OSTEEN, Fla. – A new nature preserve in Volusia County officially opened to the public on Thursday, offering families and outdoor enthusiasts nearly 500 acres of protected Florida wilderness to explore.
Conservation Florida, a nonprofit land conservancy, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the D Ranch Preserve, just outside Deltona, in Osteen.
The event featured live animals from Gatorland, nature-themed scavenger hunts for children, and guided 4x4 buggy tours through the preserve’s 3.5-mile trail system.
[Video below shows the opening of the preserve and what you can expect]
“This is truly the heart of Volusia County in the way of preserving what we’re known for — and that’s our awesome land,” said News 6 reporter Angie Quezada, who grew up in the area and joined the organization on a tour of the property this week.
The D Ranch Preserve is home to native species, like the Florida black bear, gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake.
Conservation Florida says the goal is not only to protect the landscape, but to connect more Floridians to nature.
“We want hikers, nature lovers and birdwatchers to come out and enjoy these trails,” said land manager Mark Rizzo. “We ask that people take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints.”
In addition to the trails, Conservation Florida is planning a nature center on the property in partnership with the Volusia County ECHO program and the Big Nova Foundation.
[Video below takes you on a tour of D Ranch preserve]
“You’re going to see a lot of educational and community use on this land,” Rizzo said. “We’re bringing conservation and community together — and that’s what this site is all about.”
Conservation Florida has preserved more than 40,000 acres of land across the state and says D Ranch is just the beginning for the region.
The preserve is located at 2655 Reed Ellis Road in Osteen and is open daily to the public.