Spring Creek Plantation
Early County, Georgia⁞5,519± ACRES
A True Legacy Estate: Wild Quail, Trophy Deer, Private Lake & Generational Stewardship
- 5,519± acre Legacy Sporting Estate, Early County, Georgia
- Private 200± acre deepwater lake with Spring Creek frontage
- 25± acre floodable duck pond for waterfowl
- 1,800± acres managed wild bobwhite quail habitat
- 1,500± acres trophy whitetail deer woods
- 1,000± acres irrigated farmland (income-producing)
- Active rock mine (substantial revenue stream)
- Brand new 5,000± sq ft world-class lodge on peninsula
- Carriage house, mother-in-law suite, lakehouse, 2 overflow homes
- All homes fully furnished and turn-key
- $1M+ in equipment included
- Less than 10 minutes from jet strip
- Adjacent to Kolomoki Farms (Jim Butler) and White Oak Pastures (Will Harris)
- Exceptional Social Storm® property — secure, resilient, income-generating
Elite Recreation + Real Income — A Rare Combination
World Class Legacy Sporting Estate
Spring Creek Plantation represents the finest expression of Legacy Sporting Land in Southwest Georgia. Situated in Early County's famed Chattahoochee Valley — home to Kolomoki Mounds, once the largest settlement north of Mexico — this 5,519± acre estate occupies hallowed ground where fertility, game richness, and cultural heritage converge.
What sets Spring Creek apart from virtually every comparable property in the Southeast is its combination of world-class recreational assets and substantial income production. A 200± acre private deepwater lake, 1,800± acres of wild quail habitat, 1,500± acres of trophy whitetail woods, 1,000± acres of irrigated farmland, and an active rock mine create a revenue stream almost unheard of in recreational properties of this caliber.
The sporting profile is exceptional: wild bobwhite quail managed to Tall Timbers standards, trophy whitetail deer in a county recognized by GON Magazine as one of Georgia's premier big-buck producers, world-class largemouth bass fishing, and waterfowl habitat on a 25± acre floodable duck pond. Add a brand-new 5,000± square foot world-class lodge on a peninsula overlooking the lake, complete turn-key furnishings, and over $1 million in equipment — this is a property built for the sportsman who demands the best of everything.
"This property is for the Sportsman. He wants the best of everything—trophy bass fishing, wild quail, trophy deer, waterfowl, and income. I've been following this property for over fifteen years. This is one of those long-term legacy properties. The right guy came in, backed by Tall Timbers knowledge, top-level management with an unlimited budget, and created what is arguably one of the finest recreational properties in the Southeast." — JON KOHLER, JON KOHLER & ASSOCIATES
THE LAND BENEATH: WHERE HISTORY MEETS FERTILITY
Few properties can claim the historical and ecological significance of Spring Creek Plantation. The land sits in the shadow of Kolomoki Mounds — recognized as one of the largest and most important prehistoric mound complexes in the Southeastern United States.
At its peak from A.D. 350 to 600, Kolomoki was one of the most populous settlements north of Mexico. The Great Temple Mound, standing 56 feet tall with a base larger than a football field, remains the largest Woodland-period platform mound in Eastern North America. Archaeologists estimate it required over two million basket loads of earth — carried one cubic foot at a time — to construct this monument.
Why does this matter for a sporting property?
Because the same fertile soils and abundant natural resources that supported a thriving civilization for centuries continue to produce exceptional wildlife today. The Kolomoki culture chose this location for its game-rich environment, productive farmland, and strategic position where the Appalachian foothills meet the Chattahoochee River floodplain.
Spring Creek Plantation occupies this same ecological sweet spot — where superior soils, diverse habitat, and centuries of land stewardship create one of the Southeast's premier sporting estates.
"Kolomoki Mounds is one of the largest and earliest Woodland period earthwork mound complexes in the Southeastern United States... At the time of its highest development, from around A.D. 350 to 600, Kolomoki was perhaps one of the most populous settlements north of Mexico." — NEW GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
THE WHITE OAK PASTURES NEIGHBORHOOD
Spring Creek Plantation's location in Early County places it in extraordinary company. The property is adjacent to White Oak Pastures, the internationally recognized regenerative agriculture operation owned by Will Harris — a fourth-generation cattleman who transformed his family's industrial farm into America's most celebrated example of holistic land management.
