Rocky Branch
Jeff Davis County, Georgia⁞516± ACRES
Uniquely Capitalized and Groomed to become one of the Finest Examples of a High-Quality Recreational Property in Southeast Georgia
- 516 +/- acre recreational property in Jeff Davis County, Georgia
- 10 +/- acre stocked bass + bream pond with dock/cleaning station
- Aerated, well pump water source, and automatic feeder for optimal conditions
- Gorgeous waterfront views from main living space
- Home to nesting geese and wood ducks
- 4 BR/3 BA main house
- Modernly appointed, yet relaxed with southern laidback living
- Updated kitchen + appliances
- Stone fireplace/hearth, custom shelving and bookcases, built in jewelry safe
- Heated master bathroom flooring
- Exceptional wood craftsmanship with hand selected pieces from the local sawmill:
- Stunning wood beams
- White Oak wood floors
- Black Walnut wainscoting
- Pecky Cypress ceilings/walls
- Cedar lined closets
- Pecan cabinetry and more
- Adjoining two story workshop/mancave
- Stunning landscaping complete with azaleas, dogwoods, brick pavers, and more
- Spacious saltwater pool overlooking the pond
- 3 BR/2 BA Guest House
- Equipment shed and separate game cleaning station, with walk-in cooler and barn
- Cooks’ shed with firepit for aftergame harvests
- Dog kennel and runs with fresh well water source
- Quail flight pen and small, fenced pasture
- Wobble trap skeet station with two stands and 200-yard riffle range
- Rolling topography, native longleaf, great wiregrass habitat for quail hunting
- Nearly 150 acres of Slash Pine planted in 93’
- Great turkey and deer hunting
- 8 +/- acre natural duck hunting pond/slough
- 9 +/- acre dove field with mock power lines
- 2,000 feet of paved drive out to the main highway
- Less than 30 miles to Vidalia, Georgia for shopping and dining, and two-hours from historic Savannah, Georgia
The Wall Street Journal Named Rocky Branch House of the Day!
Rocky Branch is a 516 +/- acre “Georgia Class” gentleman’s property that has all of the benefits one would expect of a South Georgia quail plantation, but without the cost. This property has been uniquely capitalized and groomed to become one of the finest examples of a high-quality recreational property in Southeast Georgia. For the last 50 years, Rocky Branch, has been owned and utilized as a private entertainment venue by two owners of one of the most prolific hardwood sawmills in the South. As a role model stewardship property, VIP’s and landowners from around the world have enjoyed the best that Georgia has to offer in the way of outdoor entertainment, recreation, forestry, and Georgia culture. The property has a beautiful 10-acre lake, rolling topography, duck pond, dove field, creeks, beautiful pine woods, great deer and turkey, quail, and a great, custom home.
“In my career I see a lot of lakes...beautiful lakes. I love lakes. I noticed something was different about this lake. It’s mesmerizing. I watched others and how they interacted with it. I noticed a lot of staring at the lake over the two days we shot the video. The owner always stared at it and he gets to see it every day. Everyone’s eyes were constantly drawn toward it seemingly all the time. I would talk to others but find myself staring at the lake and not looking at them. I actually had to tell the photographer and videographer to stop taking pictures of it! It took me days but think I figured it out. This lake is always moving. Not the water itself, but the wildlife and the colors. The way the lake is shaped and the trees and topography and colors surrounding it seem to “move” with the shifting sun and cloud cover. The way this lake holds and reflects light is very unique. I don’t think I have experienced anything quite like it.” – Jon Kohler
One of the benefits of the properties size and ownership is that there is almost no deferred maintenance and everything that can be done, has been done on this property. The thought that has gone into developing this property as a recreational showcase is humbling. The details throughout show a respect and admiration for Georgia’s natural heritage. The landowners are one of the South’s leading timber families. As such, the forests, their quality management, and the vast amount of timber found is beyond impressive. At one time there were 93 million acres of native Longleaf and wiregrass habitat. Today, only three percent of this habitat is left. We are proud to say, Rocky Branch stands as one of SE Georgia’s last best remaining examples, and is even designated as a "Forest Stewardship" property by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Interestingly, Georgia leads the nation in producing high quality southern Yellow Pine saw timber, and uncoincidentally, both landowners are regarded as national leaders in timber production over the last half century. This property in particular has been extensively well managed. One is not going to find a better example of how high-quality saw timber should be grown along with recreation and aesthetics than one will find here.
