Old Magnolia East
Wakulla County, Florida⁞1803± ACRES
An unbelievable find! The last of its kind. The last large, undeveloped, but developable coastal property along the entire Florida, Georgia and Alabama coast!
- 1,803+/- acres High-Quality Riverfront Recreational Property in Wakulla County
- One of Florida's last remaining “Old Florida” coastal investments
- Incredible water features:
- Four and a half miles of deep-water river frontage on the St. Marks River
- Gulf access
- A 2nd magnitude spring
- A deep-water sink
- Exceptional “Higher and Better Use”
- One of the fastest growing areas outside of Tallahassee
- Will appraise well from a development perspective
- Cash flow revenues:
- Exceptional timber revenues - genetically superior loblolly pine and slash
- Conservation easement could be sold to harvest HBU potential
- Ideal Social Storm Property ™ with vast natural resources, and multiple income streams
- Fantastic recreation:
- One of the prominent deer and wild turkey areas of the South
- Direct access to some of the best saltwater fishing in Florida
- Fascinating history:
- The site of the “extinct city” and once thriving seaport of Magnolia
- Once home to Florida’s 2nd largest city, Newport
- 25 minutes from Florida's capital city
- Ten-minute boat ride to the Gulf, marinas, and restaurants
- An Additional 2,856 Contiguous acres is also available
Beautiful 4.5 miles of pristine river frontage. A short 3.5-mile boat ride to the Gulf at St. Marks. 1,803 acres just 25 minutes from Tallahassee.
This is a world-class recreational opportunity. This property and its natural and historic amenities rival any landholding in America.
** Video encompasses Old Magnolia East and Old Magnolia West
By all accounts, this is one of Florida's last remaining “Old Florida” coastal investments. At 1,803+/- acres in Wakulla County, this property is one of the last large undeveloped, but developable, privately held properties on the entire Florida, Georgia and Alabama coast. From both a recreational and investment perspective, it’s at the top of its class.
It encompasses roughly four and a half miles of deep-water river frontage on the St. Marks River, Gulf access, a 2nd magnitude spring, is stocked with genetically improved pines, and is the epitome of “Old Florida.”
“Lord willing, this will prove to be one of the most significant conservation plays in recent memory. I track every large coastal property there is. I helped the State of Alabama buy the last one there. I don’t think anyone knew this was here.” - Jon Kohler
“It’s hard to explain the feeling of what it’s like to boat 4.5+/- miles of tidally influenced deep water and, aside from posted signs, not see any evidence of human civilization.” - Jon Kohler
The quality of the river frontage is exceptional. The 23,760 +/- feet of water frontage is high-banked with mature hardwoods and cabbage palms. This portion of the river is unique in the fact that it is coastal and tidally influenced and, because of the natural bridge upstream, not so much subject to flooding from seasonal rains as most rivers. It's unbelievable that in today’s Florida, along this entire boundary of the river, there are no docks, houses, or evidence of today’s civilization. In fact, it looks much as it did when Florida’s first Governor sailed here 500 years ago and the Apalachee ruled these lands.
“This is certainly a one-of-a-kind opportunity. This superior coastal property is offered at the same per acre price as rural SW Georgia plantations that we are selling. Yet here, you have more river frontage, more “Higher and Better Use,” 25 minutes to Tallahassee and its international airport - and you have all the year-round recreation the Gulf of Mexico offers.” - Jon Kohler
This property has been at the epicenter of Florida’s history. The site of the “extinct city” of Magnolia was once one of Florida and SW Georgia’s most important seaports; it had its own bank, printed its own money, had a U.S. Customs House, and even one of Florida’s first toll roads…that way back in 1851 charged a whopping $1.20. Yet today, like an “Episode of Unsolved Mysteries” but for one graveyard, the evidence of this once thriving town has all but disappeared.
On the south side of this property lies what was once Florida’s 2nd largest city, Newport - a seaport with cotton, turpentine, grist, sawmills, and once the epicenter of international commerce. Tragically, it was burned by the Confederates during the Battle of Natural Bridge… the town was never rebuilt. It’s unbelievable that in 2023, just 25 miles from Tallahassee, these 4.5 miles of the St. Marks River once served, not one, but two port cities. These lands that were once the international “gateway to Florida” have completely reverted back to nature.
The property also contains 2nd magnitude Newport Springs and spring run which daily flows at an astounding 1600 gallons per minute at a steady 68.5 degrees. Daniel Ladd, one of the Magnolia city founders, advertised the spring as a health resort in the 1840s. Today, North Florida is renown as the “Spring Capital of the World.” In fact, the largest spring, Wakulla Springs, ties into this one and is just 7.5 miles away. This spring is one of the last privately owned and unencumbered large springs in Florida. It's so unique that Ed Ball, once Florida's largest landowner, and who owned Wakulla Springs itself, built his personal hunting camp here on this property.
