LOCATION: This lot is in the subdivision, River Ranch Acres, which lies in Polk County almost in the center of the State. Vero Beach is 55 miles to the east on the Atlantic Ocean. Tampa-St.Pete is 80 miles to the west on the Gulf of Mexico. Orlando/Disney is 50 miles north. Lake Wales (Bok Tower) is 20 miles away and the County Seat of Bartow is 30 miles to the northwest. State Roads 60 and 630 course east and west through the center of the subdivision. The Florida Turnpike is a few miles to the east. Nearby, Indian Lakes Estates, a very nice residential community borders the subdivision along its northeast edge.

Lake Kissimmee and the Kissimmee River, which flows south into the Everglades, are approximately one half mile from the eastern edge of the subdivision. Several smaller lakes are found to the northwest.

The average temperature is in the seventies and temperatures low enough to bring frost are very rare. Tropical fruit such as Mangos, Avocados, Bananas, all Citrus varieties, as well as ornamental plants thrive here.A BRIEF HISTORY: In the early sixties 42 thousand acres of raw land lying on the Lake Wales Ridge were purchased by developers and subdivided into lots, most of which were 1.25 and 2.5 acres in size. The dimensions of the individual parcels are 330' X 165' and 330' X 330'. The total area of these parcels are 54,450 or 108,900 square feet. A grid-work of access roads were platted and recorded in the public records of Polk County so each lot was guaranteed legal access. The majority of these roads have not yet been improved. These easements are 60 or 100 feet in width. To read about the Ridge and its ecology go to www.archbold-station.net/fai/index.html

Parcels were sold all over the world to individuals who wanted to retire to Florida or use the property for recreation or just to speculate on this rapidly growing area of the State. The developers went bankrupt before the land was developed any further and most of the lots were never surveyed and the platted roads were never opened. There are hundreds of miles of roads which meander throughout the subdivision however most do not lie within any platted boundaries. Some are graded dirt roads but most are simply "jeep trails". Access into the property is from State Road 60, County Road 630 or River Ranch Resort Road.

This land was being used for cattle grazing when it was originally subdivided and local cattlemen have bought back several hundred acres over the years. These areas are now used as natural pasture. Several cattlemen continue to acquire parcels in specific areas.

The River Ranch Resort on River Ranch Boulevard, was originally the visitors center for the subdivision in the early days. It is now a privately owned campground/dude ranch, located on the eastern edge of the property right on the Kissimmee River. This is a great facility with a motel, restaurant, RV sites, air strip, boat ramp, skeet range, stables, etc.

Hunt clubs, recreational vehicle riders and horseback enthusiasts can be found on the property throughout the year. Basically the land is about the same as it was when the Indians lived here and wildlife abounds everywhere.

This is not swamp land! This is verified with the Polk County Property Appraiser's Office. The Lake Wales Ridge where this parcel is located, is an elevated area comprised of sandy soils and vegetated with Pine, Sabal Palm, Palmetto, Scrub and Live Oak, Hickory, Bay and many small shrub varieties. As with any large area of land in Central Florida there are scattered "grass ponds" and Cypress "domes", however, these comprise a tiny amount of the total acreage in the subdivision. Those areas directly on the Kissimmee River may be low in elevation. Though we have not stood on this lot, those individuals familiar with the general area of the parcel for sale agree that it is in a dry, naturally forested area of the ridge. The timber has not been harvested from this area of the subdivision.

The property is zoned agricultural and Polk County allows "recreational structures" to be built. These range from basic tents to very nice "a-frames" where some folks live year-round. Water is from wells and it is of high quality. Power is from generators, solar cells, or wind generators. Commercial power is available only near the public highways.The majority of the land outside the subdivision is used either for pastureland or vast orange or grapefruit groves. There are several aquiculture facilities or "fish farms" nearby.

GOOD TITLE: Ownership of this lot will be transferred to the buyer by means of a full Warranty Deed. Not a Limited Warranty Deed or a Quit Claim Deed. There is no better instrument for guaranteeing the buyer a clear title with no "clouds" than a Warranty Deed. The property taxes are $9.81 annually and are paid in full.