Pettis Springs Farm
Madison County , Florida⁞592± ACRES
The story of Pettis Springs is, at its heart, a love story. It is the story of two people who, nearly 58 years into marriage, built not just a home and a life together, but a living legacy on 592 acres of rolling pasture land along the historic Aucilla River in Madison County, Florida.
- Madison County, Florida - 592 +/- Acre Cattle Farm
- Owned by the Same Family for 50 Years
- 591.4 Acres of Mixed-Use Land: Pasture, Planted Pine, Hardwoods, and Recreational Land
- .34 Miles on the Historic Aucilla River with Conservation Neighbors (Suwannee River Water Mgmt District) Ensuring No Future Development & Great Wildlife
- Two Duck Ponds, Fishing Pond, and Abundant Wildlife Habitat - Deer, Turkey, Dove, Ducks
- 240 Acres of Pastureland with 2.75 Miles of Underground Water for Rotational Grazing Operation; New Cattle Fencing 2024
- Additional 126 Acres of Adjoining Pine Tree Land that Could Easily Be Converted to Create 360 Acres of Contiguous Pastureland
- 126 Acres of Loblolly Pines Planted (2022–2023) - 30 +/- Acres of Mature Pines Ready for Clear Cut Adjoining Pastureland
- 5 Wells (4 operational), Pop-Up Irrigation System tied to the Big Well (Needs Power Unit)
- No Conservation Easements
- Main House
- 4 BR/4 Full BA - 4002 Sq Ft With 2744 Heated and Cooled - Fully Renovated
- Hardwood Flooring, Carpet Upstairs, Cambria Countertops, Stainless Steel Appliances, Gas Fireplace, Walk-In Closets
- Front and Back Porch Which Both Create Great Outdoor Spaces
- New AC 2025, Attic is Finished Out for Great Storage
- Paved Driveway, 3 Board Black Fencing and Gated Entrance
- Salt Water Inground Swimming Pool
- Picket Fenced Yard With Arbors, Mature Live Oaks, Pines, Magnolias and Beautiful Landscaping
- Barn - 1000 Sq Ft Barn With Power for Storage
- Historical Legacy Property - Florida Archives
- Pettis Springs - Spring Heads By River that are Capped Off
- This Property was Once a Prohibition Country Club With An Olympic Sized Swimming Pool Which Was Serviced From the Spring Well on Property
- 1930-1960's Pettis Springs Was a Popular Summer Resort Type Property With a Dance Hall With Live Bands, Bowling Alley, Skating Rink and Lockers Rooms for Men and Women Using the Pool Amenities. Many Northerners Who Owned Area Quail Plantations Frequented Pettis Springs
- 1960-1965 - The Country Club Burned Down and the Existing Barn Was Built Around It's Concrete Pillars
- Olympic Sized Concrete Pool is Still On Property Between the Barn and River
- Guest House - Care-Takers Cabin
- 2 BR 2BA Cedar Guest House With Covered Front Porch - 984 Sq Ft Heated - 1324 Sq Ft With Porches
- Located on the Historic Aucilla River on the Jefferson County/Madison County Line in the Red Hills Plantation Region Near Honey Lake Plantation - See Kohler Plantation Map for Exact Location
- 6 Miles from Greenville, 11 Miles from Monticello, 8 Miles to I-10, 40 Minutes to Thomasville, Georgia, 1 Hour to Tallahassee
- Closest Airports - TLH and Valdosta, Georgia - 1 Hour Away
Nearly 50 years later, Pettis Springs stands as proof of what vision, grit, and love can accomplish. It is more than land—it is memory. It is tradition. It is the place where children grew into adults, where lessons were taught under oak canopies, where values of respect for nature and preservation of history were instilled and where grandchildren now play. It is, in every sense, a testament to legacy.
Long before our family’s chapter began, Pettis Springs was already a place of gathering and memory. Named for the natural spring heads that bubble from the earth, the property was once home to a vibrant Prohibition-era country club in the 1930s. Guests came from miles away to enjoy its dance hall, bowling alley, skating rink, and Olympic-sized concrete pool—cooled by the icy spring waters.
Pettis Springs – A Legacy of Land and Love
The story of Pettis Springs is, at its heart, a love story. It is the story of two people who, nearly 58 years into marriage, built not just a home and a life together, but a living legacy on 592 acres of rolling pasture land along the historic Aucilla River in Madison County, Florida. It is the story of my parents, who, at the ages of just 26 and 28, stepped out in faith on November 23, 1976, with three small children in tow, to chase a dream rooted in family, stewardship, and devotion to the land.
A Rich Past
Long before our family’s chapter began, Pettis Springs was already a place of gathering and memory. Named for the natural spring heads that bubble from the earth, the property was once home to a vibrant Prohibition-era country club in the 1930s. Guests came from miles away to enjoy its dance hall, bowling alley, skating rink, and Olympic-sized concrete pool—cooled by icy spring waters that flowed straight from the limestone beneath.
Though fire destroyed the original building in the 1960s, its massive slab and charred black pillars were preserved, eventually forming the foundation of our family barn. These remnants, standing strong against the passage of time, are a reminder of Florida’s colorful past and are officially documented in the Florida Archives. Even today, older neighbors recount summers spent at the club, stories we are now preserving through a historical film that will feature interviews, photographs, and the historic past of the Aucilla River itself.
The Farm Today
What was once a resort is now a working cattle ranch—rolling green hills dotted with hardwoods left to shade the herds. Two duck ponds, one for roosting and one for feeding, attract abundant wood ducks, while the adjoining Suwannee River Water Management District lands ensure that wildlife—from deer and turkey to doves and ducks—moves freely across a protected landscape.
It is a place where history and progress walk hand-in-hand—where old oak groves and modern infrastructure exist in harmony, honoring both heritage and future needs.
A Living Legacy
Our family’s stewardship mission has always been clear: honor the past, care for the present, and plant seeds for the future. My father, a farmer by trade, also served two terms in the Florida House of Representatives, ensuring that the land stewardship principles and management practices of this sacred Red Hills region were preserved.
Today, as we document stories, interview neighbors, and capture the voices of those who remember the days of Pettis Springs as a summer resort, we are piecing together a narrative that is larger than ourselves. It is not just about one family’s farm—it is about Florida’s history, the lifeblood of its rivers, and the value of conservation.
An Invitation
As Pettis Springs nears its 50th year in our family’s care, we are proud to share its story. This land is available now for those who see, as we do, that property is more than acreage—it is heritage. It is for those who seek a retreat with character, a homestead with history, or a farm that blends productivity with conservation.
Welcome to Pettis Springs. A place where love took root, where history endures, and where legacy lives on in every oak, spring, and rolling pasture.
Pettis Springs Farms runs along the banks of the Historic Aucilla River. This is a great article about the river, it's watershed and other interesting facts. Aucilla River Watershed
Pettis Springs offers a rare combination of:
✅ Agricultural potential – Active cattle operation with rotational grazing infrastructure and 2.75 miles of underground water piping for cattle needs
✅ Recreational use – Premier hunting, fishing, and wildlife habitat
✅ Conservation value – River frontage with protected neighboring lands ensuring privacy and habitat flow
✅ Legacy property – Historic roots, family heritage, and a documented place in Florida’s cultural story
➡️Florida Archives:Pettis Springs - Historical Photo
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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.