"St. Marks Pool" by famed wildlife artist, Dean Gioia
From an investment perspective, the property is preplanned for “higher and better use.” Preliminary, there are 34 river front lots laid out, averaging over 20 acres, in addition to parcels without river frontage. There is no debate that these Gulf access lots would be worth a small fortune. I would think it’s been ages since anything with this much private land with Gulf access has been placed on the market. Helping landowners monetize this development potential today by preserving it for tomorrow is exactly what Florida’s Rural and Family Lands Program and other conservation easement opportunities are about. We can help the next landowner.
“There is no debate that, if offered, these large Gulf access lots would be worth a small fortune and be unique to the market. I would be willing to bet it’s been a generation since anything like this has been offered on the entire Gulf Coast. However, we can show the next landowner ways to monetize this value today, without seeing this property go down the same subdivided path as most of Florida.” - Jon Kohler
From a longer investment horizon, this property offers massive appreciation potential as one of Florida’s last undeveloped privately held signature properties. Meanwhile, the tract is planted in genetically superior loblolly pine and slash.
This opportunity is essentially “five asset classes in one.”
- An exceptional recreational coastal property with a 2nd magnitude Spring in one of the prominent deer and wild turkey areas of the South. This is a year-round family recreational coastal property.
- An exceptional timber property, fully planted with genetically superior trees, an exceptional site index, and an exceptional road system. The limestone substrate and well-drained soils provide exceptional minerals. This is one of the most prolific timber-growing regions of America.
- It’s an exceptional “higher and better use” property just off HWY 98, in fast-growing Wakulla County, just 25 miles to Tallahassee and ten minutes by boat to the Gulf. Over 1,000 square miles of almost contiguous State and Federal lands nearby means there is little left for Florida’s growth in this region. The 34 projected 20+ acre river front lots would make the largest coastal, deep-water boating lot offering in a generation.
- It is an exceptional conservation easement play. This property is a “textbook” example of many conservation opportunities and programs to help landowners monetize today’s development value while ensuring tomorrow's agriculture and recreation.
- This is an ideal Social Storm Property ™ and exactly the type of property one would want to own in either bad times or good. It has vast natural resources, and multiple income streams, is surrounded by 1,000 square miles of federal and state lands, and is located in one of the safest areas left in America. It’s perhaps the perfect hedge. Its Social Storm ™ score is exceptional.
“To me, this opportunity reminds me of the story of many of our clients who owned great central Florida ranches that, too, were on the path of “progress.” They eventually sold for unbelievable fortunes, some sold conservation easements and raised cattle to pay the costs during the hold, but in the end, it was a financial windfall with real estate values that no one could have predicted. This is Florida. There isn’t a better way to transfer generational wealth." - Jon Kohler
Meanwhile, the tract is planted in genetically superior loblolly pine and slash.
“The conservation easement value here is real. Development is already happening along the north property line. The seller has been selling some non-contiguous lots in the $8,500+ acre range. The tax advantages here are enormous. Typically, one can deduct up to 50% of income for up to 16 years, up to the appraised value, with the deductions capped at the value of the easement. Imagine cutting what you now pay in Federal income taxes by half, simply because you bought this property and promise not to develop it."- Jon Kohler
Historic Map of Old Magnolia (1828) and Newport Springs & Swimming Pool (1921)
“It offers me just a sense of being back to the things that matter to me. It's just me, family, land and traditions.” - Tony Layne, Landowner
Between timber harvesting, to selling or donating a conservation easement on all or a portion of this property, there are numerous income opportunities during the hold. Furthermore, with the Social Storm Properties ™ aspect, this property is about as hedged as a property could be and will perform in any market.
SUMMARY:
“What the landowner has done here is impressive. From a recreational standpoint alone, this land package is a rare find, but with development plans at your fingertips, and millions in income production from future timber harvesting, this place is equal parts pleasure and equal parts smart investing.” – Jon Kohler
“This property reminds me how creative site planning could yield dividends; at Centerville Conservation Community I bought 975 acres for $15,000 per acre in 2004, put 70% of it under conservation easement, and developed only 200 lots - today that same land is worth over $40,000 per acre. Another interesting note is in 2006, I made an unsolicited offer for El Destino Plantation’s 4,000 acres at $15,000 per acre. It was rejected but shows where the highs were and in Florida where they will return to as they always have in the past. It is located a little over 12 miles from Tallahassee. Today’s property is a little over 14 miles. This property has the same win-win opportunities between conservation and meeting investment-backed expectations.” - Jon Kohler
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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.