OSTEEN, Fla. — Like many Central Florida counties, Volusia County is seeing exponential growth. With that growth comes increased development and the risk of losing green spaces that many Floridians considered sacred.
However, the environmental group Conservation Florida is bridging that gap by opening up the 476-acre D Ranch Preserve to the public in the spring of 2025.
Two days following the environmental group’s announcement of its plans to open the preserve up to the public, the group hosted a community input session to gather feedback from residents on what the future of the site over in Osteen should look like.
Like many Central Floridians, Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen finds solace in nature, saying she likes to walk along D Ranch preserves’ unpaved trails whenever she feels the need to disconnect for a bit.
Next spring, residents and visitors will get to do the same when the preserve opens to the public.
“The plan is to have a wildlife viewing deck right here that those that come to the preserve are able to get out to and sit and enjoy nature,” Deen said.
Although D Ranch may look like your typical fields, it’s actually a preserve and former cattle ranch that spans 476 acres.
To put that into context, it’s more than four times the size of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
D Ranch Preserve in Osteen, Fla. (Spectrum News/Sasha Teman)
The preserve is home to native species like the Florida black bear and the pine lily. It is also home to some of the Sunshine State’s most endangered species, and about 13 different habitats.
That’s why Deen wanted to preserve the land’s natural essence when developing recreational activities like hiking and equestrian trails, since horseback riding is a common practice in Osteen.
“It’s really close to the parking. Hopefully, it’s accessible to most of our guests and it has got one of the most gorgeous spots to watch wildlife and enjoy nature out here in Central Florida,” she said.
This was all made possible after an anonymous donor reached out to Conservation Florida to gift them the 476-acre parcel of land in 2020. What used to be a cow and calf operation will soon be what Deen refers to as a “community asset” for visitors to enjoy while also preserving its Florida wildlife feel.
“We now have what we’re standing on here today. This will be here forever. This will be here not just for nature but for people alike,” Deen said.
She said it’s no secret that parcels of land like D Ranch Preserve are attractive to developers, especially with the projected growth in Volusia County.
According to a River-Friendly Planning project by the St. Johns Riverkeeper & 1000 Friends of Florida, Volusia County is projected to take in nearly 700,000 new residents by 2070.
In 2018, D Ranch Preserve was the target for a 1,000 home development which never came to fruition because of a zoning change on the property.
Deen warns, “with that kind of growth, we need to respond in kind with rapid conservation so that we’re protecting our special places like this.”
During a community input session on Thursday, community members shared their input on what the future of the preserve will look like.
“I’m looking forward to a place that will have less motorized traffic for horses. I don’t necessarily like motorcycles riding up right behind them but something that has some variation and definitely something that offers insight into the diverse species, whether its flora or fauna,” resident Tina Swift said.
Deen said there have been preliminary discussions between the organization and Volusia County on what a partnership down the line could look like, which she says could be a great fit.