“I see more of the best land than probably anyone ever has and know what it takes to get there. I can testify as to how much mental energy, old fashioned love and hard-earned capital went into Rocky Branch, not only by the current landowner, but also by the generational family landowners that came before. What has taken place over the last 50 years here is a textbook example of great land stewardship taken to the next level.” – Jon Kohler
Rocky Branch features a beautiful 10-acre stocked bass and bream pond with dock/cleaning station; it has an aerated, well pump water source, and automatic feeder for optimal conditions. The property has a three +/- acre natural duck hunting pond/slough, and great deer, turkey and quail hunting. There is also nine +/- acre dove field with mock power lines.
“One of the first things we noticed was the great topography. I think all of us, at the same time, said “wow, we had no idea.” – Jon Kohler
Overlooking stunning views of the lake, is a 3,798 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bath main house. The home is modernly appointed, yet relaxed, with southern laidback living. It has an updated kitchen, stone fireplace/hearth, custom shelving, heated master bathroom flooring, built in jewelry safe, and more. The home has exceptional wood craftsmanship with hand selected pieces from the local sawmill, for example, stunning wood beams, White Oak wood floors, Black Walnut wainscoting, Pecky Cypress ceilings/walls, Cedar lined closets, Pecan cabinetry, and more. There is a spacious saltwater pool overlooking the lake with stunning landscaping complete with azaleas, dogwoods, brick pavers, and more. Adjoining to the main house is a two-story workshop/man-cave. Rocky Branch is such a magnificent home, that it was even named "House of the Day" by The Wall Street Journal, garnering national awareness and acclaim.
“I was just blown away while touring this home. You can see the pride of ownership taken in making this house a true generational treasure by all the hand-selected trees that were milled by the family while in the lumber business and placed throughout the house. The lakeside setting, with the petrified limestone rock outcroppings, is truly unique and beautiful; combined with pool and landscaping make a special place to relax and enjoy with family and friends. The attention to detail can be seen as you tour the property as well, with decades of managing the longleaf wire grass ecosystem with controlled burning, to the mama wood duck flying out of the wood duck nesting boxes. No stone has been left unturned for the wildlife at Rocky Branch.” – Walter Hatchett
Other improvements on the property include a three-bedroom, two-bath guest house. There is a dog kennel and runs with fresh water well source, and a small, fenced pasture and a quail flight pen. There is a wobble trap skeet station with two stands and also a 200-yard rifle range. There is also an equipment shed, a separate game cleaning station, with walk-in cooler and barn, and a cooks’ shed with firepit for aftergame harvests.
“Erica and I have just gone through the building experience ourselves, as have many of our clients. 2020 has morphed into 2021 and the process of building still hasn’t improved. I have no doubt that it would take at least two years to duplicate this home, if constructing from scratch. I shudder to think of the cost overruns, the now astronomical cost of lumber, and the headaches involved with a new build. With gorgeous, custom, hand-selected woods intricately woven throughout, this home is truly a treasure.” –Jon Kohler
The local area is close to great southern towns like Vidalia and Savannah. Hazlehurst has its own small, town, easy going charm and touts a fantastic jet airport, old time country store (with a great selection of hand-cut meats), a fanciful café eatery, a mouthwatering steakhouse and, for history buffs, the local Jeff Davis County Museum. For nature enthusiasts, abundant walking, nature trails and birding are found locally along the famed Altamaha River, the 14,000-acre Bullard Creek Management Area and the Towns Bluff Park & Heritage Center. Less than 30 miles away, Vidalia is known for its “flavor” (and we’re not just talking about the town’s namesake sweet onions), as the town is home to fantastic dining, shopping, art and history. A quick two-hour drive from the “Hostess City of the South” – Savannah offers endless exploration – from manicured parks and antebellum architecture to ghastly tales, rich history, and trendy boutiques.
“The local towns are all very conservative and typical of the good hard-working people. Vidalia is probably the best known. Savannah and Macon are about equal distance and offer about every service one would want.” – Jon Kohler
We developed this specialty niche of representing unique, high quality, recreational properties and for 30 years have covered the deep South in search of them. When we received a call from Steve and Phyllis Johnson to come see a property that has been in their family for two generations, and they described how they managed it and what they built you can imagine our excitement. We had no idea a property of this caliber existed here. What we discovered is one of the most impressive 500-acre properties in SE Georgia. Welcome to Rocky Branch...
This is a unique, does everything, checks all the boxes type of property that’s so very hard to find.
