Serenity Plantation
Decatur County, Georgia⁞1,137± ACRES
Dynamic Sporting Plantation on Beautiful Lake Seminole
- 1,137 +/- acre timber and recreational property in Decatur County, Georgia
- 8/10ths miles of frontage on the famed Lake Seminole
- Great fishing - ranked in the top 10 of the best bass fishing lakes in the United States
- Boone and Crockett trophy bucks
- Unique topography with breathtaking vistas - one of the last ridges along the Appalachian Mountain chain
- Two ponds spanning 1.2 acres and 1 acre
- Two meticulously designed planted and flooded duck ponds (3.3 acres and 5 acres)
- Eight blinds with dog ramps in each duck pond
- Range of species from Ringnecks and Teal, to Gadwall and Wood Ducks
- Managed for the propagation of wild quail and its habitat for 14 years
- Between 45 to 50 coveys on a regular basis
- Great soils - irrigated orchards boasting 31 pecan trees and 38 fruit trees
- A large 2,600 square foot furnished main home with pool
- Shop/office complex barndominium - complete with a master bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms, and dorm room
- Concreted drive-through dog kennel
- One 32’ x 60’ barn, one 32’ x 36’ barn and two smaller barns
- All equipment included
- Downtown Bainbridge minutes away for great shopping and dining
- 1.25 miles frontage on Faceville Landing Road
- 1 mile to Corps of Engineers’ boat landing, well-kept landing and park
- .5 miles both sides of Butler Creek
- .2 miles frontage on River Road
- Borders other large landowners and plantations
Managed for decades for the intersection of timber and wildlife, with ties to Herbert Stoddard
Great soils, managed habitat, and large like-minded neighbors
Boasting breathtaking frontage on the famed Lake Seminole, Serenity Plantation spans across 1,137 +/- acres of picturesque Decatur County, Georgia landscape. This exceptional property, managed for decades for the intersection of timber and wildlife, offers a harmonious blend of outdoor recreation.
A world of outdoor adventure awaits on this truly diverse property. With 8/10ths of a mile frontage on Lake Seminole (not counting Army Corps of Engineers’ border), renowned for its exceptional fishing opportunities, anglers will delight in casting their lines. Whether you're a seasoned fisherman or a novice angler, Lake Seminole promises an abundance of catches, from big bass to bream, shellcracker, crappie, catfish and more. Lake Seminole is ranked one of the top bass fishing lakes in the Southeast with 37,500 acres of water. Annually, the lake plays host to least five bass tournaments each year.
With great soils, managed habitat, and large like-minded neighbors, the deer here are exceptional. Serenity Plantation’s neighbor, our very own Walter Hatchett, has harvested several Pope and Young archery bucks in this hometown area through the years.
"Southlands, and Serenity, is one of the few properties where all four species of Southern yellow pine naturally occur." - Jon Kohler
Situated along Curry Hill, one of the last ridges along the Appalachian Mountain chain, Lake Seminole boasts a landscape unlike any other in South Georgia. When the Flint River meanders its way through Curry Hill, it gives rise to the expansive 37,500-acre Lake Seminole, creating a unique topography with breathtaking vistas. The topography of this area is a testament to nature's artistry, offering dramatic views that evoke the feeling of being in the foothills of the mountains. Expansive ravines are adorned with majestic hardwood bottoms and natural springs punctuate the landscape. Steepheads are deep ravines that occur in upland sandhill or clayhill habitats. A steephead itself is like a giant living organism or ecosystem. At the head of steephead ravines are springs or seepages of clear, filtered water that emerge from the ground and constantly erode the gullies headward. These springs feed into the Flint River and give rise to the abundant creeks that meander through the property.
The property also features not one, but two ponds spanning 1.2 acres and 1 acre respectively.
For the wing shooter, there are two meticulously designed flooded duck ponds, encompassing 4 acres and 6 acres. These duck ponds are complete with the ability to drain and flood the ponds and are planted each year with feed for the ducks. Complete with eight blinds each, including and convenient dog ramps, the lakes draw a range of species from Ringnecks and Teal, to Gadwall and Wood Ducks. For the avid waterfowl hunter, these ponds provide an idyllic setting for outdoor pursuits.
"This 1,140 acres overlooking both Lake Seminole and its confluence with the Flint River is the signature parcel of the once 26,000 acre Southlands Plantation originally put together by Herbert Stoddard himself back in 1935!" - Jon Kohler
With history dating back to Herbert Stoddard, the property has been managed for the propagation of wild quail and its habitat. The landowner works closely with Tall Timbers Research Station on quail counts, and quail management, and has managed the property for quail for 14 years. Year over year, it is not uncommon to see between 45 to 50 coveys total on a regular basis.
"Herbert Stoddard was the most influential conservationists in history. He founded Tall Timbers Research Station and put together the lands that would be Southlands Experiment Forest. Like Tall Timbers, this was a "demonstration forest" where landowners could learn about the latest techniques." - Jon Kohler
“One of the things that we've always tried to do here is to manage for both the intersection of timber and wildlife. So, we try to manage habitat so that you're optimizing the two at the same time. As a result, what we do is there are three things that you need for wild quail. You need habitat. First of all, you need feed on a regular basis so that they can spend as little amount of time as possible off of a nest or exposed to predators. And the third thing is you need to have some sort of a predator control program. And all three of those things have been in practice since we started developing the farm in 2010.” – Tim Pirrung, landowner, Serenity Plantation
In the words of Walter Hatchett, “the better soils you have, the better quality of wildlife you're going to have, and the better-quality crops and browse you're going to grow. The type soils found in the Red Hills and here in Decatur County will just about grow anything.” The same particularly holds true for Serenity Plantation. Loaded with exceptional soils and agricultural abilities, the property touts irrigated orchards boasting 31 pecan trees and 38 fruit trees.
A large 2,600 square foot home with outdoor gazebo is meticulously designed to blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Complete with a garage featuring a convenient bathroom and a versatile game/dog area, as well as a refreshing pool, this home offers the perfect retreat for relaxation and entertainment.
Additionally, a spacious shop and office complex barndominium await, complete with a master bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms, and dorm room. Outside, a concreted drive-through dog kennel provides convenience and functionality for days afield.
For the hobby farmer, the property boasts a 32’ x 60’ barn, along with a 32’ x 36’ barn and two smaller barns. There is ample space for equipment storage.
The charm of downtown Bainbridge is just a stone's throw away. Explore the thriving local scene, filled with quaint shops, delectable dining options, and a rich cultural heritage, all contributing to the area's undeniable charm.
Experience the epitome of laid back living and outdoor recreation at this exceptional property on Lake Seminole. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat, an outdoor adventure, or a thriving community atmosphere, this property offers the perfect blend of amenities and location, creating a truly unparalleled lifestyle opportunity.
Broker’s Comments
The Kohler & Associates’
Difference
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Or want to discuss the market with the Leader in this niche?
Contact us to discuss one of our properties, for information on properties that are not yet released to the market or to discuss the market.
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.