1,612 +/- Acre Ranch
Only 20 Minutes to I-75
Manatee County
Located only 20 minutes from Sarasota and I-75 sits this spotless ranch property. With just over 1,600 acres, the beautiful "old Florida" landscape provides endless opportunities for the hunter, rancher, farmer or a recreational get away. It's one of a kind lodge boasts 5 bedrooms, a spacious living and dining area, and a beautifully updated kitchen. The entire property is abundant with deer, turkey, and other wildlife. Barns and guest houses round off this complete package. Call today to schedule a private showing!
Click Here for More Images



*Osceola Turkeys*Deer*Hogs*Ducks*Dove
L ook in the Past
Crowley Museum 
Crowley Museum and Nature Center is a community organization founded by Jasper Crowley (1900-1976) and Edina Truchot (1899-1976) in 1974.  John Crowley, Jasper's grandfather, was an Irish immigrant who came to this area from Pennsylvania. He was a farmer and a blacksmith, a sawmill owner and his wife Sylvia was a teacher. He moved to Florida hoping to improve the health of his wife and daughter. In 1884, John applied for a homestead on 160 acres near Bayshore in what was then Manatee county. The first land the Crowley's purchased in the Old Miakka area was purchased in the name of Charles Gustave Crowley in 1887, Gus would have been 23 years old. It is not clear whether the land was bought by Gustave, or whether his father put it in his name or whether John settled the land prior to buying it.  The Crowley family owned a large portion of the land along Myakka Road and Clay Gully Road.
James Jeremiah Crowley, son of John Crowley, was a storekeeper, machinist, carpenter, golddigger, County Commissioner, farmer, sawmill owner, and a bridge tender. In Old Miakka around the turn-of-the-century, it was "grow your own or live without". The land in the Miakka area was known as the best grazing land around. The Crowley families grew vegetables, oranges, and rice and raised milk cows, horses, oxen, hogs, and chickens.
William Jasper Crowley, son of James Jeremiah, was a teacher, farmer, conservationist, musician, and historian. He was raised on this land that is now Crowley. In his teens Jasper worked for Bertha Palmer at the Meadow Sweet Ranch, which became Myakka State Park. Later, Allen Crowley, Jasper's brother would become the first superintendent of the state park and would eventually be the head of 11 state parks. Jasper got his degree from the University of Florida. In 1931 he began teaching at the Miakka one-room schoolhouse. He established the county's first hot school lunch program. He would have students bring vegetables from home and he would supply meat from his farm and they would make a stew on the wood stove in the classroom. Eventually, the students planted a vegetable garden in the schoolyard. He then became the first principal of Fruitville Elementary School. He established the first Future Farmers of America, FFA in Sarasota County. He inherited his father's house and kept three or four homeless boys in his house all the time. They worked the farm and tended the garden. Everyone spoke of his patient and gentle ways. Camping and cooking in the woods was a Crowley family affair and Jasper loved hiking and cooking over a fire. He was known as an accomplished cook.
This land was recognized as a unique habitat from the beginning. While this land was used to make a living; the beauty of the land was respected and preserved. Jasper saw that the pioneer history on the land was integrated with the nature center, depicting use with preservation. Every act, throughout his life, was in support of enlightenment and preservation. He collected books and artifacts used to settle the land to share with visitors. He rebuilt his grandfather's cabin using the original heart of pine and furnished it with family heirlooms and items he collected. He wanted people to see how pioneer settlers like his grandfather John Crowley had lived. He invited busloads of children to his farm where he had many types of animals. He allowed the children to touch and interact with the animals and even milk a cow... .Today, Crowley remains a center for natural and cultural history as well as sustainable agriculture.
Source: CrowleyFl.org
Call Walt at (863) 990-1748 or 
email me to learn more about these properties.

Sincerely,
Walt Bethel
RE/MAX Harbor Realty
1133 Bal Harbor Blvd, Suite 1129
Punta Gorda, FL 33950

STAY CONNECTED: