Lake Hatchineha Ranch
Polk County, Florida⁞1620± ACRES
This ranch will redefine what you think a high quality Central Florida recreational ranch looks like – It more accurately compares to some of America’s Finest Recreational Trophy Properties
- 1,620± Acres in Polk County, Florida - One of the Finest Trophy Ranches and Social Storm® Properties in Central Florida
- Bordered on three sides by conservation land - No development allowed anywhere around the property - Essentially buying nearly 12,000 acres of privacy
- 6 Miles of Eastern boundary is the 7,156 acre Catfish Creek Preserve State Park owned by the South Florida Water Management District to protect one of the central Florida's most beautiful lakes, Lake Hatchineha on the Kissimmee river chain
- 4.25 Miles of Western Border is the 4,786 acre Nature Conservancy Mitigation Bank, which is home to the headwaters of the Everglades
- 12 artesian wells throughout property with consistent and strong pressure
- Previous sod farm on 351± acres of laser-leveled ground with irrigation canals and drainage
- Currently holding nearly 400 cattle, but has a higher holding capacity
- Entire Ranch is well fenced for cattle with highly improved pastures & rotational grazing and moving - most fencing new
- Exceptional numbers of Osceola Turkeys, Trophy Whitetail Deer, wild hogs
- Heavily managed for wildlife & recreation
- Excellent water attributes - artesian wells, great drainage
- Deep-water canal access to Lake Hatchineha
- Adjacent to the 6,665-acre Lake Hatchineha - Right to build a dock on the premier recreation and fishing lake within the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
- Dichotomy between relaxation, safety and privacy versus amenities and high-energy from one of the world's premier travel destinations
- Redefines the definition of a Trophy Ranch – Once Part of the well-known Central Florida Stokes Ranch, This Ranch was Created by selectively carving out only the finest ranch lands -What remains today is the Best of the Best Land that was kept!
- Managed with prescribed fire
- One of the purest examples of “Old Florida”
- New horse barn with 8 stalls, tack and equipment room
- The most private ranch in Central Florida - privacy and seclusion behind security gate
- Fantastic road system throughout property
- Located near the epicenter of capitalism in Florida – Orlando – One of Top Tourist Destination in the world
- Humble main lodge
- Beautiful palm hammocks, oak hammocks, cypress heads, pines, palmettos, flatwoods, and sawgrass marshes
- Great location on flyway with Natural duck habitat marshes with additional locations to add floodable ponds
- Property under lenient conservation easement
- Just 45 minutes from the Disneyland other theme parks
- Easy access to either Atlantic or Gulf Coasts of Florida
- Quick drive to some of the finest golf in the nation
- 24 miles to I-4 corridor
- 59 miles to Southbound Turnpike
- 20 minutes to grocery stores, restaurants and shopping along US27
- 1 hour to Orlando International Airport
Bordered on three sides by conservation land - No development allowed anywhere around the property - Essentially buying nearly 12,000 acres of privacy
This Recreational Ranch has a mix of it all; Trophy Whitetails, Turkeys, Cattle, Sod Farm, Fenced, Water, Lodge, Barns, Privacy, Convenient to Town, and Beautiful palm hammocks, oak hammocks, pines, palmettos, and flatwoods
"If author Patrick Smith gave out A Land Remembered Award for a property that exemplifies everything that is pure and right, this ranch would get it hands down." Jon Kohler
Almost secretly tucked away along the edge of Lake Hatchineha, is a 1,620 acre private ranch that is the culmination of years of strategic planning on how to save one of Central Florida’s last most beautiful natural ecosystems. Long heralded as the “Headwaters of the Everglades” and famed Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, this area between the western shore of Lake Hatchineha and Lake Wales Ridge is unique to all of Florida. Lake Hatchineha Ranch is the signature ranch.
Whether it is described as a recreational trophy property or more subtly a ranch, Lake Hatchineha Ranch is undoubtedly one of the best remaining examples of Central Florida’s once pristine ecosystem. In addition, it is the core and dominant property in this region, as further evidenced today by its curiously irregular shape. Once a portion of the well-known Stokes Ranch, visionary landowners of the past preserved the best of the best which is now this ranch as they sold off the edges in part of what is now the 7,156 acre Catfish Creek Preserve State Park and 4,786 acre Nature Conservancy Hatchineha Ranch Mitigation Bank. This ranch is now bordered on three sides by conservation land. While one only has to pay for 1,620 acres, the way this ranch was carved gives it the privacy and seclusion even few 10,000-acre ranches can command. The entire western boundary is 4.25 miles of the Nature Conservancy Hatchineha Ranch Mitigation Bank and its views permanently remain in its natural state. It cannot be developed, altered, not even a shed can be added. Alternatively, the entire eastern boundary is 6 miles long and protected as the Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, of which there is no public vehicular access.