Will Harris describes his approach as "radically traditional farming" — a return to the polycultural, ecosystem-based agriculture his great-grandfather practiced in the 1800s. Today, White Oak Pastures is Early County's largest private employer, has revitalized the town of Bluffton, Georgia, and serves as a national model for how land stewardship and economic vitality can coexist.
"I hope that people will start to realize that when you buy from people like White Oak Pastures... you're enriching rural America. When you buy from Impossible Burger or Tyson or Smithfield, JBS, you're enriching Wall Street and Silicon Valley... those of us operate generational." — WILL HARRIS, WHITE OAK PASTURES
Spring Creek Plantation shares this generational philosophy. The property is managed not for quarterly profits but for long-term legacy — a commitment to land stewardship that honors the past while building value for future generations.
Neighboring Properties:
- Kolomoki Farms (Jim Butler) — meticulously managed sporting estate
- White Oak Pastures (Will Harris family) — 3,200± acre regenerative farm, international recognition
- Regional epicenter of Georgia's finest farmland and sporting culture
HUNTING & WILDLIFE
Four-Season Sporting Excellence
Wild Bobwhite Quail: 1,800± acres of prime quail habitat managed to Tall Timbers Research Station standards. Prescribed fire regimen, understory management, and strategic habitat design create ideal conditions for wild quail populations. The property's fertility and management commitment mirror the legendary quail plantations of the Red Hills region.
Trophy Whitetail Deer: 1,500± acres of managed deer woods producing Boone & Crockett class bucks. Early County is recognized by Georgia Outdoor News (GON) Magazine as one of Georgia's top counties for trophy whitetail production. The property's diverse habitat mosaic — bottomland hardwoods, pine uplands, agricultural edges, and creek corridors — supports exceptional deer genetics and mature age structure.
Waterfowl: 25± acre floodable duck pond with water control structures provides exceptional waterfowl hunting. The property's location in the Lower Chattahoochee River Valley positions it within a productive waterfowl corridor. Wood ducks, mallards, teal, and gadwall utilize the property throughout the season.
Trophy Bass Fishing: 200± acre private deepwater lake with Spring Creek frontage offers world-class largemouth bass fishing. The lake's structure, depth, and nutrient profile create ideal conditions for trophy bass growth. This is a fisherman's paradise — a private, managed fishery on par with the finest bass lakes in the Southeast.
THE EARLY COUNTY ADVANTAGE: TROPHY DEER HERITAGE
Georgia Outdoor News (GON) Magazine has documented trophy whitetail production across Georgia for over 30 years through their County-by-County deer records program. Only racks measured by certified Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young scorers are included — providing the most accurate picture of which counties consistently produce mature, high-scoring bucks.
Early County's position in Southwest Georgia — with superior soils, diverse habitat, and a culture of quality deer management — has produced numerous record-book whitetails. The same fertile ground that supported Kolomoki's ancient civilization now grows trophy-class bucks year after year.
Spring Creek Plantation's 1,500± acres of managed deer woods, combined with neighboring properties committed to age structure and habitat quality, create an environment where mature bucks thrive. The property's management philosophy — backed by Tall Timbers knowledge and unlimited investment in habitat — has produced exceptional results.
"GON began the effort to compile records of Georgia bucks more than 30 years ago... Only racks measured by certified Boone & Crockett or Pope & Young scorers are included. All scores are net." — GEORGIA OUTDOOR NEWS
WATER ASSETS
Exceptional Water Features
200± PRIVATE DEEPWATER LAKE: Premier 200± acre private lake on a peninsula with Spring Creek frontage. World-class largemouth bass fishing, excellent structure, and exceptional water quality. The property's new lodge sits on a peninsula overlooking this magnificent body of water.
25± FLOODABLE DUCK POND: Managed waterfowl impoundment with water control structures. Ideal habitat for wood ducks, mallards, and teal. Strategic flooding schedule optimizes waterfowl attraction throughout the season.
