Carrabelle River Retreat
A private Carrabelle River retreat combining acreage, craftsmanship, and quick Gulf access in the heart of Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
- 9.63± acres on the Carrabelle River in Carrabelle, Florida
- 200± feet of direct Carrabelle River frontage with expansive water views
- Custom dock with floating platform for boating, fishing, and waterfront access
- Direct boat access to the Gulf of Mexico and the Forgotten Coast barrier islands
- Gateway to Dog Island, St. George Island, and Alligator Point by boat
- 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath custom river home | 1,906± square feet
- Hardwood floors, cedar walls, and exposed pine and oak beams throughout the home
- First-floor master suite with two ensuite guest bedrooms upstairs
- Bonus room with panoramic river views
- Private setting overlooking protected lands across the river with no future development
Set along more than 200 feet of frontage on the Carrabelle River, Carrabelle River Retreat is a rare private waterfront retreat offering acreage, craftsmanship, and direct boating access to some of Florida’s most untouched coastline. Located on 9.63± acres just minutes from downtown Carrabelle and four miles from the beach, the property captures the spirit of Old Florida while providing immediate access to the Gulf and surrounding barrier islands.
“This place has that old Florida feel,” the owner explains. “When you break the mouth of the river and it opens up in front of you, it’s just serenity and freedom. You can go wherever you want and you have this entire playground to yourself.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
A Private Riverfront Setting
The home sits high above the Carrabelle River with more than 200 feet of frontage and unobstructed views across the water toward protected lands within Tate’s Hell State Forest. With no development across the river, the setting offers a level of privacy rarely found on Florida’s coast.
“When I sit here on the front porch and look across the river at Tate’s Hell, that’s why I bought this place,” the owner says. “There’s nothing going to be built across from us. This part of the river is very, very private.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
A custom dock with a floating platform provides immediate access to fishing and boating. The waters here are brackish and productive, offering excellent bass fishing alongside opportunities for redfish and trout.
Gateway to the Forgotten Coast
From the dock, a short boat ride leads to open Gulf waters and the region’s renowned barrier islands. Dog Island, St. George Island, and Alligator Point are all within reach by boat, offering miles of undeveloped white sand beaches.
“You can go downriver and be in the Gulf in no time,” the owner says. “From there you’ve got Dog Island straight ahead, St. George to the west, and endless water to explore.” Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
Much of Dog Island remains undeveloped and protected, creating a stretch of coastline that feels untouched by modern development.
“You can sit on that beach and look a mile down the shoreline and see nothing but sand,” he explains. “That’s how raw Florida used to be.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
Custom Home with Old Florida Character
The 1,906± square-foot custom home blends comfort with timeless coastal craftsmanship. Hardwood floors, cedar walls, and exposed pine and oak beams create a warm lodge-like atmosphere throughout the home. Custom yellow pine interior doors with cherry and walnut trim add distinctive character and detail.
The layout is designed for both privacy and gathering. A spacious first-floor master suite anchors the main level, while two ensuite bedrooms upstairs provide comfortable accommodations for family and guests. A bonus room overlooking the river offers an ideal space for additional sleeping quarters, a study, or a quiet retreat with expansive water views.
“I bought this house because it reminded me of an old Florida home,” the owner says. “Something you’d see along the historic coast, but right here on the Carrabelle River.” Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
A Lifestyle Built Around the Water
For the current owners, the property has served as a headquarters for outdoor adventure — boating, fishing, exploring backwaters, and gathering with friends along the barrier islands.
“This isn’t just a house on the river, It’s a place where we start every adventure.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
Whether heading offshore to fish, running up the Crooked or New Rivers, or tying up alongside friends at Dog Island for the afternoon, the property offers immediate access to some of the most diverse coastal waters in Florida.
“There’s never a dull moment here. Whether it’s calm and you’re heading to the islands, or blowing and you’re fishing the rivers, there’s always something to do.” Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
The Forgotten Coast Lifestyle
Despite its privacy, Carrabelle River Retreat remains close to the conveniences of Carrabelle. Restaurants, marinas, groceries, and local shops are just minutes away, while Apalachicola and St. George Island are an easy drive for dining, shopping, and exploring the surrounding coast.
For the current owner, the greatest value of the property has been the time spent outdoors with family.
“This place has a way of slowing down time,” he says. “When we’re here, everything else goes away and you focus on your family and the adventure of the day.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat
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“This place has that old Florida feel,” the owner explains. “When you break the mouth of the river and it opens up in front of you, it’s just serenity and freedom. You can go wherever you want and you have this entire playground to yourself.” - Jack XX, Landowner, Carrabelle River Retreat


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.