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Bruce Ratliff is a retired elected official (Property Appraiser Taylor County). Bruce brings years of experience in ad valorem tax knowledge. His property tax background gives JKA Associates & clients a unique insight into the complicated tax process. Bruce held several positions in the Florida Association of Property Appraisers, including member of the Board of Directors, President, Vice-President and Secretary, and served on the Agricultural & Legislative Committees for the Association. The real estate business has been part of Bruce’s life since childhood. His mother, Shirley Ratliff owned Professional Realty of Perry, Florida and his father, Buster owned Ratliff Land Surveying which Bruce was General Manager of before his political career.
From murky farm ponds to pristine glacier-cut lakes and everything in between, Knox Daniels’ expertise stems from a lifelong fascination of water and the creatures that live in and around it. He recognizes and helps clients appreciate the value water features bring to a property. “My goal is to help buyers realize and sellers maximize the value different water bodies bring to a property, not only in a recreational sense, but also for social storm reasons.” After extensively traveling the country for collegiate BASS fishing tournaments, Knox graduated and worked for the Southeast’s finest fisheries and wildlife biologist, Greg Grimes. With Grimes’ company, AES, Knox managed many of the southeast’s finest private lake estate/impoundment properties, and learned the intricacies of upscale property management. Learning from Greg and other biologists, Knox honed in on the specific conditions and habitat needed for optimal gamefish growth in private lakes. He has also worked as a property manager on several thousand acres and for a commercial developer, facilitating the dirt work and builds of several apartment complexes, but his true passion has always been in the outdoors. “I’ve always had an insatiable fascination with ponds/lakes and am grateful to be able to help to place clients on the properties of their dreams and make their personal fisheries/wildlife goals reality with JKA.” – Knox Daniels
As a landowner of his own family farm, Lick Skillet, along with family land that has been passed down and enjoyed together at Keaton Beach for 40 years, Jon knows what it means to be a steward of the last best places. As a third-generation land broker with more than 30 years of experience in advising landowners in this niche, Jon is known for his innate ability to harvest a land’s unique intrinsic value. Touting several notable sales under his belt, Jon personally closed Rock Creek/Molpus – 124,000 acres of premium timberland at $142,000,000 – which was known as the largest timberland land sale in the Southeast for eight years running. He is a co-founding member of LandLeader and achieved the real estate industry’s highest honor, “2022 National Broker of the Year – Recreational Land Sales,” by the Realtors® Land Institute.
Prior to joining Jon Kohler & Associates, Walter Hatchett served for 30 years as a land manager to several of the south’s most esteemed properties, including Rock Creek. As a former property manager himself, and a consistently ranked “Top Sales Producer” nationwide and achieved “APEX Top 20 Land Broker” multiple times, Walter has a keen eye for the best in habitat management.
With Madison County roots, Lori grew up on her family farm at Pettis Springs along the historic Aucilla River. A love of the land was instilled in Lori very early on by her father who was a local farmer. Lori understands the importance of good land stewardship and has witnessed first-hand how her own father, a former 2-term member of the Florida House of Representatives whose district encompassed many rural counties of the Red Hills Plantation Region, with a little bit of sweat equity, so lovingly worked their own family land. These are core values she carries with her today, and nothing gives her more personal satisfaction than to represent some of the south’s best land stewards.
Hailing from a long line of outdoorsmen, Tim learned a great deal from his father and grandfather. He saw first-hand what it means to be a good land steward. He believes land is so much more than a place to hunt, fish, and grow timber or crops. “It’s an identity, a resting place, a safe haven and a way of life, said Tim.” Tim’s family ties to Alabama run deep. During his grandfather’s first term, Governor James was responsible for signing into law Alabama’s first state duck stamp which helped to ensure funding for the procurement, development, and preservation of wetlands for migratory waterfowl habitat. He also established Alabama’s lifetime hunting license, so it is no surprise that Tim is an avid outdoorsman with a keen eye as to how best to improve habitat for the greater good of its wildlife.
Jason has been assisting landowners for the last 28 years in Georgia and South Carolina obtain achievements the owners did not realize were possible. His degree in Biology from Georgia Southern stemmed from the desire to know how things in nature work. His plantation roots began at just 16 years old outside of Albany, GA and the last 20 years were spent in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. His entire career has been spent developing a global approach to plantation management. That plan included sales. Sales is in Jason’s blood- his mom had a 45-year career as a real estate broker. After college, he chose to pursue his passion of making properties great. In 2011, Jason sold his first plantation. Since then, he has assisted buyers and sellers with over $20 million in sales while most of that time working as a full-time General Manager of a large Lowcountry plantation. Today, he is committed to using his unique skill set and experience to guide landowners through the many challenges of plantation ownership.