SPRING CREEK FRONTAGE: Natural creek corridor flowing through the property provides additional habitat diversity, year-round water source for wildlife, and scenic beauty throughout the estate.
NATURAL RESOURCES & INCOME PRODUCTION
Timber, Agriculture & Mining
- Irrigated Farmland: 1,000± acres
- Trophy Quail Habitat: 1,800± acres
- Trophy Deer Woods: 1,500± acres
- Total Managed Acreage: 5,200± acres
Unlike most recreational properties, Spring Creek Plantation generates substantial income through multiple revenue streams:
- Rock Mine: Active rock mine producing a desperately needed commodity in Southwest Georgia. This operation provides significant cash flow — a rare advantage in recreational land ownership.
- Irrigated Farmland: 1,000± acres of high-quality irrigated farmland generate annual agricultural income while maintaining wildlife habitat along field edges and corridors.
- Timber Value: Mature timber holdings with both current and future value. Managed forestland supports wildlife while maintaining long-term timber investment.
This combination of recreational excellence and income production is almost unheard of in properties of this caliber. Most elite sporting estates are consumption assets — Spring Creek produces revenue.
INFRASTRUCTURE & IMPROVEMENTS
World-Class Lodge:
Brand new 5,000± square foot lodge on a peninsula overlooking the 200± acre lake. This is not a hunting camp — this is a world-class retreat with every modern amenity. The lodge is fully furnished and ready for immediate use.
Additional Residences:
- Carriage House — guest accommodations
- Mother-in-law Suite — additional guest quarters
- Lakehouse — lakefront residence
- Two Overflow Homes — staff or guest housing
Equipment Package:
Over $1 million in equipment included with the property. Tractors, implements, utility vehicles, and operational infrastructure convey with the sale — truly turn-key.
Every residence on the property is completely furnished. A new owner can arrive, unlock the door, and begin enjoying the property immediately.
Social Storm® Property Scorecard
The Social Storm® program — developed exclusively by Jon Kohler & Associates — identifies properties that combine exceptional recreational value with hard-asset security, natural resource abundance, and self-sufficiency. These are investments that perform in good times and become invaluable in uncertain ones. Spring Creek Plantation qualifies as a premier Social Storm® property with the highest composite score in our portfolio.
LOCATION & SECLUSION: 9.0 / 10
Early County, Georgia location provides seclusion and security while maintaining convenient access. Adjacent to high-quality managed properties (Kolomoki Farms, White Oak Pastures) that serve as permanent buffers. Jet strip access within 10 minutes.
WATER RESOURCES & WILDLIFE: 10 / 10
Perfect score. 200± acre private lake, 25± acre duck pond, Spring Creek frontage, wild quail, trophy deer, waterfowl, and world-class bass fishing. This property contains every water and wildlife asset a sportsman could desire.
SECURITY & RESILIENCE: 9.5 / 10
Exceptional security profile. Income-producing assets (rock mine, irrigated farmland) provide cash flow and operational resilience. Multiple residences, infrastructure, and equipment create self-sufficiency. Neighboring quality properties ensure long-term stability.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES & INCOME: 9.5 / 10
Highest rating in this category. Active rock mine, 1,000± acres irrigated farmland, timber value, and fishery/wildlife resources create multiple income streams. This property can sustain itself financially — a rare advantage in recreational land.
COMPOSITE SOCIAL STORM® SCORE
Average across all four rated categories: 9.2 / 10
PRESCRIBED FIRE & LAND MANAGEMENT LEGACY
The land surrounding Spring Creek Plantation has a long and storied history of prescribed fire management — a practice that dates back to the indigenous peoples who inhabited Kolomoki and continues through the pioneering work of Herbert Stoddard and Tall Timbers Research Station.
Herbert Stoddard (1889-1970), recognized as the "father of prescribed burning," authored The Bobwhite Quail (1931) — an iconic study long recognized for its pioneering methodology. Stoddard co-founded Tall Timbers Research Station, which has been headquartered in this region since 1958, conducting groundbreaking research on fire ecology and wildlife management.
