It was slated to be a luxury resort, built around a golf course on four miles of pristine shoreline of one of Florida’s largest lakes. But a group of conservationists raised enough money to protect the land forever.
The 2,300 acres known as Eagle Haven Ranch had been in state hands, but was declared surplus in 2020. Thanks to a heads-up call from Tampa nature photographer Carlton Ward Jr., Tampa businessman and philanthropist Arnie Bellini bought the land on the south shore of Lake Kissimmee in Polk County.
That allowed Conservation Florida to raise $9 million to preserve the land permanently. Traci Deen is the president of the Orlando-based conservation group…