Deep Creek

Thoughts on the Sale: It’s fitting as we enter our 30th year that we just closed Deep Creek for the fourth time in our career! Arguably, Florida’s Flagship riverfront plantation, this property also exemplifies what sets our firm apart. Sharing our knowledge and “Rolodex” post-closing, introducing new landowners to the right people, and giving advice for years after the sale helps make sure the land experience is both recreationally and financially rewarding. It matters to people that we are 100% committed to serving all of the landowners in this niche, and a reason why we closed an unbelievable $535,000+ every single day in 2021 - at an average of $4,438 per acre (that's almost twice the price of regular land).

With nearly 4.4 miles on the world famous Suwannee River and one of the finest examples of natural "old Florida" riverfront ecosystems in private hands, this plantation is Florida's flagship riverfront property. There are almost 7 additional miles of flowing creeks, including Deep Creek itself, on this unique 2,144+/- acre plantation. This property is the perfect balance between recreation, agriculture, silviculture, and aesthetics. The live oak hammocks, pinewoods, and natural beauty on this plantation, combined with the recreational improvements, are unsurpassed. Deep Creek Plantation offers something for the entire family year round.

"This is one of my all-time favorite plantations!" - Jon Kohler

Deep Creek is ideally located halfway between Tallahassee and Jacksonville in the north central portion of the state just north of Lake City and about 14 miles NE of the I-10 and I-75 interchange. As testament to the quality of the natural resources, the majority of the neighborhood is conservation lands, state park or National Forest. Half of the river frontage on Deep Creek Plantation was part of a rare and strategic trade as it was once itself state lands. The entire adjacent river frontage is a state park and other state conservation lands.

The improvements were well thought out and have a high utility for the recreational lifestyle. They are well designed and planned for year round recreational family enjoyment and far surpass most properties.  These are some of the most well done, but not overdone, improvements on any hunting plantation in the southeast. The main entrance is one of the most impressive entrances on any plantation that we have seen. As you come through the custom entrance gates, an incredible collection of palm trees light up in a round-about designed for seeing deer at night with lights that automatically dim and brighten.  There are over 20,000 square feet of improvements.  There is two bedroom, two bath guest Lodge with screened porch, Indoor Equipment Building with feed room, and Indoor “Toy Box” combination contains approximately 13,530 square feet. It is extremely functional; situating all of the toys and guests together for one fun place to hang out.  It includes one of the finest plantation shops that we have ever seen. Everything has been thought of from two wells (in case one would ever not function) to automatic pressure washing and air pumps, to elaborate heating and fire hydrants.  There is a 4,700 square foot fully decorated two bedroom, two bath Owner’s Lodge with screened in porch and with attached Indoor Shop, Deer Cooler with Stainless Cleaning Station combination.  This is one of the most functional and nicest deer cleaning and cooler systems that one could hope for!  It has everything!  There is also a 1,500 square foot three bedroom/two bathroom guest house. The plantation also has full-service hook-ups for campers (with 115, 50, and 30 AMP power and water and septic hookup) with two located at the hunting camp, one at the owner's home/barn, and four across the lake, under the oaks. For a more rustic experience, there is a "cracker-style" bunk house which sleeps 12 and is outfitted with AC/heat and satellite TV.  There is a 400 square foot Dog Kennel with four roomy kennels with indoor beds and outdoor, but covered runs, an indoor grooming station with hot water, and approximately one acre of fenced area. There are two primary wells that service the headquarters. The wells each have emergency switches incase of pump failure to immediately switch all to work off the other well.

With the exception of the Suwannee River, frontage of the adjoining acreage is high fenced for the ultimate in wildlife management and privacy. The deer and turkey hunting on this planation are some of the best in the state. This is an example of Florida’s genetic potential of its native whitetails. The deer and turkey hunting on this plantation are some of the best in the state.” to this – This is one of the most outstanding deer hunting properties in the South. The main plantation is high fenced on every side except along the Suwannee River, itself, and a small portion across Cansa Road. It should be noted that although three sides are fenced that this is not a pen type environment. Deer are fed at various feeding stations but not more than many highly managed free range properties. However, the results of the fence on the age class of the whitetails, privacy, and sense of well-being is very rewarding.  There are 4.75 miles of high-fence.  As would be expected, the high fence is of superior detail and quality. Not only is it galvanized, but every 7th post is set in concrete. This is one of the most impressive high fences that we have seen.