Spring Creek Plantation's current management reflects this legacy. Prescribed fire, understory management, and habitat diversity are not afterthoughts — they are the foundation of the property's wildlife program. This commitment to scientifically-based land stewardship, backed by Tall Timbers knowledge and unlimited investment, has created one of the Southeast's finest sporting estates.
The property's quail habitat, deer woods, and waterfowl impoundments all benefit from decades of intentional management guided by the best available science and executed without budget constraints.
COMPARABLE PROPERTIES
Jon Kohler & Associates has represented some of the Southeast's most significant recreational land transactions. Spring Creek Plantation joins an elite portfolio of legacy sporting estates that define the market's upper echelon.
Recent Notable Sales:
- Southlands (Georgia) 5,746± acres • $39,000,000 • SOLD: Most expensive recreational property sale in Georgia history. Sold to Jake Paul. Historic sporting estate with Lake Seminole frontage, wild quail, trophy deer, and world-class infrastructure.
- Big Creek • Premium Sporting Estate • $39,000,000 • AVAILABLE: Elite habitat management, world-class infrastructure, exceptional wildlife populations.
- Kolomoki (Additional information available upon request): Adjacent to Spring Creek Plantation
- Chokee (Additional information available upon request): Southwest Georgia sporting property
These properties represent Jon Kohler & Associates' expertise in the mega-plantation market — properties exceeding 5,000 acres with exceptional sporting quality, infrastructure, and legacy value. Spring Creek Plantation stands among the finest in this category.
LOCATION & ACCESS
Regional Context:
- Early County, Georgia (Southwest Georgia)
- Chattahoochee Valley
- Adjacent to Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park
- Neighboring White Oak Pastures (Bluffton, GA)
- Neighboring Kolomoki Farms
Access:
Less than 10 minutes from a jet strip. Convenient access for owners traveling from distant locations while maintaining privacy and seclusion on the property itself.
- Less than 10 minutes to jet strip
- Bainbridge, Georgia — 20 minutes
- Tallahassee, Florida — 60 minutes
- Atlanta, Georgia — 3.5 hours
- Gulf Coast beaches — 2 hours
THE SPORTSMAN'S ESTATE
Spring Creek Plantation is not a recreational property with some income potential. It is not a farm with decent hunting. It is a true sportsman's estate — built for the individual who demands the best of everything and has the means to acquire it.
This is for the sportsman who wants:
- Wild quail managed to Tall Timbers standards
- Trophy whitetail in a county recognized for big-buck production
- World-class bass fishing on a private 200± acre lake
- Waterfowl hunting on a managed impoundment
- Multiple income streams that offset ownership costs
- Turn-key luxury with a world-class lodge and full furnishings
- $1M+ in equipment ready to operate
- Neighboring properties (White Oak Pastures, Kolomoki Farms) that ensure long-term quality
Few properties deliver this combination. Spring Creek Plantation does.
"This property is for the Sportsman. He wants the best of everything—trophy bass fishing, wild quail, trophy deer, waterfowl, and income." — JON KOHLER
This represents one of the finest Legacy Sporting Estates available in the Southeast. Properties of this caliber rarely come to market. When they do, they are acquired quickly by discerning buyers who recognize the combination of recreational excellence, income production, and long-term legacy value.
For additional information, detailed financials on income production, or to schedule a confidential showing, contact Jon Kohler.
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cole’s dedication to land management lies in his family roots. As a fourth-generation timber expert, Cole’s earliest memories were spent with his father managing timber investments. With a degree in Food Resource Economics from the University of Florida, Cole is the epitome of an up-and-coming leader. He grew up with a hands-on approach to learning land management and conservation and has spent the last 15 years learning every angle of the real estate and forest industry. Cole is a member of the Florida Forestry Association, Red Hills Quail Forever, Southeastern Wood Producers Association and he uses this platform as an advocate for landowners and their land investments. His family has dedicated the past 60 years to providing landowners in North Florida and South Georgia with professional land management services focused on improving and protecting one’s forestland and wildlife investment. In fact, their family business, M.A. Rigoni, Inc., was one of the first to introduce whole tree chipping to the Red Hills Region.
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.