore of Norway. He said he anticipates that plans will be presented before the planning board within the next few months.

“They won’t say who it’s going to be, but I have a pretty good idea,” Smith said. “I think it’s going to be a big box store.”

Orange stakes are seen sticking from several points on the land.

“The grass has stopped growing and the snow is coming,” said Kilgore, when asked for comment. “That’s my best answer.”

Smith said the developers have obtained options on Kilgore’s 12 acres as well as an adjacent 46-acre commercial subdivision owned by Caroline Thermaenius, widow of Lars Thermaenius. The developers, said Smith, have also taken an option on the two-acre True Value property.

The subdivision land abuts the NAPA Auto Parts store, which was the only lot sold when the subdivision was created. The NAPA store is not part of the development deal, and “would be an outparcel,” Smith said.

Caroline Thermaenius said her land, which extends back to the Little Androscoggin River, has been under a purchase option since August, but doesn’t know much else. “Everything was very hush hush,” she said. “I understand they want to buy everything down to Wal-Mart,” she said.

Scott’s Welding, owned by Scott Sessions, is located in between the drive-in property and Wal-Mart.

John Pratt of Bolster Monumental Works said he was approached this spring about selling his property. He said he declined their offer, saying it was too low “by far.”

Brett Doney, chief executive officer of EnterpriseMaine, said in August that several big box retailers were eyeing parcels along Route 26 in Oxford, which has several large undeveloped parcels both north and south of the Wal-Mart store.

“The character of that area could change very rapidly,” he said at the time.