“Not long ago, this ranch was slated for 5,000 homes and destined to be a sprawling development with conservation neighbors as an amenity. It would easily sell for upwards of $12,000 per acre. Today, this ranch too is protected, forever solidifying 13,562 contiguous acres of Central Florida’s last best habitats. In addition, one can purchase this property for half of what it would bring unprotected and at commensurate prices for what similar conservation properties in both the Red Hills and ACE Basin are currently trading for.” - Jon Kohler
Today, when you are on this property and 97% of the neighboring property lines are permanently managed for habitat, one can thank many of the private landowners, NGO’s, and conservation groups that made this happen. As far as the location goes, it’s an anomaly. While it’s “The” most private ranch in Central Florida, at the same time it’s only 28 miles as the crow flies to the Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Orlando itself with every type of entertainment, professional sports, hospitals, and services imaginable.
“The classic dream, usually found out west, is to find a private ranch in the middle of thousands of acres protected land that will always remain pristine and never be developed. Who would have thought the same thing would exist thirty miles from the Magic Kingdom.” - Jon Kohler
It would be hard to argue that God didn’t spend extra time creating this ranch. The beauty here is immeasurable and 100% “Old” Florida. From the outreaching live oak and cabbage hammocks which are absolutely pristine, to the big beautiful sunrises over the productive hay fields, everything here is spectacular. What it isn’t is “New” Florida with a worry that any day the neighbors will sell out for $12,000 per acre and the wildlife and views are replaced by urban sprawl. For this reason too, this ranch is very unique.
Given the fact this ranch too will never be developed, 100% of the energy goes into managing for wildlife and recreation; the habitat here is world-class and game is drawn here from miles around. Osceola Wild Turkey populations are off the charts. Whitetail Deer here score higher than anywhere else in the region due to maturity, nutrition, and lack of hunting pressure. Traditional Florida wild hogs are as prolific here as any ranch. Numerous wetland marshes on the ranch provide great waterfowl habitat. Nearby Lake Kissimmee is historically one of Florida’s best waterfowl flyways. This property has served as a retreat and Florida hunting headquarters for the Outdoor Dream Foundation, which connects kids and families suffering from chronic or terminal illness with the outdoors. Not a single kid has left the Ranch empty handed.
The Social Storm® attributes of privacy and security here are simply unmatched. With 1,620 acres deeded and the additional buffer provided by the conservation land surrounding the property, social distancing is a breeze. To put this place in perspective, the privacy here is unmatched. At 1,620 acres, almost twice the size of Central Park, yet only one family uses this ranch, not 12 million. The current lodge is located in the center of the property, with additional lodge sites throughout the property. The main entrance is protected by a security gate located on Lake Hatchineha Road.
A Social Storm® Ranked Property:
Lake Hatchineha Ranch 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?
“Its Social Storm® score is the highest we’ve ever recorded for a Florida ranch. If times are good this ranch is awesome. If times get worse there isn’t a better, more secure property to simply lock the gate and let the world roll on by.” - Jon Kohler
The ranch is currently holding nearly 400 cattle, but has a higher holding capacity. This area is one of the most competitive cattle markets in the South. Depending on cattle program annual sales of around $200,000+ should be expected. The farming infrastructure here is in immaculate shape and well capitalized, as evidence of new fencing and state of the art travel lanes. The highly improved pastures are configured for rotational grazing throughout the property. Prior landowners have done an excellent job balancing drainage and habitat. It’s a role model property for its ability to move water. Having the ability to store wealth in cattle and with multiple nearby markets make this a very liquid investment.
As many say, water is the new oil, and this property has struck the jackpot. Just beyond the eastern neighbor is the 6,665-acre Lake Hatchineha, one of the seven lakes in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Known for the water quality, great hunting and fishing efforts, these lakes provide great recreation and enjoyment. The lake even creates a microclimate providing for a cooling breeze off the lake. The ranch has riparian access to the lake through the water management district property and is accessible by gate. A dozen artesian wells provide consistent and strong water pressure throughout the property, and are utilized to provide water to the herd. Unlike many other ranches in the region, rainwater flows off the property quickly and efficiently.
Ranches of this caliber are dwindling and becoming harder and harder to find. Many similar properties are State Parks and can never be owned. All it takes is one bad landowner in history, and all of the legacy, all of the beauty you see here is lost forever. There is only a few ranches really left in Florida and across the south that can hold a candlestick to a property like this. And this one is at the top.
Co-listed with Maury Carter & Associates
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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.