Of course, all types of native wild game flourish here (wild hogs have not been seen in years). As one would expect with more than 6 miles of various creeks (in addition to the river frontage), there is a great wild turkey population. Hunting them at Deep Creek is very fun, with a myriad of strutting plots and a small fleet of golf carts to get you there quietly. There is a population of wild quail and plus over 1,000+ acres of uplands that could be further develop for quail hunting. The plantation could fairly easily be managed as a wild quail property. Ted Baker's famous Chinquapin Plantation is just south of Deep Creek below Lake City. This area, when managed for wild quail, has proven to be prolific and similar in nature and management to the Albany Plantation Belt.

From a management cost standpoint, this is one of the most efficiently operated hunting plantations in Florida. As a result of the well-designed capital improvements that have already been invested at Deep Creek, the annual operating costs to manage these 2,144 acres are a fraction of the cost of other intensively managed high quality hunting properties. Another added benefit is that there is a wealth of both planted and natural timber resources that are managed for aesthetics as well as income. Previously, the plantation was a flagship property of the country's largest private and institutional landholdings and was managed by them for a generation as a private hunting plantation for executives and then was owned for many years by an individual as a private recreational property. There is a system of wildlife food sources; from hard-to-establish, high quality perennial peanut hay to feeders to annual winter food plots. The management program includes an easy to operate and comprehensive herbicide program, 93+ acres of food plots, a free-take feeder every 165 acres, among a host of other duties. There are 35 miles of well improved roads, with many planted in Bahia.  In addition, there is a very productive 3.5 acre stocked fishing pond.

There is a myriad of rich, diverse and rare habitats located here. Rarely is so much diversity found on one property: Longleaf Pine wiregrass, High Quality Successional Forest,  Xeric Hammocks, Mesic Flatwoods, Beech/Hickory and Magnolia Forests, Seepage Slopes and Streams, Strand and Floodplain Swamps, River Floodplain, Live Oak Cabbage Palm Hammocks, Blackwater Streams, Old Field Lands, Historic Ferry Crossing, Historic Boat Landing, Cypress Domes, Baygall, and Enfemeral pool.

A Social Storm® Ranked Property: Deep Creek and it's Social Storm® Property Attributes are Highly Ranked. This Social Storm® property belongs to a unique asset class with key property attributes that investors gravitate to for safety in bad times and buy for a recreation reward in good times.
Why choose a Social Storm® Property?

The Deep Creek area contains one of the highest concentrations of ecological wealth in Florida. From Big Shoals State Park (which borders the plantation), to the only Class III Whitewater Rapids in Florida, to the nearby Falling Creek  Falls (which is one of the tallest waterfalls in the State). Understandably, this is one of the most highly conserved areas in the Southeast. This is the epicenter of Florida’s conservation and protected lands. In this area over 90% of the river frontage is protected from development. The 200,000+ Osceola National Forest, one of the largest national forests in the Southeast, is about 3 miles to the east. Deep Creek Plantation is completely bordered by conservation lands or lands on the Board of Trustees Land Acquisition Project list.  Deep Creek Conservation Area, Big Shoals State Park, Big Shoals State Forest, Big Shoals Conservation Area, Stephen F. Foster Culture Center State Park all border this plantation. The Florida Trail borders the plantation to the South. A portion of Deep Creek Plantation itself is under a conservation easement. This neighborhood will not be developed. This neighborhood is as pristine as it was over 100 years ago, yet it is less than 15 minutes to the lifeblood of the southeast- the I-75 corridor, an hour to a major city and airports, and less than three hours to Disney World.

“There is something different to do for the family all day, every day; not only on the plantation but in the immediate area.” - Erica Kohler  

Deep Creek Plantation is widely regarded as one of the crown jewels of Florida’s ecological wealth and one of the largest privately held properties on the Suwannee River. It contains the full spectrum of biodiversity of the Southeastern Coastal Plain and represents the best of most of the natural ecosystems of Florida…..Not only is the Plantation all of this, “it is a lot of fun”, has great improvements that were well thought out and designed for year round family recreation, and is turn-key with all the toys to enjoy the property!

The Entire Property Located in Opportunity Zone.

Deep Creek Photo Gallery  Deep Creek Maps

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